Rise to Honor

"Another Mediocre Jet Li Product in America?"

Introduction
You take on the role of Jet Li as Kit Yun in Rise To Honor. The game opens up showing a transaction between your boss and a client when the envelope is snatched from your boss and you, being his body guard has to retrieve it. The game forces you to dive headfirst and take him on. You chase him down a street filled with obstacles that you have to jump over or climb on then you get to your first fight against a thug. It's great the game helps you familiarize yourself with the controls without stopping the gameplay.

Gameplay
At first getting used to the controls is a little tough but once you are comfortable with them you'll look like Jet in his movies takin on many enemies at once. The game gets a little repetitive at times because sometimes it seems like all you are doing is fighting hand to hand all the time in different places but it has 3 different types of levels. Theres the hand to hand fighting levels where you run through the area knocking everyone out. Then theres levels where you are in gunfights and hide behind various things as you progress across the area. Last.. there are stealth areas.. theres only a few of these but they are fairly easy. There is a story and it progresses slowly but its easy to follow.

Story
The story is pretty much a basic story regurgitated into movies over and over. Your a bodyguard of a big crime boss and your father was killed years ago and was friends with the boss, then hes killed..blah blah..you go get revenge..blah blah blah blah.it just seems that i've seen it to many times.. but its told good and its easy to follow so it doesn't hurt the game any.

Graphics/Sound
The graphics are real crisp and clean, however the sounds is not. Pretty much the same sounds with every punch or kick that connects and the same yells and screams during fights.. it does have good music to go along with the fights though. There are a few guns and each have their own sound and all the furniture breaking sounds the same, same with glass. The graphics are real smooth though and are the best I've seen on a PS2 in a while.

Play time/Replayability
Well.. out of all the areas this is where it is the worse. I beat the game with 4 hours of gameplay and i took my time too, i wasn't trying to rush through it as fast as i could i tried to take my time and enjoy it which i did. When you beat the game you unlock some videos and extra costumes for Jet Li/Kit Yun. Theres only 3 costumes and they aren't that cool but if you liked the game chances are you'll play through it on the other difficulties for the challange. There really is no point in playing through again except to have fun and the game is relatively short so be prepared.

Final Recommenendation
buy or rent? definitely rent first to see if you want to buy it. You will most likely beat it when you rent it but it is a real fun and addictive game.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/22/04