Kung Fu Panda Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 27 June, 2008

Fist of Furry.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Games based on animated kids' movies rarely surprise, but it's hard to stop your eyebrows arching when you realise that this latest entry in the maligned genre comes across as nothing more than a child-friendly version of Sony's hyper-violent God of War. The ursine martial artist of the title is Po, a chubby daydreamer who fancies being chosen as the legendary Dragon Warrior. I won't be spoiling anything to reveal that his destiny involves this very occurrence, but the journey to get there is more entertaining than any licensed platform game has the right to be.

At its heart, and for the majority of its levels, Kung Fu Panda is a melee beat-'em-up, in which waves of enemies approach from all sides, and you fend them off using rapid-fire combos and special moves. The game shrewdly opts to keep things simple, leaving the young player with a small but useful arsenal of attack options rather than overwhelming them with long-winded button combinations.

You have a fast attack, and a strong attack. These can be modified by using them in conjunction with one another, or by using them while running or jumping. There's also a block, and an action button which can be used to trigger specials like the Panda Quake ground slam or Panda Tumble rolling attack. The brawling is broken up by occasional chase sequences, some basic platform exploration and our old friend Trevor Quick-Time Event. Optional objectives generally involve finding a certain number of hidden items, or rescuing innocents from small cages. There are also large floating coins to collect and secret things to sniff out, squirreled away in the scenery.

So, originality clearly isn't a priority. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. While you could argue that the game is simplistic, I'd say it's accessible and that's a good thing when too many kids' games seem to have no idea how kids actually play games. Luxoflux, creators of the awesome Vigilante 8, has focussed on a small number of gameplay elements and shuffled them together in an intelligent and enjoyable fashion. Considering the prevalence of the kitchen sink approach, where games-of-the-movie throw everything into the mix in the hope that something will work, such focus and restraint deserves praise.

'Kung Fu Panda' Screenshot 1

The game really does look this good. Purveyors of lazy licensed tat should take note.

And, make no mistake, Kung Fu Panda is a very likeable game. This is due in no small part to the fact that you can tell the developers have gone the extra mile to produce something that could stand on its own as a self-contained videogame experience, rather than just riding the inevitable wave of movie hype. There's a solidity and attention to detail in the visuals, with bright, colourful and engaging characters and environments - that we rarely see in movie spin-off games. Jack Black supplies a genuinely funny narration that contains more energy and enthusiasm than most actors bring to such projects.

Control is crisp, enabling even younger players to engage attackers from all sides in style, while the animation does an excellent job of chaining it all together into something that looks natural and fluid. It puts cool moves within reach, makes you work to reach the end, but never allows poor design to make things frustrating. A few of the levels could perhaps benefit from clearer signposting as to where you need to go, but there's nothing a smart child won't be able to work out. In an ideal world, such things wouldn't be all that noteworthy but it says a lot for the poor state of kids' games in general that Kung Fu Panda stands out simply for making an effort to exceed its audience's expectations.

'Kung Fu Panda' Screenshot 2

At key points, you'll control members of the heroic Furious Five. No sign of Grandmaster Flash, sadly.

With thirteen levels it's not the biggest game in the world, but provided you're not one of those people who measures the value of a game solely in terms of hours spent, it feels nicely paced. It expands on the movie story, by necessity, but none of the sections feel like obvious padding - Po's journey from lazy idealist to Zen warrior keeps moving at all times, the villain is threatening but not unbeatable and there are enough new abilities and playable characters sprinkled throughout the story to keep things interesting.

Even so, you're looking at maybe a few evenings of casual play to finish the game. Luckily, it has one last ace up its baggy kung fu sleeve - a brace of multiplayer modes (offline only, unfortunately) that are both numerous and varied enough to have you scouring each level for the rare coins that unlock them. From four-player Powerstone-style brawls to team survival challenges and even quirky versions of Yahtzee and picture-matching puzzles, it's an impressive suite of additional gameplay that extends the game's lifespan in surprising ways.

Kung Fu Panda won't be winning any awards, and it won't be gracing any end-of-year lists, but that's not to say it doesn't deserve carefully measured praise. It manages the not inconsiderable feat of being a solid action game first and foremost, and a part of a blockbuster licensing campaign second. It's certainly the most enjoyable and polished kid's game without "LEGO" in the title for an embarrassingly long time. Parents wondering if they should cave in to pester power after a cinema trip can fork out for a rental or a purchase and know that they'll at least be getting an actual game for their money, not just a half-baked marketing exercise.

