Shaq Fu (Genesis and SNES)

 

While Shaq Fu may not be the worst fighting game ever, it's up there. The atrocity that is Shaq Fu will scar your soul and haunt you for the rest of your life. 

Yeah, so I was exaggurrating, but this game really is just awful. I bet you're thinking "Dude, it's a fighting game with Shaq; that sound hilarious!" Well, you're right; it is hilarious. The hilarity is the only reason I gave it a 4.5 instead of a 1.5. The gameplay is terrible; the fact that you're Shaq is the game's only redeeming quality. 

So the story is that Shaq is in Hong Kong or some crazy Asian place for a charity basketball game, and he's exploring the city before the game starts. He walks into this Chinese antique store, and he must have been high because the shopkeeper asks him to go through a portal to save some other dimension, and Shaq's like "Alrighty then." 

So the story mode is REALLY short and REALLY easy (it took me less than 45 minutes to beat it and I only had to retry one fight). The two player isn't that special; just your typical fighting game with the crazy characters from the single player. 

The storyline is just stupid, and the dialog is so stupid that it's just embarrassing even to play. The game's funny, and it's not a terrible play, but it's definitely not a good game. 

Overall, it's not terrible, but it's still bad. If you see this game cheap (like AT MOST $5), then pick it up for your Genesis or Super Nintendo because it is kind of funny, but don't pay anything more for it; it's simply not worth it.  I haven't played the Game Gear or Gameboy versions, and to be honest, I'm scared to.

Presentation: 7 - The presentation isn't bad; it's got Shaq in a fighting pose with some cool music, but because it's Shaq, one can't help but to laugh.

Graphics: 6 - For the time, the graphics aren't bad. By no means are they amazing, but they're not bad.

Sound: 4 - The sound is seriously lacking. The sound effects aren't that amazing, and the music is, to be quite honest, stupid and repetitive.

Gameplay: 4.5 - The gameplay isn't special. I've played worse, but I've DEFINITELY played better....a LOT better...The controls are sticky and the gameplay is shallow and repetitive.

Lasting Appeal: 2 - This game has some of the least replay value of any game I've ever played. The only reason I ever play it is because it's got Shaq, not because of the game itself.

Overall - 4.5