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

After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here, and initial reactions are largely positive! Read on for a summary of reviews and a look at the recent controversy surrounding review guidelines.

Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival

PC Launch First

Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated considerable excitement. Early critical reception has been mostly favorable, earning 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 fights. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world also receive high marks.

Drawing inspiration from the classic Chinese mythological tale, Journey to the West, the game's interpretation of Sun Wukong's adventures has resonated with critics. 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's review, while acknowledging its GOTY potential, points out some potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: uneven level design, difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is considered somewhat fragmented, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions.

Importantly, all initial reviews are based on the PC version; console review copies haven't yet been distributed, meaning PS5 performance remains unassessed.

Review Guidelines Spark Debate

Image from SteamDB. Recently, reports emerged of a controversial document issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. This document allegedly outlined "Do's and Don'ts," restricting discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has sparked considerable debate online. While some criticize the guidelines as overly restrictive, others find them acceptable. One Twitter (X) user commented, highlighting the implications of such guidelines passing through multiple approval stages and the potential for self-censorship among creators.

Despite this controversy, the game's anticipation remains high. Steam sales data currently positions it as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform prior to release. While the lack of console reviews is a reservation for some, Black Myth: Wukong is poised for a significant launch.