9 Monkeys of Shaolin

Last updated

9 Monkeys of Shaolin
9 Monkeys of Shaolin header.jpg
Promotional art
Developer(s) Sobaka Studio
Publisher(s)
Producer(s) Aleksandr Kuthekov
Designer(s) Stepan Shabanov
Artist(s) Mikhail Bushuev
Composer(s) Nadezda Gourskaya
Engine Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release16 October 2020
Genre(s) Beat 'em up
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

9 Monkeys of Shaolin is a side-scrolling beat 'em up developed by the Russian developer Sobaka Studio and published by Buka Entertainment and Ravenscourt. [1] The game was released on 16 October 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; and Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows via Steam.

Contents

The story recreates the atmosphere of the kung fu films of the 1970s. In 9 Monkeys of Shaolin, a fisherman goes to become one of the masters of Shaolin. On this way he passes life trials, meets new people with their unique personalities, and learns about revenge and death. Some of the people he met become his friends, and some betray him. But despite all of the difficulties on the difficult path, he has chosen to strive to leave his mark on history by saving his homeland and the whole world from evil.

Although the game world tries to adhere to real historical events, places, weapons and characters as much as possible, it also has magic, supernatural beings and other fantasy elements. This setting is the combination of real history with mysticism and fables, as it is customary in the Chinese fantasy genre of Wuxia.

Gameplay

There are five wokou enemy clans in the game, one for each chapter. Each clan leader wears a mask from the Japanese Noh theatre, which reflects their personality. The leaders' names are pseudonyms taken from the mask names.

At the end of each mission, the player gets improvement points that can be spent in the camp of the teaching monk. A conversation with him will bring up a single branched technique tree, in which the main improvement subject are different combinations and techniques for each of the three stands.

Multiplayer is available as a cooperative mode of the same story campaign as in single-player mode. Two players can participate in the co-op mode, either online or locally. [2]

Plot

Imperial China, Ming dynasty, Year of the Water Monkey (1572) in Zhejiang. [3] The hero of the game is a Chinese fisherman named Wei Cheng (voiced by Daisuke Tsuji). His parents died at the hands of the Wokou when he was a child. Wei Cheng was taken in by his grandfather, who taught him the fishing business, as well as how to fight with a staff, with this knowledge being passed down from generation to generation in their family.

The game begins when the village is attacked by bandits. Grandfather was killed and Wei was badly wounded by their leader in a red mask. Buddhist monks find Wei Cheng bleeding and carry him to one of the local fortified houses. The hero regains consciousness and finds monks standing in front of him. They say that the village has been completely destroyed, there are almost no survivors, and that there were no ordinary bandits but the Wokou. Their group was sent from Shaolin to help defend both the Buddhist monasteries and the ordinary people but they did not get there in time. Wei Cheng offers to help seven monks and one smuggler.

In cooperation mode, the second player is the youngest of monks called Daoshan.

Development

9 Monkeys of Shaolin was announced at Game Developers Conference 2018 via the ID@Xbox Program. [4] [5] A new demonstration version was shown at Gamescom 2018 in Indie Arena Booth area and at IgroMir 2018. [6] [7] The game received the Critics' Choice award at Indie Cup Summer 2018 [8] and Grand Prize, Best Desktop, Excellence in Game Design, Visual Art, Audio nominations at DevGAMM Awards. [9] [10] It was released on 16 October 2020. [11] [12]

Reception

9 Monkeys of Shaolin received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Related Research Articles

<i>Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks</i> 2005 video game

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is a 2005 action-adventure beat 'em up video game developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. A spin-off of the Mortal Kombat franchise, it is a retelling of the events of Mortal Kombat II (1993). Players control the eponymous Shaolin monks Liu Kang and Kung Lao in either single player or cooperative play as they protect Earthrealm from the forces of Outworld.

Burnout is a series of racing games developed by Criterion Games. The first two games were published by Acclaim Entertainment, while later instalments were published by Electronic Arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alawar</span> Video game company

Alawar Entertainment is an international developer and publisher of video games for PC, mobile platforms, games consoles and other devices based in Lewes, Delaware. Its main areas of activity are mid-core games for experienced players, as well as casual downloadable and F2P games for PC, MacOS, IOS, Android, PlayStation (console), Xbox, social networks, and other platforms.

