NYCC 09: Invincible Tiger hands-on (XBLA)
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 7th 2009 at 11:58AM } 
First thought: Wow, this is kinda like Kung-Fu Master -- the venerable father of beat-em-ups. Next thought: No, this isn't like Kung-Fu Master. The level is a movie set, not side-scrolling, but stage-like, with vertical sections, props, and stunt areas. You don't move as an 8-bit Master, but as a fast and fluid 3D model: leaping, rolling, diving, flipping, kicking and splitting wigs.
Dare we say, Invincible Tiger is quite tiger-like? There's a great precision to the controls, and the combat evolves as the stage progresses. Each stage is comprised of "waves" of enemies, growing stronger and more complex with the passing of the tides. Enemies become adept at blocking and attacking. Glowing indicators on their hands and feet telegraph where a strike will originate from (but give no indication of exactly when the strike will happen), giving players an opportunity to execute a dodge move (right stick); left, right, or upward -- unlike enemies, players can't block. Successful dodging builds a "Yin/Yang" meter that, once full, can be triggered (RB), in turn, unlocking a so-called "invincible" strength, vastly increasing players' speed and damage capabilities. On the opposite side of the gamepad (LB), is a "meditation" trigger used to regenerate health -- just know that you can't meditate with undead ninjas jump kicking your dome.
What looks dull and grainy in screenshots, is an intended 70s Kung Fu film filter, which doesn't necessarily translate much better in actual gameplay. It's an aesthetic choice, though, and the developers have clearly put a lot of attention into the art design of Invincible Tiger. This really shows in the stage design. Interactive set pieces glow red as you near them, and tapping the interact button (B) mergers players into those built-in stunts -- kicking clay pops, shimmying up polls, swinging across gaps, or simply walking in one door (and down unseen stairs) and out another.
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is not as grandiose as the great Kung Fu flicks, but it certainly compares to some lesser, Sunday afternoon pictures. At the right price (we'd like to see $10) -- and with 2-player co-op and 4-player battle modes (online and off) -- Invincible Tiger is another summer release we're looking forward to soaking up.
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is scheduled for release this summer on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade for an as yet unspecified price.
What looks dull and grainy in screenshots, is an intended 70s Kung Fu film filter, which doesn't necessarily translate much better in actual gameplay. It's an aesthetic choice, though, and the developers have clearly put a lot of attention into the art design of Invincible Tiger. This really shows in the stage design. Interactive set pieces glow red as you near them, and tapping the interact button (B) mergers players into those built-in stunts -- kicking clay pops, shimmying up polls, swinging across gaps, or simply walking in one door (and down unseen stairs) and out another.
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is not as grandiose as the great Kung Fu flicks, but it certainly compares to some lesser, Sunday afternoon pictures. At the right price (we'd like to see $10) -- and with 2-player co-op and 4-player battle modes (online and off) -- Invincible Tiger is another summer release we're looking forward to soaking up.
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is scheduled for release this summer on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade for an as yet unspecified price.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
-.- @ Feb 7th 2009 12:03PM
I thoguht it was LBP when i saw the pic O.O
Pumapayam @ Feb 7th 2009 4:02PM
We think alike, I thought it was LittleBigPlanet too.
Stylized similar to the Gardens/Islands.
J.Goodwin @ Feb 7th 2009 12:08PM
Yeah, I had that LBP feeling too.
I like how ComicCon is becoming the go-to place for "major" downloadable game previews.
finalstar @ Feb 7th 2009 12:19PM
lol
i thought it was LBP too lmao .. im glad i wasn't the only one :P
Courtney @ Feb 7th 2009 12:25PM
Man, I had originally thought this reminded me of Kung Fu Chaos (a tragically overlooked fun game), but now it does even more so. I'm sold!
Game_playa @ Feb 7th 2009 3:31PM
Did you mean Rag Doll Kung Fu?
J.Goodwin @ Feb 7th 2009 6:30PM
No, he meant Kung Fu Chaos, the game made by the developer currently known as Ninja Theory before they made Heavenly Sword.
It didn't sell very well at all, and Microsoft declined to finance and publish their most recent project as a result.
Courtney @ Feb 7th 2009 11:32PM
I didn't realize it was the same developer behind Heavenly Sword.
Kung Fu Chaos was an original Xbox game where you played the star of a B Kung Fu movie, fighting out each scene of the movie while a director yelled at (or occasionally complimented) you, hence the resemblance to this one when they described each stage as being like a movie set. I thought it was just full of over the top, silly fun.
zakru @ Feb 7th 2009 12:45PM
Wow, I thought this was a Playstation site.
Bowser Rogozhin @ Feb 7th 2009 12:55PM
It's an Amiga fansite. Didn't you see Ludwig's five page preview of the latest Zool release? Talk about whoring yourself for pageviews, amirite?
Xta Large (Formerly Fatass) @ Feb 7th 2009 12:57PM
I'm assuming you caught this link from http://playstation.joystiq.com/, in which case I suggest you lrn2joystiq
It says (XBLA) at the top because that's the version of the game that they were able to play. The game is still being released for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, and since they're likely very similar products, this hands on is also describing the experience a Playstation 3 owner would take away from this game.
Fraser JK @ Feb 7th 2009 12:46PM
Looks like Rag-doll Kong Fu... interesting!
Bill$ @ Feb 7th 2009 1:21PM
thats what im thinking. what ever happened to that game? or did they just change the name?
j.howlett @ Feb 7th 2009 2:25PM
i think rag doll kung fu came out on pc awhile ago, i think it was through steam. it's suppose to com to psn eventually
Fraser JK @ Feb 7th 2009 3:21PM
I think that's the old one, they are making a new one now!
A1 @ Feb 7th 2009 1:09PM
I too thought this was a Playstation site, never mind.
mgsrocks1 @ Feb 7th 2009 1:17PM
Good thing to know I'm not the only one who thought it was Little Big Planet on the pic.
IvorB @ Feb 7th 2009 1:41PM
Isn't this supposed to be PS3fanboy? Why the Xbox 360 hands on? I know it's being released on both but why write about the 360 version here? That doesn't make sense.
Xta Large (Formerly Fatass) @ Feb 7th 2009 1:53PM
I'll just copy and paste this.
It says (XBLA) at the top because that's the version of the game that they were able to play. The game is still being released for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, and since they're likely very similar products, this hands on is also describing the experience a Playstation 3 owner would take away from this game.
WhiteShield @ Feb 7th 2009 2:41PM
they also have a link to this from the xbox.joystiq site. not that i used it but now with the merger of all the fanboy sites, links pile over into other sections of the site. and once again, just read xta large.
TuxBobble @ Feb 7th 2009 3:42PM
It seems to me that the others are right--it'll be both PSN/XBLA game.
However, please if you're going to USE the same article for XBLA/PSN, at least indicate that it's for both in a clear way. I almost skipped right over this post because it said XBLA and not PSN, so I initially assumed it would be an exclusive.
So next time make it clear please. I didn't see a single mention of PSN/PlayStation outside of the "tags" and so I wasn't sure if it was a mis-tag or what. Just add a /PSN to the title. So, for a multiplat game, just use the platform you're reviewing/previewing first. i.e. for this, type XBLA/PSN. If you were looking at the PSN version, simply put PSN/XBLA. Can't be much easier than that, can you?
cafecito @ Feb 7th 2009 2:43PM
Still can't tell that oriental people call strong people "tigers" and "dragons", and not literally tigers and dragons? Sheesh.
Anyway, sounds fun. Hope it has a nice price when landing on XBLA :D
(Damn, I'm still waiting for a current-gen Jackie Chan game. Not the cartoon, mind you... the guy himself. Like that great PSOne game)
Popfrogs @ Feb 7th 2009 3:23PM
The colors are ugly and disgusting. I hope this game is fun to make up for that.
jordanpories @ Feb 7th 2009 4:48PM
wow this looks just like littlebigplanet but probly sucks
WhiteShield @ Feb 7th 2009 6:13PM
ya the background looks like LBP but how does the gameplay? this isn't platforming, this is a side scrolling fighter.
revsoul @ Mar 12th 2009 12:47PM
In the true essence of fanboyism, i'd expect a PS3 hands-on not a 360 hands-on. If it's not available yet then wait until it is. If I want it that bad I'll go to the 360 site and read it. Let me at least have my "fanboy" site and nothing else.
davebo @ Feb 8th 2009 12:33AM
I'm always excited to hear about co-op beat em up's. I'll keep an eye out for some videos of this once it gets closer to release.
Larry @ Feb 9th 2009 11:19AM
Nice write-up. I will try the demo when it comes out.
hippe @ Feb 9th 2009 1:23PM
I agree with tuxbobble. i for one loved PS3 fanboy but i knew eventually money and gaming politics would push it into a platform where , just like all other sources of gamming news, XBL stuff would be meshed with PS3 stuff and us PS3 fans get to get all our reviews based off the XBox version. I for one will be looking out for the next great video game site that will provide content in the way PS3 Fanboy did it. I was worried about what the change would mean and this is it. Enjoy your XBox reviews and screenshots in the PS3 fanboy section.
bearcall @ Feb 9th 2009 6:16PM
tbh i agree 100%, and don't really find the site worth reading anymore... i used to read joystiq, and then read ps3fanboy seperately to see a different take on the same stories.
now they are the same, less biased, and too be honest f***ing boring!
robotoid @ Apr 14th 2009 1:10PM
I love the style and it looks so much fun. Please let it be $10!