Kung Fu Chaos (Xbox)

Lights, camera, action: become immortalised as the greatest kung fu master in Chinese cinema. Choose one of six masters, each with a unique fighting style. Learn to become one with the button combos, impress the director and you can be a star in the best kung fu action movie of all time. With all it's influences this game is a fresh and welcome change to the more serious fighting games around. It's the Jackie Chan of fighting games, with the emphasis on fun and comedy as well as some great fighting action. The game will keep you busy for days as you unlock new characters and explore new areas. Practise in rehearsal mode and get your punches, blocks and taunts fine-tuned and ready to be unleashed.

Play the single player mode and unlock new scenes to perform, do a good job and avoid taking part of a straight-to-video flop. As you would expect in a member of the fighting genre, the game comes to life as a multi-player game. Punch, kick, throw; use all you have learnt to be the best fighter in this free-for-all action extravaganza. Grab three friends, check the gate, roll the cameras and become part of the mayhem that is Kung Fu Chaos. --Robert Holliday.

Starring high-kicking cartoon characters in various (often film-based) locations, this game is hugely entertaining, and has great variety in its game play.

The levels are all very well presented, and often have an amusing basis on a film - such as being on a sinking Titanic, escaping dinosaurs in Jurassic Park or aliens from Indepence Day. From the massively playable standard levels where you have to destroy many other ninjas, to the mini-games where you have to jump a rotating stick (simple yet genius multiplayer fun), catch ninjas jumping from a bar, bump other ninjas off an icicle or 'toss a princess', you will have fun whether playing on your own or with friends.

The amount available to start off with is good, things are unlocked at a reasonable rate, and the mini-series are fun when the main game's are completed (although this is not a trivial undertaking). Top this off with colourful characters and the best kung-fu cool presentation imaginable, and you have a game I cannot recommend highly enough. Perhaps not the best single-player game ever developed (although still a lot of fun), but in my opinion there's not a better multi-player one - and that's high praise indeed.


Full of chop-socky goodness...   January 24, 2004
glitch (Wokingham)
If you've ever played the Powerstone series on the Dreamcast, you'll instantly feel right at home with Kung Fu Chaos. Visually similar to the Dreamcast classic, it's a 'dodgy seventies kung-fu movie' take on the isometric beat-em-up.

Essentially the game takes the form of a Kung-Fu movie production, and for most part you will find yourself taking directions from the cheeky chappy in charge of the movie - Shao Ting. *groan* The game succeeds in taking the mickey out of both itself and the in-game characters, and while it can all seem rather over the top at first, you soon learn to laugh along with the jokes, and enter into the general spirit of things. Fortunately, you can turn off some of the stylised voice-acting and any custom soundtracks ripped to your 'box can replace the 'Kung-Funk' soundtrack.

KFC features an extensive selection of both single and multi-player challenges, and while the single-player game can be over quite quickly, there's always the replay value of doing it all over again with the various characters on offer. Get three extra people involved however, and it's an absolute blast. Various minigames and unlockable features add to the excitement, and while it's not going to keep you going for weeks, there's plenty on offer here for all levels of gamer.

All of the 8 initial characters have their own clearly defined fighting style, and each have their own plus and minus points. While none of the characters could be called weak, you'll soon find yourself favouring a particular 'actor', and exploring his or her nuances can be one of the games most rewarding aspects.

In short it's a very enjoyable and well though out beat-em-up. Not worth buying an Xbox for, but certainly worth buying for your Xbox.


These people forgot...   October 27, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

All the reviews are spot on. This game's the best one I've ever had in the way of a party game. There's enough variety in the events to keep one coming back for more. I beat this game in single player, and some of the levels it unlocks are extremely challenging. Most of the stages are pure fighting with all kinds of silliness all around. Like a pub falling to pieces all around but concentrate on fighting, the Titanic sinking, but keep fighting, flying ninjas fired out of a cannon at you and the whole level flies by, but... you know. It's the mini games that'll keep the gamer coming back for more though. Save the falling ninjas, by providing a trampoline for them to bounce on, throw the ugly princess at the ninjas to keep them from smacking you off the stage, jump over the pole that's spinning in a circle to knock you or the ninjas off your platform, etc.
I highly recommend this game for those with kids who want a fun game without complicated controls, although it can get a bit complicated. It's a very challenging game to play by yourself, but with a few friends, everyone will be laughing their heads off. I just can't say enough about this game. All appendages way up for this one.


Great Fun   October 14, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I love this game! its not really much fun on your own but get a few buddys/relatives around to play and its fantastic(i get beaten on the game by both my 4 year old son and 6 year old nephew!).
The game has lots of great comedy touches and is easy to learn to play,it also has a good tutorial level to teach you all the moves.
There are plenty of great characters (monkey is the best!) and loads of levels and features to unlock! so if you like multiplayer games and beat em ups then please buy this!.