Kung Fu Panda

The general opinion of movie-based videogames is often quite negative. The disappointment of going from the cinematic delights of the big screen to the under-developed, rushed mess of the television screen has been documented a thousand times by irate journalists and gamers alike. But before I wrote off Kung Fu Panda as yet another awful movie tie-in, I thought I should at least give it a sporting chance to prove otherwise. And I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised.

The primary character is Po the panda, an unfortunate soul who dreams of becoming a kung fu master like the rest of the elite animal trainees who happen to specialise in a range of self-defence moves. Sadly, his love of all things edible reduces his hopes of double cartwheels and high kicks to nothing more than some belly rippling and rolling from point A to B. Despite such a generously proportioned bodyweight, he defies all setbacks and utilises his shape to defeat those who stand in his way.

Belly bashing just happens to be Po’s forte, forming the basis of attacks for this off-the-wall beat ‘em up. The bizarre sight of an overweight panda dodging enemies roly-poly style as well as fending off foes with a swift paw punch makes this title gleefully distinguishable from the typical hero stereotype.

Pleasantly smooth attack actions ensure no keyboard-smashing need take place, while the voice acting is dutifully well-presented. The real shining point is the care and attention to detail injected in this game, a rarity for common movie tie-ins. The plot follows the distinctive Dreamworks style, with cheerful humour and cute charm bringing commercial appeal for lovers of the film.

Aside from the traditional one-player trait of defeating enemies, there is a host of other features including minigames, multiplayer mode and features to unlock. Po can upgrade various attributes such as attack strengths, improved moves and outfits by collecting gold coins en route. Weapons are also at his disposal and serve well to keep the gameplay varied. Both compulsory and optional tasks are accessible to the player throughout the stages. These are fairly straightforward obstacles and consequently fail to invoke any manner of ‘feel-good achievement’ usually associated with completion of an arduous task.

It goes without saying that although Kung Fu Panda is a light-hearted source of amusement with a very real underlying moral, the short longevity and lack of difficulty will appeal more to kids than the experienced gamer. Indeed, young children are the intended target audience, though gamers of all ages can certainly enjoy the simplicity offered. For a change of pace from more demanding chart titles, Kung Fu Panda is a fun short adventure worthy of your time.