After four long years of anticipation since its initial announcement in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has finally received its first wave of reviews. Dive in to discover the details and what critics are saying about this highly awaited game.
Black Myth: Wukong Is Almost Here
But Only On PC
Since its captivating trailer debuted in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has been generating buzz, and the critical reception has been largely positive. The game 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 its core strength lying in its precise and engaging combat system, which pairs beautifully with its meticulously crafted boss battles. The game's stunning visuals and richly detailed world are also praised, encouraging players to explore and uncover hidden secrets scattered throughout its landscape.
Drawing inspiration from Chinese mythology, particularly the epic tale of Journey to the West, the game brings the adventures of Sun Wukong to life. GamesRadar+ described it as "a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology," highlighting its successful integration of mythological elements.
PCGamesN went as far as to suggest that Black Myth: Wukong could be a contender for Game of the Year (GOTY), although it noted some potential drawbacks. Common criticisms include subpar level design, unexpected difficulty spikes, and occasional technical issues. Additionally, the game's narrative has been described as disjointed, requiring players to delve into in-game item descriptions to fully grasp the storyline, reminiscent of older FromSoftware titles.
It's worth noting that all review copies distributed so far have been for the PC version only, with no console versions provided for early access. This means that there are currently no confirmed reviews 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 had distributed a document outlining guidelines for streamers and publications reviewing the game. The document purportedly included a list of "Do’s and Don’ts," advising recipients to avoid discussing restricted topics such as "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."
This has sparked intense debate within the game's community. A user on Twitter (X) expressed 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.." Meanwhile, some community members found no issue with the guidelines.
Despite the controversy surrounding the review guidelines, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. The game currently tops Steam's charts as both the best-selling and most wishlisted title before its release. While there are concerns about the absence of console reviews, the game is poised for a significant launch.
