Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus

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Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
Tao Feng - Fist of the Lotus Coverart.jpg
Developer(s) Studio Gigante
Publisher(s) Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s) John Tobias, Joshua Tsui, David Michicich (creators)
Chris Granner, Daniel Myer (music / sounds)
Platform(s) Xbox
Release
  • NA: March 18, 2003
  • EU: May 9, 2003
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus is a 2003 fighting game developed by Studio Gigante and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox. It was designed by Studio Gigante co-founder John Tobias, the co-creator of the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. Tao Feng was Studio Gigante's first project and Tobias' first after his departure from Midway.

Contents

Tobias envisioned Tao Feng with an emphasis on intensity and realism, including having damage effects on the fighters and interactive environments. Upon release, the game received mixed reviews.

Plot

Tao Feng takes place in Metro China, the largest population center in New China, a fictional country occupying the Pacific coast of North America. With Mexico to the south, Canada to the north, and the United States to the east, New China is a sovereign nation, independent from the People's Republic of China. The story is based upon years of conflict between two ancient Chinese sects: the Pale Lotus and the Black Mantis. The leader of the Pale Lotus has been known through the generations as the Master Sage, and for as long as there have been a Black Mantis sect, their leader has been called Wulong Goth.

The members of these sects have battled for centuries and now the fight has intensified over two tablets that contain riddles revealing the hiding places of the long lost treasures of the Pale Lotus temple. According to legend, these treasures may be used to bargain with the gods of immortality. One tablet, the Yang tablet, is rightfully still in the possession of the Pale Lotus. However, the Yin tablet was stolen by force and has fallen into the hands of the Black Mantis. Through use of the tablets, both sects hope to recover the lost treasures and achieve immortality. The Pale Lotus hope to defend truth and harmony, while the Black Mantis serve a much darker purpose.

The characters in this game are:

Reception

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [1] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on October 23, 2003, Famitsu gave it a score of all four sixes for a total of 24 out of 40. [5] GamePro said that the game was "miles better than Kakuto Chojin , but it's still a few short steps behind Dead or Alive 3 and Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance . Regardless, this is a game that fighting fans should check out." [16] [b]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 4/10, 6/10, and 3.5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  2. ↑ Edge staff (June 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus". Edge . No. 124. Future Publishing. p. 106.
  3. ↑ Bettenhausen, Shane; Elliott, Shawn; Slead, Evan (May 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 166. Ziff Davis. p. 134. Archived from the original on January 23, 2004. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ Jennings, Ronan (May 29, 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 17, 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "October 16, 2003". The Magic Box. October 16, 2003. Archived from the original on October 24, 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  6. ↑ Leeper, Justin (April 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus". Game Informer . No. 120. GameStop. p. 92. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  7. ↑ Silverman, Ben (March 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus - Xbox Review". GameRevolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on April 8, 2004. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (March 17, 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus Review [date mislabeled as "April 3, 2003"]". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on January 1, 2005. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  9. ↑ Turner, Benjamin (March 17, 2003). "GameSpy: Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 5, 2005. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  10. ↑ Raymond, Justin (April 8, 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  11. ↑ Goldstein, Hilary (March 14, 2003). "Tao Feng [Fist of the Lotus] Review". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. May 2003. p. 72.
  13. ↑ D'Aprile, Jason (April 28, 2003). "'Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus' (Xbox) Review". X-Play . TechTV. Archived from the original on June 18, 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  14. ↑ Porter, Alex (March 20, 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus". Maxim . MaximNet, Inc. Archived from the original on May 17, 2003. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  15. ↑ Catucci, Nick (April 8, 2003). "Brainsucking Power". The Village Voice . Village Voice, LLC. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  16. ↑ Tokyo Drifter (May 2003). "Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus" (PDF). GamePro . No. 176. IDG. p. 74. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
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