7 / 10

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Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Kingofnothin #1 4 years ago

    7/10 So not quite as good as MGS4...disappointing.

  • Setaro #2 4 years ago

    Whoa, that's a high score for a film tie-in.

  • miiiguel #3 4 years ago

    I bought it. It arrived same time as the review.

  • CannonAnBall #4 4 years ago

    This a 360 exclusive?

  • muscleblade #5 4 years ago

    "I bought it. It arrived same time as the review"

    Of course you did.

  • killest #6 4 years ago

    7/10 So not quite as good as MGS4...disappointing.

    no..... just that LITTTTTLEEEEE bit crapper... if only it had longer cutscenes... oops

  • konstantinos #7 4 years ago

    is this coming out on the PS3...? my nephew would love it!

    cheers...

  • Razer #8 4 years ago

    Got this for my 9 year old on wednesday - he completed it in 5 hours over wednesday and thursday.

  • CannonAnBall #9 4 years ago

    Looks like it's out for everything, wii, PS2, PS3 and DS

  • miiiguel #10 4 years ago

    @muscle
    now I just need sealife.

    oh nevermind that, I'm not really from the "games police".
    Edited by 1 at 27/06/08 @ 14:37

  • Rirekon #11 4 years ago

    Graphics look amazing compared to most move tie-ins, well done there!
    However;
    "<a href=http ://www.collectedcurios.com/SA_0428_small.jpg>our old friend Trevor Quick-Time Event</a>"
    Sad-Panda

  • Darren #12 4 years ago

    I quite enjoyed the demo I tried a while back on the 360 (it was on an OXM cover disc I think); it was a lout of fun and endearingly cute despite the fighting. Graphically it was pretty slick too bar the nasty screen tearing. Has it been fixed for the final game by any chance?

  • MBar #13 4 years ago

    7/10?

    For a movie tie-in?

    Does. Not. Compute.

    /aneurysm

  • MBar #14 4 years ago

    Wow, decent reviews all over the intarwebs.

    GameRankings for the 360 version

    Not seen the movie yet, but I hear good things.
    Edited by 2 at 27/06/08 @ 14:51

  • Olemak #15 4 years ago

    Sounds good. They probably just started developing early on, when all they had to go on was the title/concept "Kung Fu Panda". The devs probably said these words exactly to the crew working on it:

    Studio boss: "OK, so we've been hired to do a movie tie-in called... Brian, stop making faces! Anyway, the movie's called "Kung Fu Panda", and I have no Idea what it's about, except that it will probably be a Panda in it, and I think the Panda will be able to do some martial arts stuff. Other than that, we have no idea about the story, the characters, the setting or pretty much anything else - as is normal for these movie tie-in projects. None of that stuff will be ready before the film is pretty much done, as usual. So we're going to disregard all that shit and just do a game about a Panda who knows kung fu, and fill in the blanks later. OK, so that's where we're at. Any suggestions for the gameplay?"

    Brian (sarcastic): How about taking a sucessful hack-and-slash game, copy that and just replace the main character with a panda, and maybe replace the special attacks with famous king fu moves lifted off old Jackie Chan movies?

    Studio boss: "Fucking amazing idea, Brian! Uhm... what's the most successful, uhm, hash-and-smash game was it?

    Brian: "Hack and slash, boss.

    Studio boss: "Right. What's a popular hat and mash game?"

    Brian: "God of War is pretty good. Sold millions."

    Studio boss: "Great! Great! Let's do that! OK, everybody, do what Brian said, I'm off to lunch!

    Actually, that is indeed the right way to do it, rather than waiting for the movie studio to contribute. Like - the RIddick game wasn't even based on a film at all, just on the character from the previous film, with zero relevance to the movie it was probably supposed to tie in with. I hope this catches on - especially as it could give som rather bizarre results. I'd rather like to play a game copying GTA IV in minute detail - only with me controlling Iron Man instead of Nico. Or...

    Studio boss: "Listen up! We're going to make a game based on a movie called "Mandela" - no idea what it's about, except that this Mandela guy is the boss of some third world country. Any suggestion's for gameplay about powerful bosses we can copy?

    Brian: "Overlord was rather good, wasn't it?"

