After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here, and initial reviews are in! Let's delve into the critical reception and a recent controversy surrounding review guidelines.

Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival

PC Launch Only

Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated considerable excitement. Early reviews are largely positive, with an 82 Metascore on Metacritic based on 54 critic reviews.

Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing precise and engaging combat that shines in well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world are also frequently highlighted.

The game's foundation in Chinese mythology, specifically Journey to the West and the adventures of Sun Wukong, is generally well-received. GamesRadar+, for instance, described it as "a fun action RPG reminiscent of modern God of War, but filtered through the lens of Chinese mythology."

However, PCGamesN's review, while acknowledging its GOTY potential, points out potential drawbacks shared by other critics: inconsistent level design, difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative structure, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requiring deeper engagement with in-game lore to fully grasp the story, is also noted.

Importantly, all early review copies were for PC. Console performance (specifically on PS5) remains unreviewed.

Controversial Review Guidelines for Streamers and Reviewers

Reports emerged of a co-publisher distributing a document outlining guidelines for streamers and reviewers. This document allegedly included a list of restricted topics, such as "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This sparked heated debate. One Twitter (X) user commented, expressing surprise that such guidelines were issued and questioning the silence of creators who received them. Conversely, others expressed no concern.

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