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 Launch
Initially unveiled in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated significant excitement. Early reviews are largely positive, resulting in an 82 Metascore on Metacritic (based on 54 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 richly detailed world also receive high praise.
Drawing inspiration from Journey to the West, the game's depiction of Chinese mythology is a key strength. GamesRadar+, for example, described it as "a fun action RPG reminiscent of modern God of War games, but filtered through the lens of Chinese mythology."
However, PCGamesN, while considering it a potential Game of the Year contender, notes potential drawbacks. These include uneven level design, challenging difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches – points echoed in other reviews. The narrative's fragmented nature, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions, is another frequently cited criticism.
Importantly, all early access reviews are based solely on the PC version; console reviews (specifically PS5) are currently unavailable.
Review Guidelines Controversy
Reports emerged of a co-publisher issuing controversial review guidelines to streamers and publications. These guidelines allegedly restricted discussion of topics such as "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."
This has ignited a heated discussion within the gaming community. While some criticize the guidelines as censorship, others express no concern.
Despite this controversy, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. Steam statistics show it's currently the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform prior to launch. The lack of console reviews remains a caveat, but the game's launch appears poised for significant success.
