Xiaolin Showdown

As I'm not a fan of the TV show this review is based purely on playing this game as its own entity and in that regard it dissapoints.

From what I understand, Xiaolin Showdown is an immensely popular cartoon and has a big fanbase, so with that in mind I can understand how fans would enjoy playing as iconic characters from the TV show and taking part in the kung-fu antics. That said, there isn't much here in terms of gameplay.

A basic arena brawler set to an uninspiring story, the first issue is the forcing of co-op. Even when playing solo you're joined by 3 AI characters who regularly nick your XP, get in your way and knock you down. Likely for reasons of good-hearted antics you can beat up your parteners but when they're controlled my an AI system with about as much accuracy as a blind archer this leads you you often getting accidentally hammered by your own side. The camera being where it is it can also get pretty crowded and it can be very difficult to actually hit your targets.

Shen Gong Wu, I assume something taken from the show, make it much worse. Essentially special powers you equip before each level, many of them a Area-of-Effect-type things and you'll constantly get caught up in them as the AI spam them to within an inch of their lives.

Obviously the game was designed to be played with friends but the reliance on 4 players, especially on a console with only 2 native inputs, makes it unlikely that you'll every fill all the spaces. An option to play solo, with bots or with friends would have solved this issue entirely.

Even if that were the case Xiaolin Showdown would still be a disspointment. Uninspiring combos allow you to fight repetative waves of uninspiring enemies in a set of uninspiring arenas. An annoying dragon constantly pops up and freezes the action, chiming in with some over-written bilge to explain a new mechanic or power-up. He took 4 sentances to essentially say 'Hit Square to attack'. I assume it's supposed to be funny but it only serves to annoy.

People will probably say that my lack of experience with the cartoon has led to my low score but the fact remains; I'm reviewing the game, not the show. If your kid likes the show (and is interested in playing a PS2 game in this day and age) I'd still suggest you avoid it; with all the intuitive and brilliant games out there for young kids these days it'd be a waste of their time.

I loved the TV-Show and I loved the game almost as much!

I really love the system for getting/buying Shen Gong Wu and the gameplay is fantastic! Definatley deserving of 5 Stars!

My son LOVED this game!! Kept him entraced for several weeks before he completed it.