Kung-Fu Live

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 30
  3. Negative: 13 out of 30
  1. GameFocus
    Dec 20, 2010
    46
    Had this game been released back in 2007 or 2008, when the PS Eye first came out, then we could be more forgiving; at the tail-end of 2010 and what we know can be done with both the PS Move and Kinect, this is a game that will quickly be forgotten.
  2. GameWatcher
    Dec 21, 2010
    45
    Kung-Fu Live isn't worth the 10 quid it costs on the PlayStation Store, especially when most PlayStation move titles charge just under double this price for a superior experience. Don't waste your PlayStation Eye on Kung-Fu Live.
  3. Play UK
    Jan 24, 2011
    42
    A nightmare to set up. [Issue#201, p.99]
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  5. IGN
    Dec 20, 2010
    40
    Kung-Fu Live has an appealing premise and fun visuals, but I can't recommend a game that left me feeling so defeated.
  6. Eurogamer
    Dec 20, 2010
    40
    The comic book presentation is enthusiastically funny, the freeform action concept is commendable and the technology itself, when it works, is promising.
  7. Eurogamer Italy
    Dec 20, 2010
    40
    Kung-fu Live would probably be one of the coolest ideas we've ever seen so far on PlayStation 3. Extremely funny and disrespectful, it fails completely form the technological point of view: its best feature, the PS-Eye, can't properly recognize player's body and his moves, providing an annoying and frustrating experience. Definitely, a lost opportunity.
  8. GameSpot
    Dec 20, 2010
    40
    Flawed motion controls and baffling design choices sap all the fun from this goofy martial-arts-themed brawler.
  9. Video Game Talk
    Jan 5, 2011
    30
    Sadly, this game's finicky, terribly frustrating control setup makes the game impossible to recommend, despite the entertaining story and general solid presentation.
  10. 1UP
    Dec 20, 2010
    25
    Save the money, go outside, and just fight with the air. You'll get the same experience and look just as intelligent.
  11. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Jan 18, 2011
    20
    That it costs money is criminal. [Feb 2011, p.85]
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  12. VideoGamer
    Jan 5, 2011
    20
    For the lucky few who happen to have the preposterous layout requirements, Kung Fu LIVE is a solid novelty title. Unfortunately, it's being marketed to an audience beyond those twelve people.
  13. Metro GameCentral
    Dec 20, 2010
    20
    One of the most imaginative and ambitious motion-controlled games ever. The only problem being that it doesn't actually work.
  14. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Feb 3, 2011
    10
    An irredeemable mess. [Feb 2011, p.114]
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User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 4 out of 11
  1. jedbeetle
    Dec 16, 2010
    9
    I'm going to say this first, since it's the most important thing: People have been talking about calibration issues with this game and I canI'm going to say this first, since it's the most important thing: People have been talking about calibration issues with this game and I can tell they're running into the same problem I figured out early on. If you make changes to your environment during the game, it will confuse the heck out of it. You have to reset the game and make any changes during the very first initial setup screen!! If you make any changes after that, it will just make things worse, since the game bases all image detection on that first moment of calibration. Trust me, if you understand how to make this game work, it works great. And it does NOT require an hour or more of calibration. Took me 10 minutes to work it out the first time, and now it's a 5 minute setup tops for me. Easily the most fun I've had playing a motion-based game. That it uses only the camera and not the move peripheral makes me wonder at all the recent hullabaloo regarding the new motion tech. This can't be considered a full review, since I have only played a little of the game. Due to the aerobic nature of this title, it'll be awhile before I get all the way through it. What's fun about it: *Jumping around, kicking, swinging arms, jump attacks, even swinging an object around the room is how you fight in this game. If you can jump in the air and do the splits, then you can kick 2 enemies on either side of you. As hard and as fast as you can swing is as strong as you will be in the game. And it works, even in less than ideal conditions. *Super moves work very well. Gesture based actions work if you pull of the gesture, and they are satisfying. Learning how to do a backflip onto your enemy and strike as you land on them is pretty satisfying. *Challenging. Flailing your arms around wildly will not get you through the game. You need to learn to dodge, duck, jump, and time your attacks. *Comic book involves you. It's really funny actually. You pose for the camera, and the game sticks pictures of you in the story