Ah, Tai Fu, such a wonderful childhood memory of mine. I remember playing it when I actually owned an original playstation. And when I wasn't playing it I was watching one of my brothers play it. I was that fond of it back then. But, now it is time to see if I am just as fond of it now as was then.



Story

If you've ever seen one of those old kung fu movies, that's basically what Tai Fu's story is. Basically, Tai Fu trains himself in an array of kung fu styles so that he may combat the evil Dragon Master. However, instead of using human characters they used anthropomorphic characters. so yeah, Tai Fu is a tiger and the evil Dragon Master is, well, a dragon. However, despite the rather thin plotline the story is carried by some fantastic voice actors who make the game's rather mediocre script sound much better.



Graphics

Tai Fu had some of the best graphics I have ever seen on the original playstation. Each model is finely crafted, and in the case of characters, very well animated. Textures are well done as well for its time, with none of them over stretching on their assigned models. Each level is artistically unique, and for its time, utterly beautiful.



Sound



Tai Fu's music is very well done and sounds great, with each level getting its own musical track. However, none of those musical tracks are very rememberable. Despite that little drawback the game's sound is still very good, with each sound effect being clear and well crafted. But the best sound in the game would have to be the voice acting. Each actor perform their lines excellently and none of it sounded too forced to me. Plus John DiMaggio as Tai Fu! How cool is that?!



Gameplay

The game plays like a standard beat 'em game with linear yet excellently done levels. You start with a single combo to use, though you get more as the game progresses. Combos are very easy to pull off as they just involve pressing square three times then triangle to unleash the finisher. However, the combos that you earn from the different kung fu styles later in the game require a little input to pull them off, but are faster and hit more than your first combo. The different styles also offer you different ways of moving, which are required to traverse certain parts in later levels. You are also able to block enemy attacks, and for some reason, crouching and blocking seems to block mostly everything. But one of best features is the chi system. You able to learn two moves for this system: a directional shot and a self AOE attack. These use up your chi (with the AOE attack using most of it) but it can be regained by successfully hitting enemies with combo finishers. You are also able to augument your chi with different elemental scrolls. Each scroll offers its unique properties to your chi attack, such as each earth letting petrify enemies. However, there are two issues with this system. First is that the uniqueness only pertains to the directional shot, as the AOE attack is just kill everyone around with different visual effects. Second is that these scrolls are limited in their use (which is fair) and they are too far and in between in their availability. Now, the enemies in this game can be rather frustrating to deal with since they can block as well. This is more prominent in later levels when they seem to block entire combos. You will have your way around this, which isn't easy since they'll likely hit you out of your combo. Also it is not fun to be knocked down in this game. Tai seems to take his sweet time getting time getting up. During which time enemies like to beat on Tai, which more annoying when it's a boss fight. Speaking of which, boss fights can be fairly challenge and annoying at the same time as they at least a few that seem to enjoy blocking everything. I have died so many times on bosses due to the fact that I couldn't find an opening their defenses.



Tai Fu is a game that will always have a place in my heart. However, despite what I felt as a child, I have to say that Tai Fu is only a decent game. It doesn't offer much, but what it does offer is fairly well done and well put together. If this game came out for an earlier system like the SNES it would have been an incredible beat 'em, but it is just decent one.

This seems like a fun game I've never heard of before. You have missed two categories, addictiveness and difficulty. Asides from that, good review, with lots of details put in. I especially like the screenshots you gave. I might give this game a shot sometime in the future.