After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, reviews for Black Myth: Wukong are finally here! This article summarizes early impressions and addresses the controversy surrounding review guidelines.

Black Myth: Wukong – A PC Launch

Initial reactions to Black Myth: Wukong have been largely positive, with the game boasting an 82 Metascore on Metacritic (based on 54 reviews).

Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system and stunning boss fights. The visually impressive world is also a highlight, rewarding exploration with hidden secrets. The game's adaptation of the Journey to the West mythos has also received acclaim, with GamesRadar+ describing it as "a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology."

However, criticism isn't absent. PCGamesN, among others, points to potential dealbreakers such as inconsistent level design, abrupt difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, has been noted as fragmented, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions. Importantly, all early access reviews were based on the PC version; console performance (specifically on PS5) remains unreviewed.

Controversial Review Guidelines

A document outlining guidelines for streamers and reviewers, allegedly issued by one of the co-publishers, has sparked controversy. These guidelines reportedly restricted discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has ignited debate within the gaming community. While some criticize the guidelines as censorship, others see no issue.

Despite this controversy, Black Myth: Wukong remains highly anticipated. It currently holds the top spot as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game on Steam before its release. While the lack of console reviews is a reservation for some, the game is poised for a significant launch.