comic. And it works pretty well. you can even retake the pictures to try out variations on the pose and different outfits. Story doesn't seem amazing, but it doesn't seem too painful, and the fact that it's me up there makes it all the more entertaining. *Makes you sweat. Easily the most exhausting game I've ever played. I had to stop between fights to rest. I got sweaty. Since my exercise generally comprises picking up my kid and setting up my classroom, this is a great option for a workout. Need to stretch before and after. What I wish worked better: *I need a different colored couch. Having a dark green couch and a light-colored wall confused the game a little. Before I changed my pants to be less green, my "avatar" sank into the ground here and there. Suffice to say, the game works best if you have a solid background to play against and clothes that contrast that background. Also, ample, even lighting. The game will still work in less than ideal conditions, but it works all the better if you prepare yourself and your space. *I can't reach that far!! The length of my arms limits my attack range. And I have long arms. I spent some time swinging wildly at nothing before I learned how to quickly move across the screen, since some enemies apparently figured out that the best way to avoid my wild monkey swings is to go somewhere else. *ouch, my foot. I hurt my foot kicking at a badguy where a chair was. You need a lot of space - about 6'x6' - to play this game, and it will not work very well otherwise. I do have enough space, but I had to clear some stuff out of the way. I also knocked over our poinsettia when I was experimenting with using a staff as a weapon - which seemed to actually work, however dangerous it was to me and my living room. Staff aside, I was jumping, kicking, and flailing my arms all over the room, possibly endangering myself and several inanimate objects, and some cats. *I don't like that guy's voice. I wish I could record my own voice, or have several voice options for the voice over of my character. The actor isn't too bad, but I hear something else in my head when I see my picture, and I'd love to have the option to change it. All in all, a successfully innovative and hilariously fun treatment of the old 2d beat-em-up. It's a gem in the hit-or-miss motion controlled genre, and it stands out for using only the old, original motion-based gaming device: The Playstation Eye. Not perfect, but rarely anything like this is.… Full Review »
  2. Jenova1212
    Dec 16, 2010
    4
    Ok so when I heard about this game, and Saw the amazing trailer I simply could not wait to download and play this game, so I did and gotOk so when I heard about this game, and Saw the amazing trailer I simply could not wait to download and play this game, so I did and got straight in, then I was hit with what seemed a diamond tipped sledge hammer, it doesn't work, or I can't get it to work should I say, I believe the concept is great, however the setup is beyond a catastrophe, I tried for an hour and that's no lie, an hour of painfull adjustments that made no difference at all, the outcome remains the same, you never get told you need ammassive amount of space to play, allot of lighting, and a pro setup. Some people seem to be fine with this, however the majority will be left angered, and displeased to say the least. Concept 10/10. Workability = 3… Full Review »
  3. porkfat
    Dec 10, 2010
    7
    To Hades with the nay-sayers! IGN strikes again by slamming a really fun game! (They did the same thing with The Fight, and you see how wrongTo Hades with the nay-sayers! IGN strikes again by slamming a really fun game! (They did the same thing with The Fight, and you see how wrong most of the critics are about that game.)
    This game is wicked sweet! Totally worth the $15 and that's judging from the last 10 minutes of a quick play game. The game told me my room was very dark (yay CFLs, I still need a cheap incandescent lamp) but it picked up EVERYTHING I was doing. Holy crap, what a work out and VERY FUN!

    Granted, my living room is pretty big (the game recommends a 7x9 room) and you need to stand far enough away for your body to be fully seen, but this **** is fun as hell! I just did a back flip, a ground pound and a van dam style split kick to hit dudes on either side of me. What did you do today? Get this game today! Actually, it's more like a really fun tech demo than a game, which makes the low price easy to understand. There are visual artifacts which are to be expected with this kind of early product and maybe 100% of my strikes don't hit, but enough of them do to not detract from the fun.

    Look at the critic's environment in the IGN review. I tiny office or a dark projector room? Come on and review it in a decent room with lighting and stop trying to pump your so called "martial arts experience" you did when you were 8. Take it for what it is, play it, and have a hell of a time beating up guys as you become a part of the game!    … Full Review »
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