“Black Myth: Wukong” was released in 2020 and created a lot of buzz, seemingly coming out of nowhere with impressive art and cinematic action scenes. Now, four years later after glimpses, teasers, and studio controversy, a review of Black Myth has been released and it seems that developer Game Science has delivered a hit.

In our review of Black Myth: Wukong, Tyler Colp calls Wukong “one of the most enjoyable action RPGs I've played,” with acrobatic, magical combat and charismatic retellings of the Westward Journey's vibrant creatures, overcoming technical stumbles. Other critics seem to agree, with some reviews praising Goku's journey through cinematic boss battles and gorgeous scenery, even if there are a few fumbles along the way.

Other reviewers' comments on Black Myth: Wukong include.

GamesRadar+: 4/5

“Wukong” is commonly compared to “Souls,” but GamesRadar's Austin Wood rated the modern-day “God of War” as a better comparison in terms of progression and structure for a Chinese ARPG After praising the game's worldview, with an asterisk for occasional level design friction, Wood said that while the combat suffers somewhat from standard light attack combos and is never elaborate, Goku “is at his best in boss fights,” most of which are “real spectacle,” he said.

GameSpot: 8/10

Like GamesRadar's Wood, GameSpot's Richard Wakeling called Goku's bosses the clear highlight of the experience, writing that “the winning boss fights and fast-paced combat make up for the dull moments in between .” he writes. Outside of the fights, however, Wakeling said the game suffers from “bland level design and few enemies,” but those lows pale in comparison to the cinematic exuberance of the best fights.

Siliconera: 8/10

On Siliconera, Kazuma Hashimoto praised the clear effort expended to make “Goku” a rich retelling of “Journey to the West,” including the inclusion of a traditional Chinese aesthetic and unlockable calligraphy illustrations. Despite some dropped frames and faltering, Hashimoto said he found Goku's demanding combat challenging, in which he was “expected to utilize all the tools at his disposal.”

Polygon For Polygon's Jason Rodriguez, Black Myth: Wukong is a compelling, thoughtful, and evocative reimagining of the “timeless masterpiece” that is Journey to the West. Its story is “woven like a fine tapestry” from cultural traditions, says Rodriguez, and is colored by beautiful imagery, “satisfying” side activities, and excellent enemy design.

Rock Paper Shotgun: unscored

According to Ed Thorn of Rock Paper Shotgun, Wukong's greatest achievement is that it succeeds in corroborating all the pre-release trailers that first caught our attention. Thorn said, “It's been a long time since I've played a game as impressive as this one,” and he was pleasantly surprised by its “gorgeous presentation and nimble combat acrobatics.

IGN: 8/10

Mitchell Saltzman of IGN, like other reviewers, noted several substantial technical problems, citing crashes, audio issues, and a boss battle that definitely swoops through the geometry. Nevertheless, Saltzman noted that the game's “strengths are more than amply demonstrated” thanks to the tension of its “lightning-fast, instantly responsive gameplay” and a setting that stimulates all five senses.