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 finally 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 immense excitement, and it appears that critics are largely in favor of the game. It 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 a strong focus on precise and engaging combat that enhances its well-crafted boss fights. The game also features stunning visuals and a world filled with secrets waiting to be discovered, making exploration a rewarding experience.

Centered around Chinese mythology, specifically the epic tale of Journey to the West, the game introduces players to the adventures of Sun Wukong. Reviews, such as the one from GamesRadar+, praise 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 suggests that Black Myth: Wukong is a potential Game of the Year (GOTY) contender, though it notes some potential dealbreakers. Common criticisms include subpar level design, difficulty spikes, and occasional technical issues. Additionally, some reviewers found the game's story to be disjointed, reminiscent of older FromSoftware titles where deeper understanding requires reading in-game item descriptions.

It's important to note that all review copies provided so far have been for the PC version, with no console copies available for early access. This means there are no confirmed reviews yet on the game's performance 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 with 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 restricted topics such as "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has sparked heated debate within the player community. A user on Twitter (X) 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." Meanwhile, others have voiced that they see no issue with such guidelines.

Despite the controversy surrounding the early access 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.