For day 3 of my week long random reviews (see Monday's review of Earthworm Jim and Tuesdays review of NBA Jam Tournament Edition) I decided to take a look at Shaq Fu on the Sega Genesis.


So is the game good and worth playing through? Or does it deserve the bad reputation it garnered over the years? Lets fine out in my review of Shaq Fu for the Sega Genesis.


Shaq Fu was released to the home console market back on October 28, 1994 on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. And in the same year for the SNES.


The game was developed by Delphine Software International and published by Electronic Arts (before they turned on their fans and cared only for money). Sohere's my review of Shaq Fu on the Sega Genesis.


Graphics 10: The game looks great. the backgrounds and foregrounds are very pleasing to look at. I did not notice any screen tearing at all. I did not get tired of looking at that game. So the game has that going for it.


Sound 9: The music and sound effects are standard for fighting games. But it never really get gets old to listen to either. Yeah music tends to loop quite often but like I said its standard for fighting games.


Addictive 1: One playthrough was enough for me. Seriously after one playthrough you see all the game has to offer. Its just as well seeing as Shaq is the only playable character In the story mode.


Story 1: And now for the story. Yes, believe it or not this game does in fact have a story. Before I get to said story let me tell you that its not a very good one. The story is Shaq is in Tokyo Japan for a charity basketball game when he meets a martial arts master who sends Shaq to another world called Second World so he can rescue a boy named Nezu From a mummy named Sett Ra. Told you the story was lame.


Depth 1: The game has no depth. As I had said before one playthrough and you will see every thing the game has. also the game is not very long. Start to finish I was able to beat the game in 20 minutes.


Difficulty 1: The game is easy. I mean real easy. without knowing any of the special moves I was able to beat the game just using normal kicks and punches. Not to mention I was playing the game on the highest difficulty setting to.


Rating 3.8: The only 2 positives the has going for it are the graphics and the sound. Everything else has negative ratings and that pulls it way down from being a decent fighting game.


Do I recommend Shaq Fu even as a curiosity? No I do not. And I never will. Take away the fact that Shaq is in the game and you would still have one of if not the worst fighting games ever put on consoles ever.


Back in the 90's it seemed like every like every sports star had to have their names tied to a video game. from Michael Jordan in the Windy City to the ill fated Shaq Fu. The 90's were a great but weird time to be a gamer.

Admittedly it would be nice to see you stretch beyond the rubric for a bit to talk more specifically about game mechanics. Shaq Fu is by no stretch of the imagination a good fighting game, bare bones, it doesn't feel smooth, take anything else from Street Fighter to Mortal Kombat, compare it to this control scheme, and it's like moving to Venezuela.

In any case, you're still doing good work, exploring the vistas of retro gaming. I'll keep checking in.