<i>Mount & Blade: Warband</i> 2010 standalone video game expansion pack

Mount & Blade: Warband is the standalone expansion pack to the strategy action role-playing video game Mount & Blade. Announced in January 2009, the game was developed by the Turkish company TaleWorlds Entertainment and was published by Paradox Interactive on March 30, 2010. The game is available as a direct download from the TaleWorlds website, through the Steam digital distribution software, as a DRM-free version from GOG.com, or as a DVD with required online activation. The macOS and Linux versions were released on July 10, 2014, through Steam.

Beyond the original factions of Swadia, Rhodoks, Vaegirs, Khergit Khanate, and the Nords,Warband expands on the original game by introducing a sixth faction, increasing political options, adding the ability for the player to start their own faction, and incorporating multiplayer modes. Reviews of the game were generally favorable, with the addition of multiplayer. The game places a focus on horse-mounted combat and giving orders to one's warband in the field, such as telling archers to hold a position or infantry to use blunt weapons.
<i>Rock of Ages</i> (video game) 2011 video game

Rock of Ages is a tower defense racing video game developed by ACE Team and published by Atlus USA. It uses the Unreal Engine 3. The game was released for Xbox 360 in August 2011, for Microsoft Windows in September 2011, and for PlayStation 3 in 2012.

<i>Terraria</i> 2011 video game

Terraria is a 2011 action-adventure sandbox game developed by Re-Logic. The game was first released for Windows and has since been ported to other PC and console platforms. The game features exploration, crafting, building, painting, and combat with a variety of creatures in a procedurally generated 2D world. Terraria received generally positive reviews and sold over 44 million copies by 2022, making it one of the best-selling video games.

<i>Cobalt</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Cobalt is an action side-scrolling video game developed by Oxeye Game Studio and published by Mojang Studios. It was released on 2 February 2016 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One consoles.

<i>War Thunder</i> Vehicular combat multiplayer game

War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicular combat multiplayer video game developed and published by Gaijin Entertainment. Announced in 2011, it was first released in November 2012 as an open beta with a worldwide release in January 2013; it had its official release on 21 December 2016. It has a cross-platform format for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Oculus, and Vive. A spinoff game called War Thunder Mobile was released in May 2023 for Android, with an iOS version released in August 2023.

<i>Wreckfest</i> 2018 video game

Wreckfest is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by THQ Nordic. Wreckfest is described as the spiritual successor to the FlatOut series and a cross between FlatOut, Destruction Derby and cult 1989 PC racer Street Rod. A notable feature of the game engine is the use of soft-body damage modelling, which enables location-based damage that affects the driving dynamics of vehicles in a realistic fashion.

Super Mega Baseball is a baseball video game series developed by the independent studio Metalhead Software in Victoria, BC, Canada.

<i>Subnautica</i> 2018 video game

Subnautica is an action-adventure game developed and published by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. Players control a non-essential systems maintenance chief, often referred to as the janitor inside the Subnautica community, who is the only survivor of a spaceship crash on an alien planet. They are free to explore the oceanic planet. The main objectives are to find essential resources, survive the local flora and fauna, and find a way to escape. It includes some elements of survival games and some elements of non-survival games.

<i>Beholder</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Beholder is a Russian adventure video game about life in a totalitarian police state. The game was developed by Warm Lamp Games and published by Alawar Entertainment on November 9, 2016. The game is supported on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Mushroom Wars 2 is a real-time strategy video game, developed and published by Zillion Whales. It is the sequel to Mushroom Wars, and was released on iOS, tvOS, Android and Microsoft Windows via Steam on October 13, 2016 and on Nintendo Switch on July 5, 2018. Versions for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One are expected to follow soon.

<i>Train Valley</i> 2015 video game

Train Valley is a puzzle-strategy train simulator video game developed by Flazm, released on September 16, 2015. It is available for download on Steam and iOS. A sequel, titled Train Valley 2, was released on March 29, 2018. Train Valley: Console Edition was released on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on July 27, 2022.

