Kings of Kung Fu

About

Kings of Kung Fu is a single player and multiplayer fighting game. It was developed by Jae Lee Productions and was released on June 25, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Kings of Kung Fu" is a martial arts fighting game inspired by classic Kung Fu films, where 14 stuntmen compete in a tournament to win a starring role in a studio's next film. Each fighter has a unique style, inspired by actual moves used in martial arts cinema, with hundreds of attacks, counter-attacks, blocks, and grapples. Selectable characters include Tao Lung, Chen Fu, Ron Jones, and Hou Feng, each with their own distinct style.

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66%

Audience ScoreBased on 387 reviews

graphics25 positive mentions

gameplay25 negative mentions

The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic kung fu movies with its characters, sound effects, and visual style.
The variety of characters and their unique fighting styles provide a fun and engaging experience for fans of martial arts.
The game offers a humorous and entertaining experience, especially for those who appreciate the jankiness and charm of indie games.

The controls are clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to execute combos and perform moves accurately.
The AI can be frustratingly simplistic, leading to repetitive gameplay and a lack of challenge.
The game lacks polish in terms of graphics and animations, which can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
54%
28%
The gameplay of "Kings of Kung Fu" has received largely negative feedback, with many users citing clunky controls, frustrating mechanics, and a lack of fluidity that detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and unique style, the combat mechanics are often described as broken or dull, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game fully. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the game's other positive aspects.
- “Overall, I consider the gameplay to be realistic and entertaining.”
- “The gameplay is fun and not too 'mugen-y' (note: it's not kofxiii, but it's much better than the likes of Vanguard Princess and about on par with Skullgirls in its own right).”
- “Going to gameplay, the fighting feels solid with every hit I send or receive, 'feeling' the impact of the punch/kick. It's not as powerful of a 'feel' as Dead or Alive, but it's there and it's good.”
- “Expect janky controls and frustrating mechanics—being locked into combos with little chance to counter or block can kill the fun fast.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay just falls short.”
- “The moves are near impossible to pull off, the hit detection is atrocious... gameplay is unspeakable.”
graphics
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
53%
16%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic 70s kung fu aesthetic and film reel effects, while others criticize the outdated visuals and poor animations. Some find the graphics charming despite their flaws, noting that they evoke a classic arcade feel, but overall, many agree that the visuals lack polish and refinement. While the art direction is often praised, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a consensus that the graphics are decent for an indie title but not up to modern standards.
- “The graphics are also more than I expected and have that 70s throwback era film reel feel to them.”
- “The graphics really set the stage and though you have several characters to choose from with their own fighting styles, you can tell whom the fighters are supposed to be in the real world from Chuck Norris, Donnie Yen, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and so on.”
- “The 70's kung fu aesthetic is great, the music is perfect, and all the characters are really spot-on representations of the actors that inspired them.”
- “The game is indie as hell but in a wrong way: bad graphics, weird animations, ugly sound and non-existent plot.”
- “Graphics are sub-par, with partly terrible animations and questionable collision checking; sometimes you hit the enemy while hitting empty air and sometimes you miss while hitting him square in the face.”
- “Poor graphics mixed with very bad animations and controls makes this game hardly enjoyable.”
music
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke the nostalgic atmosphere of 70s and 80s kung fu films, featuring a solid and enjoyable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the catchy tunes and thematic consistency, some note that certain tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The soundtrack is genuinely enjoyable, capturing the spirit of martial arts action and adding energy to matches.”
- “The music is awesome and the sound effects are on point.”
- “The 70's kung fu aesthetic is great, the music is perfect and all the characters are really spot on representations of the actors that inspired them.”
- “The only pros about this game are the soundtrack and the overall idea; I mean you've got expys of Donnie Yen, Bruce Lee, Sonny Chiba, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Bolo Yeung, and Jim Kelly straight from the movies that made them famous.”
- “Boring repetitive music.”
- “- Glitches: the music glitched and looped for quite a while, on a frequent basis.”
story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
66%
13%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its lack of depth and engagement. While some appreciate the retro kung fu feel and character variety, others criticize the story mode as barebones and uninteresting, often feeling disconnected from the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as minimal and not a significant draw for players, with many suggesting that a more developed story could enhance the experience.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “The plot of the story is interesting and original for a fighting game.”
