Black Myth Wukong Review Roundup: "An exciting and interesting reimagining"

Black Myth: Wukong generated a lot of buzz when it was revealed in 2020. Its impressive art and cinematic sequences seemed to appear out of nowhere. After four years of teasers, glimpses, and studio controversy, Black Myth reviews have been released, and it appears that developer Game Science has produced a hit.

Tyler Colp, in our Black Myth: Wukong Review, called Wukong, "one of the most joyous action RPGs that I've ever played." Its acrobatic combat, sorcerous creatures, and vibrant retelling Journey to the West, overshadowed its technical stumbles. Other critics seem to agree with Tyler Colp, praising Wukong for its cinematic boss battles and beautiful scenery, despite some fumbling.

Here's what others are saying about Black Myth Wukong.

"Although it can be frustrating at times, this is a solid RPG in general"

GamesRadar+: 4/5

Austin Wood, GamesRadar's Austin Wood, found that the God of War games are a better comparison for the Chinese ARPGs' progression and structure. Wood praised the game's world, with a few asterisks to indicate occasional level design friction. He said that while the combat suffers from a standard, light attack combo, which never gets more complex, Wukong is "at its best" in boss fights, most of which are real spectacles.

"A sense balletic elegance in its best boss battles"

GameSpot: 8/10

Richard Wakeling, a GameSpot writer, also praised Wukong's bosses, saying that "triumphant battles with bosses and fast-paced gameplay make up for the dull moments in between." Wakeling, on the other hand, said that outside of fights it suffers "bland level designs and a scarcity enemies." But these lows pale in contrast to the cinematic heights of its best combat.

"An exciting and interesting reimagining one of East Asia's popular myths."

Siliconera: 8/10

Kazuma Hashimoto, a Siliconera contributor, praised the effort that went into making Wukong a rich retelling Journey to the West. This included the incorporation of traditional Chinese elements and the unlockable calligraphic images. Hashimoto, despite some frame drops and stutters in Wukong, said that he felt rewarded for the game's demanding combat. "Wukong expects you to use all of your tools at your disposal," he said.

"Game Science has pulled off the impossible".

Polygon: Unscored

Jason Rodriguez, Polygon, considers Black Myth: Wukong a great achievement. It is a compelling, thoughtful and evocative remake of the "timeless" classic Journey to the West. Rodrigeuz stated that the story is "woven like a fine tapestry" out of cultural tradition. It's a work with beautiful imagery, "gratifying side activities", and excellent enemy designs.

"I couldn't believe it was as good as the trailers and screens that were shown"

Rock Paper Shotgun: Unscored

Ed Thorn of Rock Paper Shotgun says that Wukong is the game that has managed to live up to all the hype that was generated by its pre-release trailers. Thorn was pleasantly surprised by the game's stunning presentation and nimble combat maneuvers.

"One of the most beautiful games I've played"

IGN: 8/10

Mitchell Saltzman, an IGN reviewer, also noted some significant technical issues. He cited crashes, audio issues, as well as a boss battle that sent him crashing through the geometry. Saltzman, however, said that the game's strengths more than carried it through, thanks to its "lightning fast, twitch reaction gameplay" and the setting, which is a feast for all the senses.