Rating
Way of the Passive Fist
Way of the Passive Fist is a unique and colorful arcade brawler. Parry, Dodge and Dash to outwit and outlast your enemies on a desolate planet ruled by raiders, mutants and fanatical sun worshipers. It's a new kind of tactical fighting in the licensed arcade brawler for the 90s cartoon you wish existed.
Details
- Released
- March 5, 2018
- Developer
- Household Games
- Genres
- Fighting · Hack and slash/Beat 'em up · Indie · Arcade
- Publisher
- Household Games
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Way of the Passive Fist Reviews
Professional reviews from gaming critics
The music in Way of the Passive Fist is incredibly memorable, with each track perfectly fitting its respective stage. While certain voice clips can be a bit repetitive, the intentionally hammy voicework for each boss is genius, rivalling X-Men Arcade for the best cheesy voice delivery in gaming.
What it lacks in gameplay variety, Way of the Passive Fist makes up for in its unique focus on defense and its accessible approach to difficulty. I enjoyed playing through the story mode and learning the different attack patterns of my opponents as each interaction felt like a mini-rhythm game. If you are looking for an arcade-style brawler that has achievements and a fun hook, there’s no need to be passive about downloading this one on the eShop.
But despite a reimagining, this genre shows its inherent limitations. It can get quite repetitive, even with the occasional boss battle to break up the monotony. Finishing the Story Mode unlocks Arcade Mode, but that's simply a score attack and challenge mode that just demands more of the same. Way of the Passive Fist is a fun diversion for an afternoon, with the Story Mode coming in at about four hours, but there isn't much reason to keep wandering beyond that.
Welcome to to Zircon V. People said it couldn't support life, and they were right. All that's left of the many entrepreneurs that tried to colonize this resource rich planet are a few survivors trying to make it through the day. But, just as the mysterious Wanderer leaves his isolation, it seems like the wasteland is stirring once more.
My biggest problem with side-scrolling brawlers has always been their mindlessness. Even when a few upgrade trees or RPG systems are thrown in to make them more intricate, I can’t escape the feeling I’m just mashing the punch button until everyone’s dead. Way of the Passive Fist addresses this issue with more mindful combat that wants you to pay close attention in every fight. But while its combat is novel and fun at first, it doesn’t lift the experience above some glaring issues.
Way of the Passive Fist has got an interesting hook (or would it be parry?), but its tedious nature drags things on for far too long. Best in small doses, its desolate world desperately needs a dash of the ol’ ultraviolence.
The side-scrolling beat-'em-up is a genre that has been around for almost as long as video games have existed. Countless games have been released in this style to the point where coming up with something that feels original and unique is almost impossible. However, Household Games Inc found a distinctive spin to put on this tried and tested formula with Way of the Passive Fist.
It's a solid reminder that the very best arcade games were finely measured things, gratifyingly balanced between challenge and scale, at least when their owners didn't jack up the difficulty to drain kids' pocket money. Household Games clearly have vision and creativity on their side, as well as some very skilled artists and musicians. All they need is to exercise a little restraint on whatever they work on next.