Rise to Honor

"An Incredible Action Game That Allows You To Assume The Role of Jet Li..."

Finally, for Jet Li fans, one of the most anticipated video games of the year has been released. Finally, fans are allowed to assume to role of Jet Li, perhaps the greatest fighter alive today. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

Graphics: 10/10

-The graphics are some of the best you'll find on the Playstation 2. The characters are incredibly smooth and move with the precise swiftness you would see in a martial arts film. The main character looks exactly like Jet Li, almost perfect to the tee. If you were to watch a Jet Li film and then play Rise to Honor, you would hardly notice the difference. The cutscenes as well as the heavily detailed landscapes, are perfectly done and couldn't possibly be better. There are a few flaws in the graphical system in which at times it doesn't seem as though your attack landed on your opponent, yet still he flies as if he has been hit. All in all though, it easily warrants a 10.

Story: 8/10

-The story is comprised of your typical Hong Kong action film; however, a few surprising twists are added. You play as Kit Yun, a police officer in Hong Kong who is determined to bring down the city's organized crime factions. Working undercover, Kit becomes a trusted advisor of a Hong Kong crime lord. The two become close, and when the crime lord is assassinated, all hell breaks loose as Kit goes off seeking revenge. The course of the story will take you to numerous locations and cities around the world, including Hong Kong and San Francisco. As mentioned before, a few surprising twists await you in the storyline.

Gameplay: 10/10

-Besides the detailed graphics, the gameplay is what truly makes this game. The gameplay is uniquely comprised of a 360 degree fighting system. What does that mean? It means that you can attack in any direction using the right analog stick simply by pressing the analog in the direction you desire. Not only can you enact in hand-to-hand combat, but you can also employ the use of firearms. In addition, you are given an adrenaline bar which steadily increases each time you perform a successful attack on an opponent. When your adrenaline bar is full you are enabled to unleash amazing attacks and block equally amazing opponent attacks. There are so many different moves and combos that you may execute during the game. These are thousands moves that were motion captured by Jet Li himself, and you can clearly tell. You'll never get bored of beating up the bad guys using all the signature moves you have seen from past Jet Li movies.

Sound: 9/10

-The voice acting within the game is brilliant. Jet Li provides his own voice along with a great cast of actors and it gives the game a true cinematic feel to it. You can choose to play the game in both Mandarin with subtitles, or just english with dubbed voices. The music also fits nicely within the context of the game. You will hear various pulse beating hip hop tracks while fighting, but will hear slower, more haunting tracks during other stages of play.

Replayability: 8/10

-An expert video gamer could most likely finish this video game in 15-20 hours. However, the ride is so entertaining that most gamers will likely want to play it at least for a second or third run. Once you pass the game for the first time, you receive additional bonus items such as new attire for you to use during the next time you play through the game. Obviously it would have better if it was longer, but it's undeniably great while it lasts.

-Overall, with all things factored, this is an incredible game. The one flaw is that it very well should have been longer than what it was, but it is a minor flaw at that. Anybody who is a fan of action games, Jet Li, martial arts, or martial arts cinema should buy this game without question. People who are into other types of gaming or movies should still give this game at least a rent for it is that good.

Overall: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/21/04