Marksman Gaming - Review - Jet Li: Rise to Honour

Author: Master_Ikrik

Type: PS2 Game

Released: 2004

Designer: Sony Entertainment

Publisher: Sony Entertainment

Genre: Action

Jet Li gets his own video game? About time too. It's a very American game though, an American style, but nevertheless a good game. The fighting style is totally new; the right analog stick, the perfect multi-directional fighting tool. I definitely felt that the game could have used that eastern influence, like those awesome dubbed martial-arts on at 2 in the morning.

The fighting system is very responsive and you can do combos by timing the swings. Also, when you do combos, there's a chance it'll give you a small movie where you do it in slow motion, an addition that doesn't tire quickly. Blocking is cool too; you dodge your attacker but you can only block for so long. The more you attack the quicker your "rage" meter gets full, and when your "rage" meter is filled you can go slo-mo and unleash psycho-kung-fu-action-stuff. You can also counter-attack, sending your enemies reeling back. Mind you, there is nothing cooler then watching your last enemy who has one health left coming straight at you and you just punch him in the face.

The story as I said is very American. You play a lapdog for a crime boss; when he's killed, his dying wish is for you to take a letter to his daughter. When you go to America, you meet up with your friend, a fat annoying Chinese guy (all three of you were friends when you were children). As it turns out, your boss's right-hand man killed your boss, took over his business and wants that letter, stopping at nothing to kill you. As it turns out (yes, again) you're also an undercover cop, who's really frustrated. Gasp.

There are different modes you play in. First is the basic kung-fu action fighting, usually involving a big space where enemies just randomly spawn and you have to beat them (my favourite). The second mode is a gunslinger where, yes you get to shoot people, and make stylized leaps while killing baddies. Third is sneaking around knocking out people with flashlights. Obviously if you're seen with a single flashlight, BAM GAME OVER, but what I don't get is that you know Kung-Fu and they don't. The final mode is where you get to run away from a helicopter who has a very trigger-happy person on it, aiming at you.

The Computer has a single strategy (used in Kung-Fu and Shooter, other modes don't need an AI) and that strategy is to encircle you and beat you to death. Which is both effective and annoying but it gives you time to exercise your precision multi-directional combo attacking. You have to be careful of how you fight certain units as well, there are three ways, regular, countering, and blocking. yes blocking. Regular works on most guys, usually the lower, weaker ones. Countering works against just about anyone, except certain enemies. Ever tried dancing around and beating up people at the same time? It's very, very tiring and there are certain enemies who if you block them for long enough will tire out and you can commence butt-kicking. Try blending all three of them together (it's tre, tre cool) NOTE: fighting the air still makes you look like an idiot.

Breakdown

Graphics: 8/10

The only problems are really minor stuff, I don't like the way they did the expressions on the faces or the faces themselves, it's big stuff when there's so many of those cinematics. The cinematics were quite nicely done though.

Effects: 9/10

Loved most of it; my only concern is that all the guns were automatic and I clearly remembered picking up pistols at least twice, also there was unlimited ammo with no clips.

Gameplay: 8/10

Sometimes when you want to jump over a car or something you have to press R1 and when time is of the essence (which it always is) it can be quite annoying to try to get over them.

Replayability: 9/10

How many times can you beat people up with Kung-Fu without it getting old? Hint, it takes awhile, and I can barely ever replay games.

Overall: 8.5/10