Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior's Rise looks to be the first Dynasty Warriors-style beat-em-up on Xbox Live Arcade. Set in Ancient China, players take on the role kung fu master General Loh as he fights to keep his country from being torn apart by three warring factions. That's the single-player game though - what about multiplayer? We've spoken with publisher 7sixty and gotten the inside scoop on Kung Fu Strike's co-op and versus modes.
First off, Kung Fu Strike's campaign can be played either in single-player or local co-op. While the content is the same, Co-op is a separate mode, so your couch partner won't be able to join in mid-game. In this mode, the first player is General Loh while player two controls the unnamed, goateed twin brother of General Loh (our friend at 7sixty thinks of him as Major Loh). Both partners share the same screen. The campaign consists of 28 levels and will take 4-6 hours to complete. On the downside, the second player won't earn Achievements - argh.
Like Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons, Kung Fu Strike also includes a versus mode. Whatever moves players have unlocked from the single-player or co-op campaigns will be available to them in Versus. This mode also boasts a unique feature called 'My Army.' Josh Hoover of 7sixty explains:
Basically each player rushes to destroy a vase containing a My Army member. Whoever breaks the vase has the AI character fighting for them. Then when the AI characters/Army are defeated, rather than dying they simply ‘switch sides’ and fight on behalf of whoever defeated them last.
One final tidbit we learned: while Kung Fu Strike doesn't have built-in avatar awards, you'll be able to purchase avatar items based on the game when it launches. Dare I dream of my avatar having a topknot?
Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior's Rise is due out sometime within the first half of the year. No price has been set yet. Co-Optimus will have more to share very soon.