Hands-onKung Fu Chaos

Microsoft stopped by today and gave us a chance to try out its recently announced tongue-in-cheek '70s-style kung fu brawler, Kung Fu Chaos. Developed by Just Add Monsters, a recently formed Manchester-based developer made up of former Sony Computer Entertainment employees whose previous experience includes the MediEvil and Frogger games. You'll definitely recognize some of the whimsy from those games in Kung Fu Chaos. We were able to choose from a motley crew of characters that included a stick-wielding monkey and an assortment of ninjas that were being used as placeholders for other characters.

The gameplay was straightforward and hectic. It also tied in well with the game's "plot." The selectable characters are all aspiring actors who are starring in an Ang Woo action movie. Sadly, Ang isn't exactly swimming in cash, and his film is being shot on whatever movie lots he can sneak on to. The stages will consist of you fighting with up to four other characters on stages that are parodies of movie blockbusters such as Titanic and Jurassic Park. The goal in combat is to take out your "costars" in order to earn maximum screen time.

We fought on the Titanic set and got a feel for how the levels will affect combat. The level scrolled slowly to the right and began to fall apart after the ship hit an iceberg. Combat took place across the decks as we made our way to the bow of the ship. Crates and other items such as chunks of ice from the iceberg could be picked up and flung at opponents during a brawl. A window featuring Ang Woo popped up along the way to give us "direction" on upcoming hazards, such as when the ship splits in half. We were eventually duking it out in a lifeboat after the ship sank. The control was basic--the A button triggered attacks, with constant button presses triggering simplistic combos, and the shoulder button allowed us to charge up and unleash more powerful attacks.

The game will offer three modes of play: battle, story, and championship. Battle and championship obviously focus on mayhem-ridden combat. Story will follow each character on his or her road to stardom. In addition, the game will also feature 15 minigames for variety in gameplay, as well as victory-level minigames that will have the winner playing a level-specific game. For example, the winner of the Titanic stage will play a minigame wherein survivors from the boat must be rescued during a set time limit.

Graphically, Kung Fu Chaos features graphics that are brightly colored and cartoonlike. The characters sported clean detail, as did the massive Titanic level. The water was nicely done, calling to mind the ocean seen in Bloodwake. The action was decently paced for the way the level moved, and it stayed steady all the way though. The frame rate stayed at a solid clip and didn't slow down, which bodes well for the game's final incarnation.

The game certainly has potential, and while it's not quite up to Powerstone quality yet, it could be if it comes together properly. As it stands now, Kung Fu Chaos shows a lot of promise thanks to its loopy premise and twisted levels. It will be interesting to see just how crazy Just Add Monsters is going to make the game. Kung Fu Chaos is currently slated to ship during this year's holidays season.