Shaolin vs Wutang

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 464 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Shaolin vs Wutang Game Cover
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"Shaolin vs Wutang" is a 1v1 indie fighting game that combines martial arts and hip-hop culture. Players can choose from 16 unique characters, each with their own fighting style and set of moves. The game features a variety of stages, music, and a vinyl record-based health system, providing an immersive experience in the world of martial arts and music.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 464 reviews
music50 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Captures the essence of classic 70s and 80s kung fu movies with unique characters and styles.
  • Simple controls make it easy to pick up and play, while still offering depth for mastering combos.
  • Great soundtrack and visuals that enhance the nostalgic experience of martial arts cinema.
  • Lacks online multiplayer, limiting competitive play with friends.
  • Some characters feel unbalanced and the AI can be too easy or inconsistent.
  • Input lag and occasional glitches detract from the overall gameplay experience.
  • music127 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its authenticity and ability to evoke nostalgia, perfectly capturing the essence of classic 70s and 80s kung fu films. Many reviewers praised the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its energetic and era-appropriate tracks that enhance the overall gameplay experience. However, some players expressed a desire for more variety and better looping of the music, while others highlighted the potential issues with licensing for future updates.

    • “The music, the fighting styles, the 70's and 80's campiness seeping from literally every pixel in this game... it's all there and all S-tier quality.”
    • “The soundtrack and levels are honestly a thing of pure beauty and bliss.”
    • “The music makes you feel like you're in a kung fu movie.”
    • “Sound/music: hella loud and absolutely doodoo”
    • “On one end I have not seen many kung fu movies, (which I do want to fix) however most of the music aside from maybe 3 tracks are too short and keep looping and are kind of bland and generic. I feel bad because the guy behind the game had to pay fees for the music and it wasn't that appealing.”
    • “My only issue is music which does not seem to fit. Even if it's licensed music, it does not feel exciting, so I hope the developer adds better music and sound effects!”
  • graphics81 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and authentic art style, reminiscent of vintage kung fu films, with colorful backgrounds and distinct character designs. While some players note that the visuals are not AAA quality, they appreciate the overall aesthetic and fluidity of the animations, although there are occasional graphical glitches and performance issues on lower-end systems. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, enhancing the nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The graphics are unexpectedly good and really give the game a fighting feel.”
    • “The art style is just beautiful, incredibly well done, and when looking at the characters and their specific kung fu styles, I feel like being in one of those kick-♥♥♥ flicks I loved to watch as a kid and now as an adult.”
    • “The graphics and the background of this game are beautiful.”
    • “Gtx 970, lowest graphic settings and you get only 36-45 fps.”
    • “Lets be clear, this game is not the greatest game graphically and lacks refinement in input commands.”
    • “I understand the game is in early access but so far it is unresponsive, the health bar keeps glitching and the controls are laggy.”
  • gameplay62 mentions

    The gameplay of "Shaolin vs Wutang" is a mixed bag, with many praising its nostalgic martial arts theme, solid graphics, and fun mechanics, while others criticize the dated fighting mechanics and lack of depth. Players appreciate the simplicity and fluidity of the controls, though some find the gameplay repetitive and lacking polish. Overall, it offers an enjoyable experience for casual players, but may not satisfy those seeking a more competitive or complex fighting game.

    • “Fast, smooth gameplay, good combo system, great blocks, cool they have weapons.”
    • “The gameplay is great and far outshines any shortcomings this game may have.”
    • “This game features fast, solid fight mechanics, a very authentic and lovingly made setting, a good soundtrack, and a film-grain filter.”
    • “Fighting mechanics feel dated, like Mortal Kombat 2.”
    • “Good graphics, but bad gameplay.”
    • “Sadly the gameplay gets repetitive soon and I was unable to run the Steam version - got a black screen.”
  • story25 mentions

    The game's current story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many users noting the absence of a dedicated single-player story mode and expressing disappointment in the simplistic conclusions presented in the arcade mode. While some players appreciate the potential for future updates to include a more engaging narrative and character backstories, the overall sentiment is that the game would greatly benefit from a more developed and animated story experience. Many reviewers are hopeful for enhancements that could elevate the game's storytelling to match its gameplay.

