Black Myth: Wukong Early Impressions Are Out Amid Review Guidelines Controversy

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

Black Myth: Wukong Is Almost Here

But Only On PC

Since its first trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has been generating buzz, and now, critics have mostly positive things to say. The game currently boasts an impressive 82 Metascore on Metacritic, based on 54 critic reviews.

The consensus among reviewers is that Black Myth: Wukong excels as an action game, with its focus on precise and engaging combat that enhances its well-crafted boss fights. The game also boasts stunning visuals and a world filled with secrets waiting to be explored.

Centered around Chinese mythology, specifically the epic tale of Journey to the West and the adventures of Sun Wukong, the game introduces this mythological narrative effectively. GamesRadar+ praised it as "a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology."

In their review, PCGamesN highlighted Black Myth: Wukong as a potential Game of the Year (GOTY) contender, though it noted some drawbacks that could be dealbreakers for some players. These include subpar level design, difficulty spikes, and unexpected technical issues. Additionally, some reviewers mentioned that the game's story feels disjointed, akin to older FromSoftware games, requiring players to delve into in-game item descriptions to fully grasp the narrative.

It's important to note that all review copies provided were for the PC version only, with no console versions available for early access. This leaves the performance on the PS5 unconfirmed by reviewers at this time.

Streamers and Reviewers Reportedly Received Controversial Guidelines

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

This has sparked intense debate within the gaming community. A 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." On the other hand, some community members saw no issue with such guidelines.

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