Kung Fu Panda

Seasoned gamers know all too well the rather unfortunate tradition of games based on movies. Far too many titles that are crafted to coincide with the release of a film fail to live up to gamers’ expectations and hit the bottom of the “Coulda/Shoulda-Been-Better-Bin” with a resounding thud. This is all the more obvious (and frustrating) when the movie does well at the box office but buyers of the game scream in outrage. Well, welcome to the newest title to buck that trend. Dreamworks and Activision have crafted an action-packed title that is sure to offer gamers of all ages some solid hours of fun as they follow Po on his journey to become a Kung Fu master in “Kung Fu Panda” (KFP).

As does its animated film counterpart, KFP weaves a story around Po, a young Panda who dreams of becoming a world-renowned Kung Fu fighter. As Fate would have it, Po eventually finds himself on a journey to become an unlikely hero. If you haven’t yet seen the movie, you probably have a good clue as to how it all turns out, but, to use a popular phrase: “It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey.” So we may know how it will turn out, but that doesn’t take away from the fun of helping Po get there. Ultimately, gamers will have to face off against the notorious Tai Lung, an imprisoned, vengeful feline baddie who has his sights set on wreaking havoc in the valley in which Po and his family live. The game stays true to its roots and hits the major plot points of the film, but it also serves up additional content for budding Kung Fu protégés to enjoy. Po is at the center of the plot, but you’ll also have the opportunity to play (at predetermined moments) as some of the other characters from the film (called the Furious Five), such as Master Crane and Tigeress. Each character brings his/her own flavor of Kung Fu to the table.

Though there is a story unfolding as you make your way to martial arts greatness, one of the central tasks before you is to take on hordes of enemies that are generally up to no good. Fortunately, gameplay is one of the areas in which KFP shines. Po starts out with a meager set of offensive moves, but as you progress through the game’s 13 stages, he will learn more techniques that he can use to Panda-pound his foes into the floor. One such technique is called “Panda Quake.” This allows him to leap into the air and come smashing down into the ground, belly first, in an attack that will damage all who are in range with a concussive blast. Or, you can unleash “Panda Stumble,” which requires Po to get a running start before rolling into a ball that can be used to mow down any enemies that may be in your way. Keep in mind, however, that in order to pull off some special moves you’ll need to use chi, which will generally be replenished by picking up Chi clouds dropped by defeated enemies. Basic attacks are divided between “fast” and “strong” designations, and a variety of combos can be strung together using preset button/key sequences. The offensive moves are a blast to pull off and there’s a good mix of them to add variety to the action. KFP isn’t all offense, however, Po can also block and dodge enemies attacks, which is particularly useful when you find yourself surrounded.

In addition to learning new skills and using special attacks, Po can “purchase” (using gold coins found throughout the levels) upgrades in three categories: stats, techniques, and clothing. (Note: Though you will play as some of the other characters, they will not be upgradable). For instance, under stats, you can upgrade Po’s health and chi pools. Or, you can improve the damage dealt by both basic and special moves. In all, there are twelve stats and five techniques that can be augmented, as well as three outfits that can be purchased. There’s nothing revolutionary about the upgrade mechanic, but it’s implemented well within the game and offers a modest opportunity to customize our young Panda protagonist.

When you’re not taking down baddies, the game may have you trying to collect a number of different items to move on to the next stage. As a case in point, early in the game, Po must find enough rockets to attach to a chair so he can blast off and land in the arena where an important martial arts competition is being held. The collection quests fit well within the context of the story. KFP also has a number of platform sequences that are liberally sprinkled throughout its length, which can sometimes be a bit more challenging than they should due to the occasional bad camera angle. Don’t get me wrong here, the third-person camera is generally quite agile, and you can take control to rotate it around Po, as well as jump into first-person view to survey an area, but sometimes it can be a bit difficult to see where you need to go during some platform sequences, until the camera eventually swings out for a larger view of the area.

In additional to the single-player romp, KFP offers an impressive cornucopia of cooperative and competitive local multiplayer game modes for up to four players. In all, there are 14 different multiplayer modes from which to choose. As a case in point, in “Village” players must work together to keep bandits from stealing items from Po’s village while “Tournament” has players team up to protect a rabbit in the center of an arena as enemies attack from all sides. If the rabbit is killed, it’s game over. You gain access to different modes and characters by finding rare coins in game, which is likely to encourage gamers to thoroughly explore each level. Each coin found unlocks a multiplayer level or character. However, a minor drawback here is that you’re not told what each coin you find unlocks; instead, you have to check for what has been unlocked by hand, a minor inconvenience.

KFP is as visually lush and vibrant as its big-screen counterpart. Kudos to the art team, who did an excellent job of melding Asian influences with Po’s fictional world in everything from architecture to wardrobe. Deep, rich colors and sharp, crisp textures coupled with excellent lighting make for some very impressive environments. One sequence of note here is when you take to the air, at sunset, as Master Crane, who must make his way to the Jade Palace. The waning glow of the sun illuminates the edges of clouds as you try to maneuver around electric storms. Gorgeous. The water effects should also be mentioned here, as they are quite stunning as well. Additional kudos should be given to the team for how well animated the characters are, Po in particular. You’ll definitely get a sense of the attention to detail when Po comes to a stop and his ample paunch jiggles or when he tries to assume the crane position and wobbles on one leg, slightly off balance. These are nice touches that are indicative of the title’s polish and quality.

On a final note, KFP can be played using either a keyboard and mouse or a gamepad. Gamers will want to use a gamepad, as playing the game with a keyboard can become rather cumbersome in the heat of battle with multiple foes attacking from different angles. I tried using the keyboard/mouse combo and found it difficult to pull off Po’s moves as frequently and accurately as I would have liked, so I switched to an X-BOX style controller and took it to the baddies with great fury and equal satisfaction.