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Review of DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda 2 on Nintendo DS

by Chucky Chucky photo May 2011
Cover image of DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda 2 on DS
Gamefings Score: 5
Platform: DS DS logo
Released: 24 May 2011
Genre: Action-adventure, Platform, Role-playing
Developer: Griptonite Games
Publisher: THQ

Introduction

Imagine you're a panda who just found out he's the chosen one, destined to defend an entire city from evil while simultaneously questioning why he ever decided to pursue such an inconvenient career. Welcome to *DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda 2* for Nintendo DS, a game where you dodge villains, practice Kung Fu, and contemplate a career change, all while gripping the DS with the fervor of someone who just realized it's their turn to do the dishes. Spoiler: it ends with less glory and more button-mashing than you'd expect.

Gameplay

In this action-adventure escapade, you'll step into the loafers of Po, the Dragon Warrior who, instead of lounging around perfecting his dumpling-eating skills, has chosen to relieve the people of Gongmen City from a new wave of chaos brought in by the dastardly Shen and his band of misfit Komodo dragons. The gameplay rolls out in classic platform style, where you jump, punch, and kick your way through levels as a surprisingly agile bear-because who doesn't picture themselves donning a martial arts suit while trampling ninjas? Players can expect plenty of Kung Fu tutorials scattered through the game, akin to those safety instructions you ignored during a plane flight. These lessons reveal vital combat techniques, and while you might feel like an absolute hero executing them on screen, let's not forget that they'll primarily involve you pressing buttons faster than your younger sibling can chime in with 'I can do it better.' Interestingly, the combat mechanics differ slightly on the DS. Think of it as fighting while in a yoga class where you're awkwardly trying to keep your balance. This edition takes on more role-playing elements, compelling players to run around, level up, and occasionally question why they're still playing when there are cat videos waiting on the internet, all while controlling actions directly with buttons rather than motion sensors or fancy gadgets.

Graphics

Graphics in *Kung Fu Panda 2* for Nintendo DS do indeed exist! The characters have a rather distinct cartoon-ish vibe that is charming in its own right. One might argue that it's akin to drawing on the back of a napkin during a particularly intense game of Pictionary-there's something slightly impressive yet undeniably lacking about it. Po's adorable chubbiness is wonderfully preserved through each pixel, and the backgrounds may vary from being enchanting to puzzlingly simple, leaving you questioning if more effort could have been put into designing the enemies that chase you instead of tracking down your last slice of pizza in the fridge. Overall, it's a colorful, compact visual treat-akin to eating a rainbow-flavored popsicle. It might not sustain you throughout the evening, but hey, it's better than plain vanilla.

Conclusion

In conclusion, *DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda 2* for Nintendo DS is like the third slice of pizza you question but inevitably devour anyway. It fills the Kung Fu void just enough to satisfy but is unlikely to win any culinary awards. While it may get a little repetitive, the humor and charming characters push you through to the end-much like that final push at the gym when you're just about to give up but decide to squeeze in one extra rep for good measure. So grab your DS, dive into Po's animated world of Kung Fu, and while you're at it, keep the phone handy to Google what you've just experienced. After all, it's not every day you can play a game featuring a panda who can simultaneously protect the valley and eat 50 dumplings in one sitting. Just consider it a win-win.

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