Way of the Passive Fist

 Xbox One
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. TheXboxHub
    Apr 3, 2018
    90
    The Way of the Passive Fist is a very enjoyable game, with the seamless fusion of fighting and rhythm executed brilliantly. As a concept, it shouldn’t work, but it just does, being a lot of fun and a real challenge.
  2. EGM
    Mar 6, 2018
    90
    Way of the Passive Fist is a game out of time (in a good way). It feels like it would’ve fit right in alongside arcade cabinets from 30-years ago, with its cartoon color scheme and over-the-top soundtrack. But it’s got a modern twist that solves a lot of old-school beat ‘em ups’ biggest problems and delivers a terrific overall experience with a cornucopia of options to keep you coming back for more.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. Xbox_Alive
    Mar 12, 2018
    8
    I absolutely love arcade brawlers and whenever I think about them they give me some warm memories because they served a great deal ofI absolutely love arcade brawlers and whenever I think about them they give me some warm memories because they served a great deal of enjoyment to me during my youth. I must admit that Way of the Passive Fist is a game I didn’t know much about, but after playing it for quite a while I absolutely loved it because it provided a lot of retro moments combined with a modern touch, which is great. The combat which is obviously the main aspect of a game like this has been done extremely well and it carries with it an addictive side to it. The main reason why it was addictive is because the enemies you face have a lot if variety going for them which definitely stops the game from becoming tedious. Each enemy has their own little quirks and that makes the game stand out quite considerably. The boss battles in the game also stand out and when you get the hang of the bosses you do find them enjoyable, but I did have a few frustrating moments with them and I didn’t think there were as good as the other enemies. I will say though that building up combos against them was an incredible amount of fun and when you eventually perform a special move against them you get a very satisfied feeling and also a great deal of reward comes from it as well. Speaking of rewards there are a great deal of unlockables and upgrades for you to obtain and each unlockable and upgrade plays a great part in the game so getting them is worth it and this without a doubt gives the game a lot of replayability. The game needs this added replayability because in terms of content there isn’t much for you to get to grips with which is a shame because I absolutely love the content that is present in the game. The presentation of the game ticked a lot of boxes for me and to say I enjoyed it would be a massive understatement. Visually the game has a lovely retro look to it and is packed full of colour. The sound design also has a retro flavour to it and when you combine it with the visuals it makes the gameplay even more fun and addictive. At the end of the day Way of the Passive Fist was an absolute blast to play and I must admit I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. All the main elements work together flawlessly and the added retro flavour to it makes the game accessible to a whole host of different gamers out there, and when it’s all said and done it gets a very big recommendation from me.… Full Review »
  2. GBG_Jason
    Mar 20, 2018
    8
    One of the few fond memories I have spending time with my father (as well as new memories with my son) was playing the side scrolling brawlersOne of the few fond memories I have spending time with my father (as well as new memories with my son) was playing the side scrolling brawlers from yesteryear: Streets of Rage, Double Dragon, and the Konami licensed titles from the 90’s will always hold a special place in my heart. Sadly, this genre hasn’t seen much love on the newest console generation, outside of a few titles here and there. The newly released Way of the Passive Fist scratches that itch while bringing some new mechanics into the cookie cutter pattern from the past.

    Where previous offerings have been kind of basic, with a few attacks assigned to face buttons being the bulk of gameplay, this title takes the genre and flips it on its head. This is more akin to a rhythm game, requiring you to parry or dodge enemy attacks to build up a combo meter, and once completed you are able to unleash a devastating single punch that will take down most enemies in a single hit. This is not your only means of offense, as you can push enemies away and once they have become exhausted, simply poke them in the face and they’ll fall over. The game controls well and once you get the timing down, parrying and dodging becomes almost second nature. Similar to the combat in the Arkham series, enemies will display tells above their stamina bar which hints at what action needs to be taken with different colored icons. While the prologue does an excellent job of giving the player the basic knowledge to progress, newer enemy types (which are typically just palette swaps of other characters) do not provide updated instructions, which means relearning patterns and memorizing which colored enemy does what. It does not impact the overall experience much, but it can feel a bit unfair at times.

    The game features a few modes that you’ll progress through as the mysterious Wanderer, including a standard arcade mode and a story mode featuring 10 chapters which are broken up into smaller chunks. In either mode you can try to earn medals based on your performance, and each area completed will allow you to activate a checkpoint. Sadly, saving mid-chapter is not an option, which poses a bit of a problem as each level is a bit on the longer side compared to similar games. With each chapter taking close to 30 minutes, this is not a game you can sit down and play in small portions.

    Unlike other beat ‘em ups, there is not a boss on every chapter, but they do come regularly. I found these encounters to be frustrating, as the bosses do not appear to give any of the standard tells that they are attacking. You will be swarmed with minor enemies that are needed to build up your combo meter to unleash the power fist attack on the boss a few times. While these encounters are not overly difficult, they will impede progress for many – even on the easiest settings I had to attempt many of these battles multiple times before moving on. Luckily, death does not carry as much of a penalty as quitting to the main menu mid-mission since you can retry the segments as many times as you wish.

    This frustration is also present on a number of segments where other mechanics are added, such as bases in the background shooting rockets into the battlefield. While you do receive notification of where they will be landing, the icon is nowhere near as big as the actual area it hits. These came so often it became easier to let them take out the enemies rather than trying to take them down using the Wanderer’s standard tactics. Since this tactic caused my score for the segment to plummet, I am assuming this isn’t what was intended.

    The overall presentation is beautifully executed, featuring fluid movements and detailed animations that evoke a sense of nostalgia for older gamers familiar with the titles that pushed the older console generations to their limits. Many of the characters appear to be inspired by Mad Max with Asian influences. This also shines through the mid-chapter cut scenes that would fit in with many of the retro titles, only missing the “Don’t do drugs” opening screen that many older games showcased. One feature that I missed which would have improved the overall experience would have been couch or online co-op. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still fun to play, but competing against a friend for a high score or having my son join in on the fun would have elevated the title beyond a good game into remarkable status.

    The Way of the Passive Fist may disappoint those who like a little more button mashing in their brawler, but it is a unique title that deserves a chance from anyone who wants to relive the glory days and see a more modern take on the genre, even if it’s a solo affair.    … Full Review »
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