"Black Myth: Wukong Review Embroiled in Controversy Amidst Early Previews"

After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here! Read on for a summary of early reviews and the controversy surrounding review guidelines.

Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival

PC Exclusive (For Now)

Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated significant buzz. Initial critical reception has been largely positive, with 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 well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world are also frequently highlighted. The game's adaptation of the Chinese mythological tale, Journey to the West, has also received positive feedback, 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, PCGamesN and other sources point out potential drawbacks, including subpar level design, uneven difficulty, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative structure, similar to older FromSoftware titles, has also been criticized for its fragmented storytelling, requiring players to piece together the lore through item descriptions. Importantly, all early access reviews are based on the PC version; console performance (specifically on PS5) remains unreviewed.

Controversial Review Guidelines

Reports emerged of a co-publisher distributing guidelines to streamers and reviewers, outlining "Do's and Don'ts" that reportedly included restrictions on discussing "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse." This sparked considerable debate within the gaming community, with some criticizing the guidelines as censorship while others expressed indifference.

Despite the controversy, Black Myth: Wukong remains highly anticipated. Its Steam sales statistics show it as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game before release. While the lack of console reviews presents a caveat, the game is poised for a significant launch.