If the idea of punching out ninjas and toppling giants while wearing pajamas seems like the ultimate in home entertainment, then Kung Fu High Impact may make your dreams come true. Thanks to Kinect, the game inserts your image — not your Xbox Live Avatar, but your physical, camera-captured form — into a silly 2D beat-’em-up and lets you battle enemies by moving your fists and feet.
It’s an incredibly simple concept, but one afforded some variety across 14 story stages. Beyond basic punches and kicks, you can lean back and jump to perform onscreen backflips, electrocute foes via proper arm movements, and even shoot fiery arrows (among other actions). And unlike with some camera-heavy Kinect games, your human warrior blends in well with the colorful backdrops, plus the motion-comic cutscenes you’ll pose for are an absolute riot.
When the game works well, it’s a novel thrill — and one hell of a workout — as your hurried motions effortlessly translate into gameplay. But that’s not always the case, and losing a mission due to a botched jump or an unregistered power-punch move can be downright infuriating, especially when you’re drenched in Kinect-fueled sweat.
Value is also a question, as the game’s campaign spans less than two hours; and even with survival stages and a quirky bonus where you can fight up to four friends who plug in controllers, this hardly feels like a $40 game. But if you’re willing to shell out for it and deal with the control flubs and brevity, Kung Fu High Impact serves up some good, dumb fun.
PUBLISHER: Ignition Entertainment • DEVELOPER: Virtual Air Guitar Company • ESRB: Teen • MULTIPLAYER: 5 on same screen (no Kinect multiplayer) • ACHIEVEMENTS: Easy • COST: $40
+ Hilariously inserts you into a martial-arts beat-’em-up via Kinect.
– Missed moves can lead to angry, sweaty losses.
– Very light on content for $40 asking price; should’ve been an Xbox Live Arcade release.
? What, no Kinect-based cooperative play?
