Kung Fu Chaos

Banzai and Monkey fans, prepare for a rare treat as all that is low-budget and 70s goes gaming.

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Fans of cult TV shows Monkey and Banzai, you could just have found something pretty close Mecca. I give you, Kung Fu Chaos, an Xbox exclusive from 'quirky' development house, Just Add Monsters. Before I continue, I've just realised that to save my lazy arse time, I'm going to abbreviate the games title, which shall hence forth be known as KFC. Well it made me laugh, anyway.

KFC (chortle), is an amusing beat 'em up style affair, that takes much of its richly realised audio and visual pointers from the 70s, and the smorgasbord of classic Kung Fu movies that originated from the decade. Thusly, we're presented with a highly stylised set of cartoony characters, battling it out frenetically across a number of bizarre 'film-set' style environments. The music comes from Enter the Dragon (more recently heard on Channel 4's hilarious mock-gambling show Banzai), and the theme tune is ably provided by a certain Carl Douglas hit, without which KFC (still funny), wouldn't be quite the same.

It's quite a straight-forward affair really as having chosen your character of choice (naturally I opted for the nimble-but-aggravating Monkey), you can choose which film-set to practice your skills in. As you defeat wave after wave of foe, you'll find yourself moving through the set, as the scenery collapses around you; buildings crumble, and rickety Junk boats sink beneath the weight of combat. It is all quite impressive, and very fast.

To get 'Super Attack'; moves capable of wiping out enemies with ease, you'll need to taunt your opponents, three successful insults will then give you the ability to use your 'Super Attack', the Monkey enjoys showering lightning in an entertaining manner, for example.

The game also has a rudimentary story, of sorts, surrounding your chosen character auditioning for Kung Fu flicks, though this is of course pure hokum, the movie theme pervades with battles ending as the Director runs out of film, and cameras flying as sets collapse dramatically. The scenery is particularly impressive with this in mind, with some very detailed 'sets' that are highly interactive. Just Add Monsters have certainly made an original job of the heavily stylised visuals.

The animation too, if rather fast, is highly impressive - and overall the speed of the game both in single and multi player is breathtaking. Many of the previously mentioned sets are locked from the outset, though can be revealed by progressing in the Ninja Challenge, the main single player mode, if you will. Playing Kung Fu Chaos alone, as with many fast-paced arcade orientated style titles, can become repetitive and a tad grating after a while. Instead, a spot of social multi player action is probably the games strongest element, as the game's unique style and humour can be very entertaining in Kung Fu-kicking a few friends. Of course, you'll want to get proficient at the game before this stage, which is why there's a handy training mode, which is actually rather important given the variety of moves, combinations, etc., you'll be trying to get to grips with. More over, the action can literally be so chaotic as to remove any opportunity for pre-meditated moves, meaning that you'll often be reduced to a frantic hammering of buttons. This is a shame.

The single player brawls, and the small number of 'amusing-for-five-minutes' mini games, can be very entertaining, even funny at times, as the game makes the most of every possible lame 70s Kung Fu film stereotype. Once again though, things can quickly descend into chaotic repetition.

That said, the game does enjoy some fast-paced action, and some lovely graphics, and whilst the game play isn't the most in depth affair you’ll come across, it will still provide a few hours of good quality amusement, and in multi player you may just have a surprise treat on your hands. It is here that the games simplistic and fun game play ethic is most easily appreciated.

Like the movies that inspire it, Kung Fu Chaos could prove to be something of a flawed cult favourite.

70%

By Luke Guttridge