Black Myth: Wukong Early Impressions Are Out Amid Review Guidelines Controversy

After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here! Read on for a summary of early reviews and the controversy surrounding review guidelines.

Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival

PC Exclusive (For Now)

Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated significant buzz. Initial critical reception is largely positive, with an 82 Metascore on Metacritic based on 54 reviews.

Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system and well-crafted boss fights. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world also receive high marks. The game's adaptation of the Chinese mythological tale, Journey to the West, is lauded, with GamesRadar+ describing it as "a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology."

However, PCGamesN's review, while calling it a potential Game of the Year contender, points out potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: subpar level design, uneven difficulty, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative structure, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is also criticized for being fragmented, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions.

Importantly, all early access reviews are based on the PC version; no console review copies were distributed. Therefore, PS5 performance remains unassessed.

Controversial Review Guidelines Surface

(Image from SteamDB)

Reports emerged of a controversial document distributed by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. This document allegedly contained "Do's and Don'ts," restricting discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has sparked considerable debate. While some criticize the guidelines as censorship, others express no concern.

Despite the controversy, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. Steam sales data shows it's currently the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform before its release. While the lack of console reviews presents a caveat, the game appears poised for a significant launch.