For standard licensed drivel, Kung Fu Panda is a pleasant, more than playable surprise. While aimed at the younger set with its non-existent difficulty, the superb feel of the beat-em-up combat and light adventure platforming offers enough for adults as well. Kung Fu Panda has a shot at being the best summer movie tie in game this year, for whatever that’s worth.
With its pleasant visuals and spot on animation, Panda is immediately a pleasurable gaming experience. The title wastes no time in introducing the player to its mechanics, which admittedly boil down to doing little more than wailing on a few buttons until all enemies are exposed of. What’s surprising it how well this title does so, with an efficient grace usually reserved for titles of higher caliber.
The fluidity of the combat and ease of the fighting system, this comes down to a simplified child’s version of Ninja Gaiden. Each stage offers a few objectives to complete, with the main one ending the level upon its completion. Landing a 100% rating in each level will require multiple play throughs, though the only added benefit are some easy to earn achievements. The story mode will only take a couple of hours to blow through even on the hardest difficulty setting.
Mild RPG style elements allow for leveling up after each stage is completed. These increase health, chi used to unleash special moves, and add strength to the basic roster of attacks. The panda in the title, Po, leads players though the vast majority of this 13 level title. Other characters from the film have mere cameos, and at most are given one stage to call their own. Some are given even less, negated down to a God of War style quick time button pressing event. Panda misses its chance to add some variety.
As with almost any third person action title, the camera is consistently against the player. At times, it’s as if someone else is in control, making it difficult to complete critical jumps to advance. Thankfully, checkpoints are common, generous, and save everyone who plays from frustration. On the opposite side, it greatly reduces the length of the game which is already short with 13 bite sized levels.
Multi-player modes offer a collection of mini-games that have slight replay value. Smash Bros. style brawls are available for up to four players (with extra characters unlocked through the single player campaign). Some memory matching games are there for the kids, and co-op stages let friends tackle some survival modes together. All of this is offline, though it’s hard to imagine a hefty online community drumming up support for Kung Fu Panda even if it offered it.
If anything, Panda is a throwback to an era where every new film was graced with a beat-em-up or fighting game tie in. Where most of those games failed however, this one succeeds. This is mechanically sound, well produced affair worthy of being on any gaming family’s shelf… after a price drop.
4/5
Tags: action, activision, black jack images anime, jack black, kung fu, kung fu panda, review, super smash bros melee tag team, xbox 360
