Shaq-Fu

"Call of Duty, FFVII, Deus Ex and Shaq Fu -- what do they all have in common?"

Certain games can make a positive impact on your life. Some businesses have modeled their practices after Pac Man and his “eat anything, gobble up the competition” ways. Hunters typically follow in the path of Final Fantasy heroes, spending their every waking hour meandering through desolate forests looking to slaughter bizarre and innocent animals. There are others out there though that model their existence after a more obscure, more hated game.

That game my friends, is Shaq-Fu.

Many people hate this game. They figure that since the game stars Shaq, that it must be stupid and aren’t willing to give it a fair shot. “He’s a basketball player” they say. They should actually give the game a chance and they’ll realize that though not as deep as some other fighters on the market, it’s still a fairly solid game with a lot of entertainment provided.

Other games star criminals (Moon-Walker and Kobe Bryant’s Courtside), yet these games receive critical acclaim and praise. Shaq-Fu on the other hand stars Shaquille O’Neal, a man that gives to charity and stars in popular kids movies, such as Kazaam, is degraded and reduced to appearances in bargain bins. Shaq is a wholesome idol and an excellent role model for all to look up to (because he’s really tall).

But judging by the reviews on this fine site, no one bothered to play the game and everyone unnecessarily hates this man.

The story of Shaq-Fu is simple. In the Second World, an evil sorcerer Sett Ra has gained power in his world and now seeks to take over Earth. He is defeated the first time, but he regains power and is set again to conquer Earth, but one stands in his way: The Chosen One. Figure out who that is.

Most fighting games don’t even have a plot, and considering that this game was released in 1994, this is truly ahead of it’s time. There are a dozen characters (though only Shaq is playable in the Story Mode, for obvious reasons) – yes, a dozen, not nine, not ten, not even eleven, twelve. Also, Shaq has a plethora of moves, a diverse lineup to commit slams and bangs on all who oppose, including the Inferno Kick and the Shaq-urikin. And let’s not forget the dreaded “Shaq-Shuffle.” Each of the other characters is blessed with individual modes. There’s also an intense Versus Mode, with sweaty palm action for you and one of your bros. Even a few codes are included to increase the replay value.

Shaq-Fu features unique motion capturing, one of the first for games in the genre. Either way you look at it, Shaq-Fu was a milestone for video games. In the end, Shaq gets a bad rap, but his raps ain’t bad. But I digress. The backgrounds are nearly as impressive, and the floors look nice too. The blood is especially good once enabled.

In the end, Shaq-Fu is a must-purchase title, especially considering the price (under 3 dollars). It’s a must for fighting game fans, and the game is surprisingly slam-bang good for people who aren’t fans of the genre. And who can resist owning the most hated game of all time?

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/28/03