    Studio boss: "Overload it is then, go to it, see you in 18 months".
    Edited by 1 at 27/06/08 @ 14:56

  • muscleblade #16 4 years ago

    @miiiguel

    Yeah my 7 year old daughter completed Sealife Safari pretty fast.
    She might like this too. I prefer NG2 though.

  • Benno #17 4 years ago

    As good as Assassins Creed then?

  • miiiguel #18 4 years ago

    That's cool for you. The good thing about beeing 30 is that I can play whatever I want and do not have to explain myself to anyone nor beeing afraid of beeing labeled a kid (which would be pretty cool to be), I guess.

  • muscleblade #19 4 years ago

    "As good as Assassins Creed then? "

    Yes but its probably reviewed as a game for kids not adults. I guess i buy it for my daughter though if she likes the movie and Miguel can finish it with another 1000 g (just kidding Miguel :) ).

  • UncleLou #20 4 years ago

    As good as Assassins Creed then?


    Not sure how it could possibly be worse.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #21 4 years ago

    When I tried the demo I actually finished it as well. It's not bad, especially considering it's a movie tie-in. I don't have kids of my own but I can imagine it's nice when you buy something for your kids and you don't have to sit through all that rubbish.

  • miiiguel #22 4 years ago

    But I admit..., I'm not manly enough to play NG2. And I like animated kids movies.

  • space_ace #23 4 years ago

    tried the demo. amazingly, it wasn't crap. at all. congratulations :)

  • BadBoyBonner #24 4 years ago

    Olemak

    I loved the comments.

    EDIT - removed the non-existent "r" from your name i.e. Olemark
    Edited by 1 at 27/06/08 @ 15:06

  • bdc #25 4 years ago

    WHAT THE HELL, A HALF-DECENT MOVIE TIE-IN?

    RIP IN SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM DETECTED

    ABORT ALL HANDS ABORT ABORT ABORT

  • Zomoniac #26 4 years ago

    WHAT THE HELL, A HALF-DECENT MOVIE TIE-IN?

    RIP IN SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM DETECTED

    I'm guessing you didn't play Meet The Robinsons then?

  • Mudo #27 4 years ago

    What the hell is Meet the Robinsons?

    Sounds like your imagination is playing up Zomoniac

  • jonsaan #28 4 years ago

    Yes it's out on PS3 today as well.

  • BBIAJ #29 4 years ago

    @ Mudo:

    That would be the other kids movie tie-in game that scored well widely.

  • Azazel #30 4 years ago

    So, as good as... um... Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy?

  • Zomoniac #31 4 years ago

    What the hell is Meet the Robinsons?

    It was last year's Disney mindless cash-grabbing CGI summer kids film. The game of which was creative, varied and thoroughly enjoyable, and also got a 7 from Eurogamer. I gave it a generous 4/5 in my review.
    Edited by 1 at 27/06/08 @ 15:45

  • alimokrane #32 4 years ago

    Didnt see a 7/10 coming nice.

  • mingster #33 4 years ago

    Panda's + Kungfu = Good

  • Skywise #34 4 years ago

    I hope the game is as fun as these comments :-)

  • JediMasterMalik #35 4 years ago

    Sounds good, if I like the film, which things suggest I might, I may pick up the game to have a play through, and for my little sis.

  • InsoFox #36 4 years ago

    moviegame!

  • Lagto_Soa #37 4 years ago

    "Jack Black" + "genuinely funny" in same sentence?

    /shudders
    /poos pants

  • DjFlex52 #38 4 years ago

    Finally a movie game that's pretty good, not great, with colorful graphics and funny Jack Black imitator.
    Not many platformers to choose from on the 360..it's about time.
    I actually enjoyed it with my nephew. I got Wall-E too but haven't opened it yet.

  • TessaTickle #39 4 years ago

    @Olemak : is that a take on MicroSerfs ? If so : applause !!!

  • Bitkari #40 4 years ago

    Good to see such licensed titles being so high quality!

    Congrats to the devs!

  • neilka #41 4 years ago

    "Finally a movie game that's pretty good, not great, with colorful graphics and funny Jack Black imitator."

    Yes, that Jack Black certainly is one of the best Jack Black imitators around :)

  • Menace #42 4 years ago

    What¨s the PS2 version like then - just as good? (except for lesser graphics of course).

  • Dr.Mott #43 4 years ago

    Didn't King Kong get an 8?