We invited regular reader CanvasONE to take a look at Rag Doll Kung Fu for us. Here’s his hands-on write up. With the exception of Killzone 2, Rag Doll Kung Fu is current most-played game in Three Speech’s hollowed-out volcano lair…
Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic is Tarsier Studios first re-working of LittleBigPlanet developer Mark Healey’s initial concept of party-fighting slapstick fun with a gloriously high definition image.
The game retains a functional simplicity, while offering enough depth for those who want to master their Kung-Fu skills. Upon launching the game it is made clear by the streamlined look that Rag Doll Kung Fu is designed for having fun with friends, or at least other people. For anyone with only a few minutes to spare, there is enough ease-of-use to simply jump into a game against the AI and immediately start having fun.
Up to 4 players can opt to go head-to-head in familiar modes such as Deathmatch and King of the Hill (resulting in hilariously frantic scrambles for a small area of space), as well as the entirely unique modes of Dodgeball (a personal favourite) and Capture the Fish. These more play-focussed options seem geared towards getting the family involved and offering respite from the hardcore battles that can ensue in the other modes.
As mentioned, the combat offers generous depth, which – combined with wacky rag doll physics – can make for a unique juxtaposition of both strategy and total bedlam. Thankfully you can jump straight into a system of forgiving “Challenge Levels” aimed at familiarising the player with the gameplay mechanics (the game’s greatest asset) as well as granting character-based unlockables in the process. Gameplay utilises the Sixaxis technology well; unobtrusively adding speedy jolts and position changes to the control scheme.
The general aesthetic pays homage to traditional cheesy Kung Fu movies as well as vintage action figures, with plenty canned slapstick Kung Fu sound effects for each individual collision. It’s a simple but satisfying combination! There’s also a character customisation process which gives a great range of looks, without being overly complex. Personally I went for a figure resembling Taki from Soul Caliber IV!
If you’re looking for user-friendly offline multiplayer fun with enough depth to become addicted to – then this game is a must have. Even if you’re not the socialising type, the generous price combined with the attraction of immediate short bursts of fun should be enough to entice you.
We expect to see you uploading some ridiculous brawls to the comments section – Rag Doll Kung Fu has video recording/uploading functionality built into it!
What a fantastically written review. Absolutely splendid masculinity really shines through in the writing too!
Comment by Robin — Feb 26, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
Rag Doll….my god….think it was 2006 when that first came out on steam…so long ago…how time flies =(
Comment by JohnSketch — Feb 26, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
This game sounds sweet! I always wanted to check this out on the PC at the time of release but never did in the end. I can tell already that this is gonna be another gem of a game for the PSN!
Comment by funkyellowmonkey(ps3 id) — Feb 26, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
Hands-on write-up… Hands up, right on! Fighting Slapstick Flighting chopstick high-flying limb-flailing Kung Fu-olery, indeed.
(I could go on, but I won’t, you’ll be pleased to read).
I showed interest [more than some] in this title when it was announced on this very blog (on 17 July 2008) following the preview presentation at last year’s E3 Media & Business Summit the day before.
Also noted at the time were “Rachet and Clank: Quest For Booty” (that is now available on Blu-ray in the UK, like the rest of Europe, in-store & online at parent/sister stores Game(Station | Play)[{dot}co.uk], “Fat Princess” (still waiting for release; literally), “Flower” (a title everybody [else] seems to have developed HEY!-fever with), “Crash Commando” (reminding me I never did download this; did anybody else?), and “Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic”.
At the time we were all anticipating “LittleBIGPlanet” & Mark Healey’s previous PC platform release just added to the build-up (no pun intended).
It was described as “Martial arts madness with a loose-limbed twist… Kung-Fu party action with a difference - your warriors are shiny and stretchy puppets who fight with wildly exaggerated motions to create awesome visual effects. Build up your Chi power by mastering your moves, then use it to create spectacular SIXAXIS(tm) special attacks and combat sequences. Perfect your skills at home, then head online for multiplayer ragdoll mayhem”
Still sounding like another PlayStation Network hit, but hopefully a try-before-you-buy option will be available, and some more recent video foot(erm, feet)age.
Three Speech: If you need some time alone with “Killzone 2″ I don’t mind looking after the plastic folk with the lemming-like tendencies, if you wish.
But what of “Big-Boned (but not in a ‘biblical’ way) Princess”, and the other ‘E3′ announcement, the North-Easterly region-themed virtual party animal “EyePet”?
(”Burn Zombie Burn{dot}com” is heading our way, but seemingly shuffling far slower than I’d like)
PS.
“Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic is Tarsier Studios first re-working of LittleBigPlanet developer Mark Healey’s initial concept of party-fighting slapstick fun with a gloriously high definition image.”
Reading between the quote above; is there going to be a second re-working of this title destined for our favourite portable console?
BFN,
fp.
Comment by fanpages — Feb 26, 2009 @ 9:58 pm
would be a very nice idea for a PSP version. could make for some nice wifi play.
Comment by Robin — Feb 27, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
nice
Comment by Robin — Feb 27, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment