Review by Adam Stephen Kelly
UK Certification 7+ | UK RRP £39.99 | Region PAL | Developer Griptonite Games | Publisher THQ
Remember Activision's really quite decent adventure game that tied in with the first Kung Fu Panda movie three years ago? Well if you do – and you played it – you'll probably warm to THQ's version of the new hit animated film from DreamWorks just the same.
While Kung Fu Panda 2 is not ideal for adults who enjoyed the film's universal appeal – it's definitely a game for little ones only – kids are no doubt going to find this digital dose of mild entertainment to be a success. It may be an exercise in energy-exerting repetition, but unquestionably there is fun to be had – even if that means watching your son or daughter hopping in front of the TV to avoid on-screen obstacles as they roar down the streets in a rickshaw, or unleashing their own arsenal of martial arts manoeuvres to defeat the bad guys/animals. Unfortunately, you won't be able to join in with the action as the game lacks any sort of multiplayer mode, which, for a title so reliant on mini-games, is a bit of a kick in the teeth, no pun intended.
Aside from the rickshaw races and turn-based combat, which allows players to, as well as blocking and throwing punches and kicks, call upon the Furious Five (literally, thanks to Kinect's voice-activation capabilities) to help finish off enemies, gameplay includes a Diner Dash-esque attraction in Po's noodle shop, where you're tasked with satisfying the appetites of customers. And there are even food fights. Yes, food fights.
Kung Fu Panda 2 is far from innovative but at least it does what it says on the tin. It makes good use of Kinect's functionality and the all-new, original story, although short, will keep the younglings busy and entertained – as long as they don't become bored by the overabundance of cut-scenes, as charming and colourful as they are.