<i>Twin Mirror</i> 2020 adventure video game

Twin Mirror is a narrative adventure game by Dontnod Entertainment. It was co-produced by Shibuya Productions and released on 1 December 2020 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

<i>Redeemer</i> (video game) 2017 video game

Redeemer is a top-down shooter beat 'em up video game developed by Russian company Sobaka Studio and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. The game was released for Microsoft Windows on August 1, 2017. An Enhanced Edition was released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on July 19, 2019. It was released in Japan on March 5, 2020.

<i>Project CARS</i> Racing video game series by Slightly Mad Studios

Project CARS was a sim racing video game series developed by Slightly Mad Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The franchise was introduced in 2015 and received a sequel in 2017, followed by Project CARS 3 in 2020. Following the acquisition of Codemasters by Electronic Arts, the Project CARS IP was later shutdown in 2021.

<i>G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout</i> 2020 third-person shooter video game

G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout is a third-person shooter video game based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe toyline, released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 13, 2020, and for Microsoft Windows on December 15, 2020. The game was developed by IguanaBee and Fair Play Labs and published by GameMill Entertainment in North America and Maximum Games in Europe. It is the first G.I. Joe console game since 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buka Entertainment</span> Russian video game developer and publisher

Buka Entertainment JSC — is one of the oldest Russian video game developers and publishers. Headquartered in Moscow, the company was officially established in 1994. Since 2008, it is a part of the 1C Company.

<i>AEW Fight Forever</i> 2023 professional wrestling video game

AEW Fight Forever is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ Nordic. It is the debut title on home consoles and personal computers based on American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

References

  1. ↑ Sheridan, Connor (19 March 2018). "Check out this exclusive trailer for 9 Monkeys of Shaolin, a kung fu brawler with serious '70s vibes". GamesRadar .
  2. ↑ Garcia, Janet (17 August 2018). "9 Monkeys of Shaolin Encourages Couch Co-op". PlayStation LifeStyle .
  3. ↑ Erber, Andreas (21 October 2020). "Review: 9 Monkeys of Shaolin". Controller Warriors (in German). Dreieich: Tobias Creter. Retrieved 13 June 2023. Handlungsort ist Zhejiang (Frühling 1572).[The setting is Zhejiang (spring 1572).]
  4. ↑ "9 Monkeys of Shaolin Official Announce Trailer". IGN . Ziff Davis. 26 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Wallace, Suzanne (14 March 2018). "Announcing 18 New Games coming via the ID@Xbox Program". Xbox Wire .
  6. ↑ "Indie Arena Booth list of games Gamescom 2018". Indie Arena Booth. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Vorobev, Gennady (27 August 2018). ""Бука" привезёт на "ИгроМир" Metro: Exodus, Kingdom Hearts III и другие игры". Stopgame.
  8. ↑ "GTP Media announced the winners of the competition of independent developers Indie Cup Summer'18". Daily Tech . 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  9. ↑ "The Nominees of DevGAMM Awards are Announced". DevGAMM. 1 November 2018.
  10. ↑ "DevGAMM Awards nominees announced". DevGAMM. 7 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "9 Monkeys of Shaolin launches October 16". Gematsu. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Peel, Jeremy (16 April 2018). "Making it in Unreal: 9 Monkeys of Shaolin brings the brawler back to our screens". PCGamesN .
  13. ↑ "9 Monkeys of Shaolin for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Buka Entertainment. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "9 Monkeys of Shaolin for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Buka Entertainment. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "9 Monkeys of Shaolin for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Buka Entertainment. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "9 Monkeys of Shaolin for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Buka Entertainment. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Renshaw, Paul (20 October 2020). "9 Monkeys of Shaolin Review – Monkey See, Monkey Beat Up!". TheXboxHub.[ unreliable source? ]
  18. ↑ Shirey, J. Brodie (14 October 2020). "9 Monkeys Of Shaolin Review: Kicks Fast As Lightning". ScreenRant.
  19. ↑ Calzati, Stefano (15 October 2020). "9 Monkeys of Shaolin Recensione: dalla Cina con furore". Everyeye.it (in Italian).
  20. ↑ Almansa, Ángel (15 October 2020). "Análisis de 9 Monkeys of Shaolin para PS4, One, Switch y PC - Golpes en la China medieval". Millenium.gg (in Spanish).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.