Kung Fu Chaos

"Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting!!!"

Opening Arguments -

You know, staring at the box for this game, I almost wasn't sure what it was I was buying. A cross between Powerstone and some of those old 70's Kung-Fu films was what it appeared to be and I was a bit unsure as to whether or not this would be a worthwhile purchase. Still, I plunked down the fifty bones necessary to it's procurement and took it home... Still wondering if I had made a good decision.

The Grim Reality -

I am glad I bought this game, period. Within a few minutes of gameplay, all of my skepticism vanished and I realized that what I had purchased was indeed worth the money I spent. Kung Fu Chaos is a fantastic game, which parodies the style of the cheesy 70's ninja combat flicks. Movies like ''Master Ninja'' (MST fans, you know what I'm talking about) came immediately to mind and I was hooked on the game, being reeled in by it's unique brand of humor, gameplay and very fitting score (''everybody was Kung Fu fighting...'').

Gameplay -

The gameplay is very similar to Powerstone, in-so-far as you are in an arena area, beating the hell out of any and everything that attacks you. Like Powerstone, you can pick up objects (or foes) and use them as weapons. However, these items tend to be few and far between, which leaves you with only your bare fists as your sole weapon... But what a weapon it is!

For a game like this, there is a nice amount of depth to the combat system. The X button is your main attack, the Y button a fast attack (and a counter attack). The B button let's you pick things up and throw them and the A button jumps. Of course, mix these buttons together and you've got combos galore and with the many different type of ninja clan members coming for you, you'll need to find a combo that best suits your particular foe!

No fighting game is complete without a taunt system and Kung Fu Chaos delivers here, too. After knocking an enemy down, holding the L Trigger will launch a barrage of insults certain to make even the hardest of ninja warrior's ears bleed. With three successful taunts, your character can unleash their Super Attack by holding down both triggers, whooping some series ninja clan ass in the process. It's fun and rewarding.

The object for most stages is to get stars. You are required to get three stars to beat the level, but you can gain a total of 5, which usually unlocks something from a mini-game to a new outift for a character. To get stars, simply kick some ninja booty... Quickly, since you only have about a minute. Most levels are like this, where you are attacked from all side by ninja's of all shapes and sizes. However, so levels are more like mini-games and some are lessons in attacking. Each one has a star objective, so go nuts and get star-struck!

While a great single player game in it's own right, the game is a won ton of fun for up to four players. Go crazy, open a can of whoop ass on your friends KUNG FU STYLE!! It's a lot of fun and will definitely keep you occupied for a long time.

Graphics -

While not the greatest graphics in the world, Kung Fu Chaos still manages to holds it's own with it's unique styles. It's colorful, movie set looking backgrounds are as done brilliantly, with a strong attention to texture and detail. Characters are also done well, with no polygon break-up of any sort. Enemies tend to be repetitious, but you really won't care as they are all over you like moths drawn to a flame. You'll be kicking too much ass to notice.

Sound-

From the very 70's style music to the insulting comments made by the characters, Kung Fu Chaos is trip. Voices are as well-done as the soundtrack and overall noises, from chairs being smashed to watermelons being throw, are really very good. Again, an excellent score.

Closing Comments -

It's funny. Kung Fu Chaos abbreviated is KFC, and just like Kentucy Fried Chicken, this game does chicken, er, I mean gaming right. The game has a fantastic soundtrack, great graphics and a fighting engine that, while not the best I've eer seen, still has a good amount of depth. People looking for Tekken Tag are definitely looking in the wrong place, but people looking for a good Powerstone styled game need look no further, as Kung Fu Chaos reigns on the Xbox.

As a final statement, I've seena lot of people comment on the racist portrayls of the characters and the voices used within the game itself and while I must admit that, while all of the Chinese characters and voices are portrayed sterotypically, it is still a parody. It isn't meant as an offence to anyone, it is simply meant to be a parody of the many bad Kung Fu films of the age... And nobody should be offended by a parody.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/08/03, Updated 03/08/03