    • “This game is great in short bursts, and if the story mode was 10 fights, I'd consider completing it with every character.”
    • “If, as seems to be the case, development is still going on and more bits (more character story? more fighters to join the current 27? more modes to join the ones that are already in there?) are going to be added in the future, then this should make things even more appealing to any fight fans out there.”
    • “I feel that a story mode would be a great addition to the game in many ways.”
    • “The story conclusions feel a bit lazy with just an image of your character's previous fight and some text underneath; they could have gone the extra mile to animate a small sequence.”
    • “The only place where I'm genuinely down about playing this game is the arcade story mode.”
    • “At the moment of writing the review, there is no single-player story mode, but as I understand, the developer is working on it.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many users noting poor performance and long load times, while others mention recent improvements in game balance and performance. Overall, it appears that the game still requires significant optimization efforts to enhance the user experience.

    • “Game balance and performance is a lot better now and doesn't feel as clunky as before.”
    • “About optimization, all are great.”
    • “However, it seems extremely poorly optimized.”
    • “Unoptimized performance.”
    • “So if you can stomach the load times and lacking optimizations, then you're in for a treat.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users noting occasional bugs and glitches, such as character clipping and menu issues, particularly in its early access phase. While some players appreciate the charm of these quirks, others report more significant problems like being launched out of the map. Overall, the game is described as "rough around the edges" but still enjoyable for fans of classic martial arts movies.

    • “Menu screens can be buggy at times.”
    • “Rough around the edges with some visual glitches and unpolished audio with weird voice packs (some characters don't sound like they have their own voice).”
    • “I noticed graphical glitches very rarely appearing throughout the game (sometimes at random or sometimes when changing the graphics settings), I also noticed character clipping when they were too close to each other, and an imbalanced AI fighting system.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is richly detailed and immersive, evoking the essence of classic 70s and 80s kung fu and Hong Kong action films. Players appreciate the realistic graphics, engaging sound design, and straightforward gameplay that enhance the overall experience, making it feel authentic and vibrant. The combination of these elements creates a captivating world filled with discovery and nostalgia.

    • “Very good overall and very atmospheric; loads to discover.”
    • “The sound and graphics drag you deep into the atmospheric world of chop-socky goodness.”
    • “The stages are sprawling with details and dripping with atmosphere; it's hard to believe Asia was ever this vibrant at any given point in time.”
    • “This all creates the ultimate atmosphere of the old-school kung fu movies from the 70s and 80s!”
    • “+ Hong Kong action movie atmosphere”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it hilariously entertaining, especially for fans of retro films and martial arts themes. The combination of amusing sound effects, catchy music, and simple yet engaging gameplay contributes to a fun experience that keeps players laughing throughout. Characters like the drunken fist add to the comedic charm, making the game a delightful experience.

    • “A jewel game for fans of retro films... the graphics aren't the best, but the music and sound are amazing. You don't need to be a master to win, and it is very funny.”
    • “The first hour had me laughing like a maniac as the game flooded my senses with martial arts movie themes.”
    • “I played as Drunken Fist (Jackie Chan's Drunken Master) and he was just as hilarious as I expected!”
  • character development3 mentions

    Reviews highlight a strong capture of the late 1970s kung-fu movie aesthetic in character design and sound, though opinions on the character design itself are mixed, with some praising its subtlety while others find it lacking. Overall, the gameplay is well-received, but the character development aspect shows a divide in satisfaction.

    • “I also love the fact that the character design isn't exaggerated.”
    • “Good gameplay, but bad character design.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the game's high replayability, noting that its engaging gameplay and extensive customization options contribute to a fun and enduring experience. Many seasoned gamers consider it among the best in its genre for replay value.

    • “I have been playing fighting games for 15+ years now, and this game is up there in terms of replayability and the amount of fun it offers in general.”
    • “The gameplay customization adds significant replay value.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in gameplay really diminishes the replay value.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough, making it hard to justify multiple runs.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the game uniquely impactful on an emotional level, delivering experiences that resonate deeply and surpass those of other titles.

    • “Emotionally, this game gives me what no other has.”
    • “The story and characters resonated with me on a deep level, making me feel a range of emotions.”
    • “I found myself genuinely moved by the narrative and the choices I had to make.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding experience in this game to be enjoyable and engaging, marking it as one of the most fun they've encountered recently.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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