Edit at time of uploading review (3/19/24): I recommend this game much less highly now. The actual action is only OK and the writing is only funny when it's not fucking awful and tasteless. Buyer beware :/
I bought this game entirely because Elkin's review of the Barack Fu DLC for it had me in stitches. I was very disappointed to find that apparently the Barack Fu DLC isn't actually on the American PSN store yet, apparently? Regardless, I played through Shaq Fu and had a pretty good time. I played through on normal difficulty and it took me like 2 or 2.5 hours (this game ain't long).
The game is a 2.5D brawler, and it's an okay to not-so-great one. The hit detection can be a bit funky, as you can walk around in a 3D space but can only attack left and right, not up and down, but that wonky detection tends to be in your advantage and not the enemy's, so it's not a problem. The combos are pretty simple but satifsying, and the game is short enough that they never get tedious or anything. The greatest sin I can say against the mechanics is that they just really aren't good enough to allow the hard mode to be playable. Enemies hit like twice as hard in the hard mode, and some enemy types like ninjas are just an absolute nightmare to fight with how agile they are compared to you. The hard mode is a total waste of time.
The game also has absolutely no multiplayer of any kind, which is insanely stupid for a beat 'em up released in 2018, quite frankly. I'd go as far as to call it downright inexcusable considering the $30 price tag the game goes for physically (or $40 if you're getting it on Switch). Given that it's a 2 hour game with very little replayability and not even multiplayer, I'd say the asking price on this thing is even a bit much for the default $20 digital price tag.
Where the game really shines is the writing though. It's very unabashadly silly and tongue-in-cheek writing. It has some low-points in the comedy that'll really make you cringe, but the highs far outweighed the lows for me. The music is also really fun 90's rap in a catchy but bad way and the theme song is just such stupid fun in that same vein. I gotta agree that I'm pretty damn tempted to pick up some of the soundtrack because it's just that damn catchy. The graphics are colorful, but nothing amazing. Very serviceable.
Verdict: Recommended. The writing is silly enough and the gameplay is just-okay enough that this is a game that I enjoyed my time with. Lack of multiplayer aside, the biggest downside to it as it is is the price tag. If you can get this for $10 or $15, this is definitely one to pick up to have a laugh with over an afternoon.
I bought this game entirely because Elkin's review of the Barack Fu DLC for it had me in stitches. I was very disappointed to find that apparently the Barack Fu DLC isn't actually on the American PSN store yet, apparently? Regardless, I played through Shaq Fu and had a pretty good time. I played through on normal difficulty and it took me like 2 or 2.5 hours (this game ain't long).
The game is a 2.5D brawler, and it's an okay to not-so-great one. The hit detection can be a bit funky, as you can walk around in a 3D space but can only attack left and right, not up and down, but that wonky detection tends to be in your advantage and not the enemy's, so it's not a problem. The combos are pretty simple but satifsying, and the game is short enough that they never get tedious or anything. The greatest sin I can say against the mechanics is that they just really aren't good enough to allow the hard mode to be playable. Enemies hit like twice as hard in the hard mode, and some enemy types like ninjas are just an absolute nightmare to fight with how agile they are compared to you. The hard mode is a total waste of time.
The game also has absolutely no multiplayer of any kind, which is insanely stupid for a beat 'em up released in 2018, quite frankly. I'd go as far as to call it downright inexcusable considering the $30 price tag the game goes for physically (or $40 if you're getting it on Switch). Given that it's a 2 hour game with very little replayability and not even multiplayer, I'd say the asking price on this thing is even a bit much for the default $20 digital price tag.
Where the game really shines is the writing though. It's very unabashadly silly and tongue-in-cheek writing. It has some low-points in the comedy that'll really make you cringe, but the highs far outweighed the lows for me. The music is also really fun 90's rap in a catchy but bad way and the theme song is just such stupid fun in that same vein. I gotta agree that I'm pretty damn tempted to pick up some of the soundtrack because it's just that damn catchy. The graphics are colorful, but nothing amazing. Very serviceable.
Verdict: Recommended. The writing is silly enough and the gameplay is just-okay enough that this is a game that I enjoyed my time with. Lack of multiplayer aside, the biggest downside to it as it is is the price tag. If you can get this for $10 or $15, this is definitely one to pick up to have a laugh with over an afternoon.