Way of the Passive Fist (Review)
By: MithrandielEver since Archmage and I got our first look at Way of the Passive Fist last year, I had a feeling it was going to be something really spectacular. A retro-styled arcade brawler that borrows thematic elements from post-apocalyptic worlds like Mad Max and Fist of the North Star, Way of the Passive Fist trades out button-mashing with a rhythm-based combat system that encourages dodges and skillful blocks in place of pummeling every face you see.
As you parry & dodge attacks, two different things happen. First, you wear down the stamina of your enemy over time. Once that stamina is depleted, you merely poke them to knock them out, in classic kung-fu movie style. The second thing that it does is build up a combo meter that allows you to unleash powerful attacks over time: a straight-forward punch, a slam attack, and finally a "gravity well" attack where you punch the ground and knock down everyone around you.By combining well-timed dodges and parries, and using your special attacks to whittle down your enemies, you can lay waste to dozens of fighters as you trek across the blistering landscape of Zircon V.
Each enemy has a unique pattern for its attacks - some may issue rapid fire punches back to back, others may have a delayed 1-2 combo, others may rely on attempted grabs to throw you off. As you might expect, as you progress through the game you begin facing varied waves of enemies, each with unique attack patterns to keep you on your toes. As you learn their patterns and respond in kind with your Passive Fist technique, you begin to grow addicted to the sensation of "Perfecting" a wave. Each scene is scored and allows you to score a bronze, silver or Gold medal. Each medal results in different XP amounts, which initially help you to level up and unlock new attacks. This leveling system stops after you get to level 5, and anything beyond it can help you to place on the global scoreboard and pursue achievements.
I found in my play through that as soon as I got hit by a stupid attack or botched my combo I'd immediately go to restart from the last checkpoint. It felt as though I was earnestly studying this way of the passive fist, and the game, like a weathered old kung-fu master, would strike me with a large stick and grunt "Again!" To which I would dutifully repeat my exercise until I achieved the perfection that this game seemed to demand of me.Don't misunderstand: the game doesn't require you to get all Gold medals. You can absolutely make your way through the game getting bronze and silver...if. you think that's the right choice. However, the satisfaction of parrying every single attack an enemy throws your way only to pick them up by their grubby collar and slam them into the ground cannot be overstated.
The combat is incredibly crisp and simple...which is to say that you can grasp the core elements of the system quickly. Mastery over it...well, that comes over time.Let's talk about how this game looks for a minute. The design of the various sprites and the look of the background couldn't be more 90s if it tried. What's particularly impressive about this approach is that it isn't just retro for the sake of being retro. It would be difficult for me to imagine the world being built any differently, given the play-style. This is a purposeful and well-executed choice when it came to the look and feel of the game. Way of the Passive Fist also utilizes other elements to identify itself as a callback to the 90s brawler, such as the brief voice acting from the various bosses at the end of a level. The lines get stuck in your head after a while as you find yourself squaring off against them time after time until you perfect their moveset.One of the most unique elements of Way of the Passive Fist is its approach to the difficulty settings. There are 4 different parameters that you can adjust, each resulting in a unique title for your warrior.
These different parameters control how hard your enemies hit, how many enemies there are, how lax the combo system is (such as late parries still counting towards your combo meter, etc), and how often you can expect to find healing items. The varied settings add depth, and more importantly, accessibility to this title. Tuning down combo mastery means that if you're a bit slow on the parry, it won't be devastating to you. You can still enjoy the game as it's meant to be played, without setting a certain bar. On the flip side, "Way of the Master" demands total perfection. Bountiful enemies will mercilessly destroy you if you miss a parry, which must be a "Perfect Parry" to count towards your combo meter. Also, don't expect any healing items along the way...
Overall, Way of the Passive Fist is an absolute delight. With a firm understanding of its identity, and a fantastic aesthetic to match, Way of the Passive Fist's sharp combat and unique difficulty settings make it exciting to come back to again and again. Happy Wandering!You can pick up Way of the Passive Fist for $14.99 here on PS4. Also available on Steam and Xbox One!
