After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here, and early reviews are in! Read on to discover what critics are saying.
Black Myth: Wukong: Almost Here (But Only on PC for Now)
Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated immense hype, and initial critical reception is largely positive. The game currently boasts an 82 Metascore on Metacritic, based on 54 reviews.
Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system, which is particularly effective in the well-designed boss fights. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world also receive high marks, encouraging exploration.
The game's foundation in Chinese mythology, specifically Journey to the West and the adventures of Sun Wukong, is lauded. 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."
While PCGamesN calls it a potential Game of the Year contender, they, along with other reviewers, point out potential drawbacks. These include subpar level design in some areas, noticeable difficulty spikes, and occasional technical issues. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is considered somewhat disjointed, requiring players to delve into item descriptions for a complete understanding.
Importantly, all early access review copies were for PC; no console versions were provided. Therefore, PS5 performance reviews are still pending.
Controversy Surrounds Review Guidelines
(Image from SteamDB) 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 considerable debate within the gaming 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, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. Its Steam sales statistics currently show it as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform prior to release. While the lack of console reviews remains a reservation for some, the game appears poised for a significant launch.
