After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, reviews for Black Myth: Wukong are finally here, sparking debate alongside its release. Read on for a summary of critical reception and the controversy surrounding review guidelines.
Black Myth: Wukong – A PC-Exclusive Launch (For Now)
The highly anticipated Black Myth: Wukong, initially unveiled in 2020, has garnered largely positive reviews. It boasts an 82 Metascore on Metacritic (based on 54 critic reviews).
Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system, particularly its well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its captivating world also receive high marks. The game's interpretation of the Journey to the West mythology is also well-received, with GamesRadar+ describing it as "a fun action RPG that feels like a modern God of War game filtered through Chinese mythology."
However, PCGamesN, among others, notes potential drawbacks that could deter some players. These include uneven level design, challenging difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is considered somewhat fragmented, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions. Importantly, all early access reviews are based solely on the PC version; console performance (particularly on PS5) remains unreviewed.
Controversial Review Guidelines Surface
Over the weekend, reports emerged of a controversial document distributed by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. This document reportedly contained "Do's and Don'ts," restricting discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."
This has ignited considerable debate within the gaming community. While some criticize the guidelines as censorship, others express no concern. One Twitter (X) user commented, "It is WILD to me that this actually made it out the door... creators casually signing this and not speaking up is just as wild."
Despite the controversy, Black Myth: Wukong remains highly anticipated. Steam sales statistics show it's currently both the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform prior to release. While the lack of console reviews presents some uncertainty, the game is poised for a significant launch.
