Early Impressions of Black Myth: Wukong Released Amid Controversy

After four long years of anticipation since its initial announcement in 2020, the verdict is finally in for Black Myth: Wukong! Dive into the details and discover what reviewers have to say about this highly anticipated game.

Black Myth: Wukong Is Almost Here

But Only On PC

Ever since its first trailer dropped in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has been generating buzz, and it seems that critics are largely in favor of the game. Currently, it boasts an impressive 82 Metascore on Metacritic, compiled from 54 critic reviews.

The consensus among reviewers is that Black Myth: Wukong excels as an action game, with a strong focus on precise and engaging combat that enhances its well-crafted boss fights. The game's stunning visuals and the opportunity to explore its beautifully crafted world, filled with hidden secrets, have also been praised.

Rooted in Chinese mythology, particularly the epic tale of Journey to the West, the game effectively introduces players to the adventures of Sun Wukong. GamesRadar+ praised it as "a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology."

PCGamesN's review highlighted Black Myth: Wukong as a potential Game of the Year (GOTY) candidate. However, they noted some potential deal-breakers, including subpar level design, difficulty spikes, and unexpected technical issues. Several reviewers also mentioned that the game's narrative can feel disjointed, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requiring players to delve into item descriptions to fully grasp the storyline.

It's worth noting that all review copies provided were for the PC version, with no console versions available for early access. As a result, there are no confirmed reviews yet on how the game performs on the PS5.

Streamers and Reviewers Reportedly Received Controversial Guidelines

Image taken from SteamDB Over the weekend, reports emerged that one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers distributed a document outlining guidelines for streamers and publications reviewing the game. The document reportedly included a list of "Do’s and Don’ts," instructing recipients not to discuss sensitive topics such as "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has sparked significant debate within the player community. One Twitter (X) user expressed their disbelief, stating, "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, saw no issue with such guidelines.

Despite the controversy surrounding the early access review guidelines, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. According to Steam sales statistics, it is currently the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform before its release. While there are reservations about the lack of console reviews, the game is poised for a significant launch.