After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here! Early reviews are in, revealing a mix of praise and concerns. Let's delve into the details.

Black Myth: Wukong Arrives (PC Only, For Now)

The anticipation surrounding Black Myth: Wukong, ignited by its 2020 trailer, has largely been met with positive critical reception. The game boasts an 82 Metascore on Metacritic, based on 54 reviews.

Reviewers widely praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system, particularly its well-crafted boss fights. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its richly detailed world also garner significant acclaim. The game's adaptation of the Chinese mythological tale, Journey to the West, featuring Sun Wukong, is considered a strong point, 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, notes potential drawbacks that might 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 mentioned. Importantly, all early access reviews are based on the PC version; console performance (specifically on PS5) remains unreviewed.

Controversial Review Guidelines Surface

A recent controversy emerged regarding guidelines reportedly issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to reviewers and streamers. These guidelines allegedly restricted discussion of certain topics, including "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse." This has sparked significant debate within the gaming community, with varying opinions on the appropriateness of these restrictions.

Despite this controversy, the game's popularity remains undeniable. Steam sales statistics show it's currently the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform before its official release. While the lack of console reviews introduces some uncertainty, Black Myth: Wukong is poised for a major launch.