Black Myth: Wukong Early Access Review Sparks Controversy

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 Only, for Now)

Since its debut trailer, Black Myth: Wukong has generated considerable excitement. Early critical response is largely positive, with a Metascore of 82 on Metacritic based on 54 reviews.

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

The game's adaptation of Chinese mythology, specifically Journey to the West and the adventures of Sun Wukong, has also received acclaim. GamesRadar+, for example, describes it as "a fun action RPG that feels like a modern God of War game filtered through the lens of Chinese mythology."

However, PCGamesN, while calling it a potential Game of the Year contender, points out potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: subpar level design, fluctuating difficulty, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is considered disjointed, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions.

Importantly, all initial reviews are based on the PC version; console reviews (specifically PS5) are still pending.

Controversy Surrounding Review Guidelines

Over the weekend, reports emerged of controversial review guidelines issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and publications. This document allegedly listed "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 criticize the guidelines, others see no issue. 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, unfortunately just less surprising."

Despite this controversy, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. It's currently the best-selling and most wishlisted game on Steam before its official release. While the lack of console reviews is a caveat, the game appears poised for a significant launch.