- “The characters are pretty recognizable, ranging from Bruce Lee to Jim Kelly, and the fighting styles feel just like what the game's story implies; 8 stuntmen acting as their counterparts.”
- “I quit twice during the story mode because I thought I'd been playing for an hour.”
- “The story mode is so barebones, it's hardly worth playing more than once.”
- “There is a lack of story (if you've watched old kung fu movies you don't need it, but one starting battle-cry for each character would have been great) which would drive the arcade mode.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic homage to 70s and 80s martial arts films, enhanced by a compelling soundtrack and well-developed characters. Reviewers highlight the unique blend of old-school gameplay and cinematic style, creating an immersive experience that resonates with fans of the genre. Despite some shortcomings in graphics and story depth, the atmospheric quality remains a standout feature.
- “I love the atmosphere of the game and the tribute it pays to various martial arts movie stars of the last 40 or so years.”
- “The atmospheric feeling of an old school film-like effect that you have used within the game feels both eerie and connecting at the same time, especially with some of the actors who have passed away.”
- “If one were to make a list of this game's best features, the atmosphere would clearly be at the top.”
- “However, what it lacks in completeness, it makes up in atmosphere and character.”
- “Old kung-fu atmosphere.”
- “Inimitable atmosphere of the game.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning design, which draws inspiration from vintage films and classic kung fu aesthetics, creating a visually appealing experience. Reviewers praise the cohesive integration of character designs, backgrounds, and sound effects, emphasizing that these elements significantly enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Everything about this game from the character designs to the sound and stage designs is fun.”
- “From the character design and clothing to the levels and backdrops, the soundtrack is all on point and really good!”
- “They went and made this game with a bunch of cheap knock-off character designs from some of the finest kung fu films like 'Enter the Dragon', 'Ip Man', and '36 Chambers of Shaolin'.”
- “The biggest appeal is the character designs and backdrops.”
- “From the character design and clothing to the levels and backdrops, the soundtrack is all on point, really good!”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The humor in the game is described as both amusing and absurd, with players finding the gameplay hilariously cruel and the controls comically frustrating. While some appreciate the lightheartedness and "old school" charm, others express a desire for a more serious tone, noting that certain gameplay mechanics can be unintentionally funny yet frustrating. Overall, the humor is a mixed bag, eliciting laughter while also leading to moments of annoyance.
- “It's a cheap and cheerful game; once you get used to the controls, it's hilariously cruel with its gameplay.”
- “One funny old school 'stupidness' is that somewhere in the tournament, a player faces the same character.”
- “That's not a big deal, but it's just a funny thing.”
- “I appreciate the humor, but I would love to take this more seriously.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and freezing, particularly during critical moments like boss fights. Users have reported problems with audio looping and achievements not functioning properly, contributing to an overall frustrating experience.
- “This game is a buggy, clunky, stiff Tekken ripoff.”
- “Very buggy.”
- “I get to the final boss with White Stallion and the game freezes at the beginning of the fight.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting significant performance issues and clunky gameplay across multiple PCs, while others note that it runs smoothly and is well-polished. Overall, there are concerns about the game's performance and balancing not being adequately optimized.
- “It is quite polished, runs smoothly, and boasts a high level of authenticity.”
- “I gave it like 3 chances, but besides being clunky as hell, it's also not optimized for any of the 3 PCs I tried it on.”
- “- Performance and balancing are currently not optimized!”
- “- Performance and balancing are currently not optimized!”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has a low replay value, rated at 5/10, with users suggesting that it may only be worth purchasing on sale due to its lack of compelling reasons to replay.
- “Replay value: 5/10”
- “If you can get it on sale, then fine; it just doesn't have any real replay value.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express mixed emotions regarding the game's AI, with some feeling overconfident in their abilities despite not being skilled at fighting games. This contradiction leads to a sense of confusion, as the emotional highs of feeling competitive clash with the perceived shortcomings of the game's challenge.
- “The enemy/opponent AI seems pretty dumb; honestly, I'm not even that good at fighting games and just enjoy them, but this game made me feel like I was ready to compete in EVO.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that "Kings of Kung Fu" is not a typical cash grab, indicating that its monetization strategy is more focused on quality and potential for future improvements rather than exploiting players.