In the game's co-op mode, the objective is to basically survive waves of enemies. The best defense is a good offense, especially in Kung Fu Panda...you will find yourself fighting, fighting, fighting to keep on your feet and out of the corner. Co-op in this game is definitely a tough affair, throwing so many enemies at your entourage that if you can see what's going on in the arena, you won't last very long unless you're a pro Kung Fu Panda player. Ironically, having difficult and frustrating co-op in a game that panders to the casual crowd is a good way to misrepresent the great co-op experiences to be had elsewhere.
The co-op survival mode is playable without co-op partners...lame.
You have several options of characters to play as in multiplayer, all of them voiced by the original actors and with their own attacks. This helps to break up the monotony of punch-punch-punch-special move-overwhelmed-die, but not for long.
While Kung Fu Panda is a lighthearted, fun game that's good for a casual afternoon that requires no lengthy, committed gaming sessions...the co-op is a huge letdown. The gameplay itself isn't so bad, if you ever get a chance to properly use the combos and special moves that the game affords your fat panda. If you got the game with your Xbox 360, it's worth a try to get the Achievements; however, the PlayStation 3 version has nothing extra going for it in terms of co-op.
Verdict
Co-Op Score
The Co-Op Experience: * Kung fu awesomeness: Defeat formidable bosses like Tai Lung and enemies like the Great Gorilla as you adventure across treacherous terrain to fulfill your destiny as the Dragon Warrior. * All your favorite characters: Perfect your kung fu skills as you play Po, Shifu, and the Furious Five, each with specialized fighting styles. * Cool movie-inspired locations: Travel through thirteen legendary levels including epic movie locations like the opulent Jade Palace, the challenging Training Dojo, and the majestic Wudang Mountains plus never-before-seen places including the mystical Lake of Tears and the unforgiving Training Ground of Tai Lung. * Multiplayer: Play with your friends to defeat hordes of enemies or challenge them to head-to-head combat in multiple battle arenas. Play your favorite characters from story mode like Po and Tigress, and even some of the enemies including the diabolical Tai Lung, the ferocious Ox, and the baddest ninja cats around, the Wu Sisters.
Co-Optimus game reviews focus on the cooperative experience of a game, our final score graphic represents this experience along with an average score for the game overall. For an explanation of our scores please check our Review Score Explanation Guide.