After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here (at least on PC)! Initial reviews are in, painting a mixed, yet largely positive, picture. Let's delve into the details.
Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival
PC Launch Only (For Now)
The game, highly anticipated since its debut trailer, has garnered mostly favorable reviews, boasting an 82 Metascore on Metacritic based on 54 critic reviews.
Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing precise and engaging combat complemented by brilliantly designed boss fights. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world also receive widespread acclaim. The game's adaptation of the Chinese mythological tale, Journey to the West, is particularly well-received, with GamesRadar+ describing it as "a fun action RPG that feels like a modern God of War game through a Chinese mythological lens."
However, PCGamesN, among others, points out potential drawbacks that could deter some players. These include subpar level design, uneven difficulty, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative's fragmented nature, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions, is also noted. Importantly, all early access reviews are based solely on the PC version; console performance (specifically on PS5) remains unreviewed.
Review Guidelines Spark Controversy
(Image from SteamDB)
Over the weekend, reports emerged of controversial guidelines issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. These guidelines reportedly restricted discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse." This has ignited significant debate within the gaming community, with some criticizing the guidelines' existence and others expressing indifference.
Despite this controversy, the game's anticipation remains high. Steam sales data shows Black Myth: Wukong as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform prior to release. While the lack of console reviews might temper some enthusiasm, the game appears poised for a strong launch.
