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KUNG FU STRIKE PC REVIEW |
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There are
far too few arcade brawlers nowadays, and the
popular ones in the 16-bit era like the Final
Fight and Street of Rage series keep getting
ported over with the same pixilated graphics.
Fortunately, game publishers such as Klei
Entertainment (think Shank franchise) and 7Sixty
offer some refreshing experience to bring out
the dated genre into the next generation.
Considering the major portion of gaming is
heavily focused on multiplayer shooters, we all
could use a break from the endless combat of
modern warfare – that sometimes strain our eyes
from too much sniping! We need an old-school
beat-them-up to calm down our trigger-happy
fingers, and Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior’s Rise
is just the antidote we are looking for.
In Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior’s Rise, you take
the role of General Loh, who is seeking revenge
for the murder of his father. In your quest for
justice, you will fight against highly-skilled
Kung Fu masters set in the backdrop of ancient
China. One of the aspects we love about this
game is the simplicity of the controls. You can
just press one button to handle all of your
attacks, instead of having separate buttons for
punches and kicks. The best part of the control
scheme is that it supports your Xbox 360
controller, which is way more comfortable than
the traditional non-ergonomic keyboard. The
response time of Xbox 360 controller is very
fast and accurate, even if we were using it
wirelessly. This is a big plus since your
enemies’ attacks are quick as a lightning and
you need to counter them just as fast.
Kung Fu Strike’s action sequences are very
impressive! There are tons of over-the-top moves
infused with incredibly fast punches and speedy
shaolin kicks. However, you cannot always rely
on offense alone to get through enemy
stronghold. The game is a bit deeper than just
smashing your attack button all the time. You
need to learn varying degrees of counter
measures, which include evading and deflecting
maneuvers. This is a critical part of defense in
that if timed right you get to recover some of
your energy. The screen is so full of
devastating combos that the fight sometimes
continues into the air! You can even hold just
the attack button and watch your character turn
Chinese strikes into an art form of terrible
beating. The combat system is very fluid and
seamless; it’s a kind of gameplay that maximizes
the flow of combos in limitless fashion. So
don’t be surprised to pull off a combo that
reaches into the 20’s or even the 30’s mark! |
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PRODUCT
OVERALL RATING: 8.5 OUT OF 10 |
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Super Moves
are the main catalyst of Kung Fu Strike. They
are flashiest and certainly the most
entertaining part of the game. After each fight,
you would want to grab as many coins as
possible. You will need these coins to purchase
additional techniques and power-ups. That’s the
beauty of Kung Fu Strike – it allows you to
expand your collection of Super Moves so you’re
not stuck with just one arsenal in the game. In
fact, each Super Move you purchase is readily
accessible any time during battles! In the old
arcade brawler such as Final Fight, you are
restricted to just one. Super Moves like Taichi
Sweep, Tornado Kick, Dragon Rage, Shadow Flash,
Falcon Shot, and Dragon Claw really help turn
the tide of the battle. And when you combine
them with certain power-ups, you are virtually
unstoppable!
The game also features some interesting
equipment for your character. For instance, you
can add Break Blaster, which imposes a 30% extra
damage upon breaking the enemy’s guard, or
outfit your fighter with Light Boots, which
enable you to perform four-jump combo attacks in
mid-air! In dealing with its single-player mode,
Kung Fu Strike is a very difficult arcade
brawler. Without any strategy guide, you will
probably lose your manhood in frustration.
Thankfully, the game gives you the ability to
summon backup warriors, ranging from
dart-throwing ninjas to enchanted underground
soldiers. But the greatest support you can have
is from a friend. That’s right – Kung Fu Strike
has a cooperative mode! You can have twice the
fun serving up a hot recipe of dragon kicks that
end with a Buddha stomp.
In the graphics department, there is nothing
much to celebrate about, but the developer did
an excellent job with the animation and
rendering of stages that's supposed to reflect
ancient China. The sound effects are okay for
the most part and music fits the echoes of a
place torn by warring factions. So far, Kung Fu
Strike has demonstrated a lot of potential as a
great arcade brawler. With 28 levels of seamless
fighting sequences, combined with the ability to
unleash a kamikaze of finishing moves and local
coop, it’s definitely a must have title!
However, the developer needs to add some online
components and tone down its difficulty to
increase its mass appeal to casual audience.
With today’s lack of classic brawlers, Kung Fu
Strike definitely sends a strong statement to
the legacy of arcade fighting genre. |
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