2024-08-18T07:56:00+00:00
Black Myth: Wukong is set to release in just a few days, and I'm already seeing some heated arguments about this game.
On one side, you've got certain reviewers pointing out potential issues. On the other hand, many fired-up fans from China accused those reviewers of being anti-China or not understanding the source material. As someone eagerly awaiting the game, I understand why people are so passionate about defending it. This is a big moment for Chinese gamers to see their mythology brought to life like this. But at the same time, come on, guys - chill out a little! Just because someone criticizes one aspect doesn't mean they're attacking the culture as a whole.
In one community I saw, a stan told another user they needed to "read the Journey to the West novel to understand the culture and lore" before commenting on the game. Duh, if it's a culturally-driven game, especially as a triple-A title, it should immerse new audiences in its classic lore through interactive gameplay instead of expecting players to be well-versed in the mythos.
Some have even used out-of-context screenshots of demon characters from the game to make joking comparisons to black people in New York City, seemingly as a dismissive response to certain diversity discussions from reviewers. (Mods took it down now).
Overall, it seems many Chinese fans are overly sensitive to even mild critiques of the game before it's fully experienced. While national pride is understandable, lashing out at reviewers and shutting down discussions doesn't help the game's reception.