9 Monkeys of Shaolin
Publisher: ESDigital Games
The true rebirth of iconic beat 'em up genre in vein of old-school video games! As a simple Chinese fisherman Wei Cheng you have to avenge the death of your friends and family slaughtered in a pirate raid at your peaceful village.
In 9 Monkeys of Shaolin, Wei Cheng is only a fisherman when pirates attack his village. After losing everything, he begins a journey of revenge that brings him to Shaolin masters and into the wider traditions of several martial arts.
This side-scrolling beat 'em up combines ground attacks, aerial strikes and magic seals. As the adventure unfolds, Wei Cheng learns new techniques, improves his equipment and fights through villages, pirate ships, monasteries and other locations inspired by a reimagined medieval China.
We loved: The range of fighting styles. Ground attacks, aerial combos and Qi-based powers let you change your approach from one encounter to the next.
We liked: The kung-fu movie atmosphere. The settings, effects and hand-drawn scenes give the adventure a distinctive identity.
Our favorite part: Two-player co-op. Magic seals can group or launch enemies, creating useful ways to support a partner and build combos together.
Our tip to help you: Use seals to pull several enemies together or launch them into the air, then follow up with ground or aerial attacks. Treat Qi and tea as active resources rather than items to save forever. In co-op, use seals to free a partner who is surrounded.
Who is this game for? 9 Monkeys of Shaolin is aimed at players aged 12 and over who enjoy beat 'em ups, martial arts and action adventures they can share. The campaign can be played alone or cooperatively with a second player locally. Players who enjoy learning combos, managing several styles and improving through repeated attempts should find plenty to like here.
