Lush backgrounds, jamming music, and cool characters instantly reminded me of Ninja: Shadow of Darkness -- only T’ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger is much more fun. I played the demo a few months ago and enjoyed it, but from the moment I popped the full game in and the intro started, I was hooked. Graphics are excellent and the background music blends excellently with the feel of the game. Sound effects like the howl you get from an enemy when you unleash a killer combo on him add an air of playfulness, and I swear I’ve heard T’ai Fu’s voice somewhere before...

You are T’ai Fu, a tiger who must fight all manner of enemies to avenge his clan. Along the way, you get to kick a lot of ass using various moves and combos learned from wise teachers, while utilizing a powerful force called “Chi” -- the magic blue light that knocks your enemies to the ground like a deck of cards. From time to time, there are “training sessions” where various masters impart their knowledge on T’ai, and I found this helpful in mastering the game. The most fun, of course, takes place in the Leopard’s Fortress. Trick the dumb cats into stepping into a blazing fire and watch ‘em burn. Ok, so the A.I.’s not perfect. This is funny stuff, people. Beware -- I found T’ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger quite addictive and played for hours straight the first go ‘round.

The learning curve for T’ai Fu is minimal. Not too hard, not too easy. This game works you up in steps, requiring you to hone different skills to progress through the levels, almost as if you were T’ai Fu himself. It’s fun that’s intense and addictive without being frustrating. But if you absolutely must, play on Easy instead of Normal. Wimp.

You’re a tiger, laying a beating on anyone or anything that stands in your way by any means necessary -- including brute force like punching, kicking, throwing, along with spells and trickery. As you pull off certain combos, you are awarded points, which are displayed on the screen like Killer Instinct. Control is pretty basic and the Dual Shock compatibility is excellent. All in all, T’ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger is a good fighting game with an enjoyable storyline behind it, giving it an adventure game feel.