After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong has finally arrived, and initial reviews are in! This article summarizes the critical reception and addresses the controversy surrounding review guidelines.

Black Myth: Wukong is Almost Here (PC Only)

Since its debut trailer, Black Myth: Wukong has generated considerable excitement. Early critical response 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, particularly its well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its richly detailed world also receive high marks. The game's interpretation of the Journey to the West mythology is well-received, 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 reviewers point to potential drawbacks, including subpar level design, uneven difficulty, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative structure, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is also criticized for its fragmented storytelling, requiring players to piece together the plot through item descriptions. Importantly, all initial reviews are based on the PC version; console performance (specifically on PS5) remains unreviewed.

Controversial Review Guidelines

Reports emerged of a co-publisher issuing guidelines to streamers and reviewers, outlining "Do's and Don'ts" that reportedly restricted discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse." This has sparked considerable debate within the gaming community, with some criticizing the guidelines while others express no concern.

Despite the controversy, Black Myth: Wukong remains highly anticipated, currently topping Steam's best-selling and most wishlisted games charts. While the lack of console reviews presents a caveat, the game's launch appears poised for significant success.