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, and initial reactions are pouring in. Read on for a summary of the reviews and the controversy surrounding them.

Black Myth: Wukong: Almost Here (But Only on PC for Now)

Since its captivating 2020 trailer, Black Myth: Wukong has generated immense anticipation. Early critical reception has been largely positive, with the game currently boasting an 82 Metascore on Metacritic based on 54 reviews.

Reviewers consistently praise the game's exceptional action gameplay. The combat is lauded for its precision, engaging mechanics, and satisfying boss fights. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within the game's beautiful world also receive high praise.

Drawing inspiration from Journey to the West, the game's interpretation of Chinese mythology is a key strength. GamesRadar+, for example, describes 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 considering it a potential Game of the Year contender, points out potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: subpar level design, challenging difficulty spikes, and occasional technical issues. The narrative, reminiscent of older FromSoftware titles, is described as disjointed, requiring players to delve into item descriptions to fully grasp the story.

Importantly, all early access review copies were for PC; console versions were not provided. Therefore, PS5 performance remains unreviewed.

Controversy Surrounding Review Guidelines

Reports emerged over the weekend detailing controversial guidelines issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. These guidelines allegedly restricted discussion of certain topics, including "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has sparked heated debate within the community. One Twitter (X) user commented, "It is WILD to me that this actually made it out the door. These guidelines had to have gone past multiple people/departments. Also, creators casually signing this and not speaking up is just as wild, unfortunately just less surprising.." Others, however, expressed no concerns.

Despite this controversy, the game's anticipation remains high. Steam sales statistics show it as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform before its release. While the lack of console reviews might raise some reservations, Black Myth: Wukong appears poised for a significant launch.