After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here, and initial reactions are largely positive! This article delves into the critical reception and a recent controversy surrounding review guidelines.
Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival (PC Only, for Now)
Since its debut trailer in 2020, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong has been immense. Early reviews are overwhelmingly favorable, with the game boasting an 82 Metascore on Metacritic based on 54 critic reviews.
Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system, which shines particularly in its well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its richly detailed world are also frequently highlighted.
Drawing inspiration from the classic Chinese 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 that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology."
However, PCGamesN, while considering it a potential Game of the Year contender, noted potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: subpar level design, uneven difficulty, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative structure, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requires players to actively engage with in-game lore to fully grasp the story.
Importantly, all initial reviews are based on the PC version; no console review copies were distributed. Therefore, the PS5 version's performance remains unassessed.
Controversial Review Guidelines Surface
Reports emerged over the weekend detailing a document circulated by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. This document allegedly included "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. While some critics find the guidelines problematic, others express no concern. One Twitter (X) user commented, "It is WILD to me that this actually made it out the door...creators casually signing this and not speaking up is just as wild..."
Despite this controversy, Black Myth: Wukong remains highly anticipated, currently topping Steam's best-selling and most-wishlisted game charts before its official release. While the lack of console reviews presents a caveat, the game's launch appears poised for significant success.
