Xiaolin Showdown (video game)

Last updated

Xiaolin Showdown
XiaolinGame.jpg
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Writer(s)
Composer(s)
Platform(s)
Release
  • PlayStation 2
  • PlayStation Portable
  • Xbox
    • NA: November 14, 2006
    • EU: June 29, 2007
  • Nintendo DS
Genre(s) Beat 'em up, fighting
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Xiaolin Showdown is a beat 'em up and fighting video game based on the animated television series of the same name. It was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Xbox on November 14, 2006, in North America and in Europe on June 29, 2007. The game was later ported over to the Nintendo DS on November 28, 2006, in North America and in Europe in February 2007. Players are able to play as the Xiaolin Apprentices. The game can be played with up to four players locally.

Contents

This was the last game to be released for the Xbox in Europe. [3]

Gameplay

The gameplay is reminiscent of that of Power Stone and the Super Smash Bros. series. The player's main goal is to be the last man standing. One of the game objectives is to get the Shen Gong Wu. The Shen Gong Wu require the use of "Chi Energy" from the player.

There are six playable characters in the game: Omi, Raimundo Pedrosa, Kimiko Tohomiko, Clay Bailey, Jack Spicer and Chase Young, the latter two of which must be unlocked first. When Xiaolin Showdowns take place, the competitors get transported to an arena where they face off in a random mini-game. Master Fung appears in some parts of the game, giving tips for the player. Players can use Shen Gong Wu to aid them in battle. The player uses an in-game currency called "blessing coins" to buy Wu.

Development

The game was first exhibited in May 2006 at E3, [4] and an updated prototype was exhibited at Konami's 2006 Summer BBQ event. [5] [6] The PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Xbox versions were developed by BottleRocket Entertainment, [4] and the Nintendo DS release by Razorback Developments.

Reception

Xiaolin Showdown received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Many reviews compared it unfavorably to other, better four-player brawlers such as Super Smash Bros. [21] [9] [10] or Power Stone . [12] [18] [10] Eurogamer gave the PlayStation 2 version of the game an overall score of 2 out of 10, calling it "unfun", criticizing its "unimpressive" graphics and "ridiculously easy" gameplay, and bluntly calling it an "atrocious excuse for a video game", further stating that "Everything about it is just wrong. To be able to put out a title this broken with so many great modern and retro games from which to draw influence is a hell of an achievement." [13]

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Xiaolin Showdown is an American animated television series that aired on Kids' WB and was created by Christy Hui. Set in a world where martial arts battles and Eastern magic are commonplace, the series follows Omi, Raimundo, Kimiko, and Clay, four young Xiaolin warriors in training who, alongside their dragon companion Dojo, battle the Heylin forces of evil, especially series antagonists Jack Spicer, Wuya, and Chase Young. The Xiaolin warriors set to accomplish this by protecting Shen Gong Wu, a set of ancient artifacts that have great magical powers, from villains who could use them to conquer the world. Typical episodes revolve around a specific Shen Gong Wu and the resulting race on both sides to find it. Episodes often climax with one good and one evil character challenging one another to a magical duel called a Xiaolin Showdown for possession of the artifact.

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References

  1. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (November 27, 2006). "Shippin' Out 11/27-12/1: Wii stealth, PC hobbits, portable pets". GameSpot . CNET Networks. Archived from the original on November 30, 2006.
  2. ↑ Boyes, Emma (December 20, 2006). "Nintendo details Euro Q1 releases". GameSpot . CNET Networks. Archived from the original on January 8, 2007.
  3. ↑ "The 18 Rarest Original Xbox Games". whynow. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Surette, Tim (May 9, 2006). "E3 06: Xiaolin Showdown strikes in November". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013.
  5. ↑ Shoemaker, Brad (August 24, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown Updated Hands-On". GameSpot . CNET Networks. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ Li, Richard (August 28, 2006). "Multiethnic Kung-Fu action". 1Up.com . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Xiaolin Showdown". Play Generation Special (in Italian). Edizioni Master. 2008. p. 65.
  8. ↑ Douglass C. Perry (December 1, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown Review". IGN . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 5, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. 1 2 Douglass C. Perry (November 29, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown Review". IGN . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 5, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. 1 2 3 Sewart, Greg (December 7, 2006). "Zen and the Art of Button Mashing". 1Up.com . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010.
  11. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (November 27, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown Review". GameZone. GameZone Online. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007.
  12. 1 2 Whitehead, Dan (July 16, 2007). "PSP Roundup Review". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009.
  13. 1 2 Albiges, Luke (April 8, 2007). "Xiaolin Showdown". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009.
  14. ↑ Davis, Ryan (January 17, 2007). "Xiaolin Showdown". GameSpot . CNET Networks. Archived from the original on January 20, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ↑ Davis, Ryan (January 17, 2007). "Xiaolin Showdown". GameSpot . CNET Networks. Archived from the original on January 20, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ↑ Davis, Ryan (January 17, 2007). "Xiaolin Showdown". GameSpot . CNET Networks. Archived from the original on January 20, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ↑ Provo, Frank (January 24, 2007). "Xiaolin Showdown". GameSpot . CNET Networks. Archived from the original on February 8, 2007.
  18. 1 2 Kemps, Heidi (November 30, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown (PSP)". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006.
  19. ↑ Kemps, Heidi (November 30, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown (PS2)". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 5, 2006.
  20. ↑ Kemps, Heidi (November 30, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown (Xbox)". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 5, 2006.
  21. 1 2 Fudge, James (December 7, 2006). "Xiaolin Showdown Review". GameShark . Mad Catz. Archived from the original on December 10, 2006.
  22. ↑ Dinowan (March 9, 2007). "Xiaolin Showdown". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). L'Odyssée Interactive. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007.
  23. ↑ Hiro (March 7, 2007). "Xiaolin Showdown". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). L'Odyssée Interactive. Archived from the original on March 9, 2007.
  24. ↑ "Xiaolin Showdown review". GamesRadar . Future Publishing. December 15, 2006. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021.
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