Way of the Passive Fist is one of the most refreshingly original games I’ve played in years. Though it has its hiccups when it comes to level design, the intense timing-based combat more than makes up for them. Way of the Passive Fist is a fun and gorgeous looking homage to 80’s cartoons, Mad Max, Fist of the North Star, and beat-em-ups alike.
Way of the Passive Fist
Developer: HouseHold Games Inc.
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), and PC
Price: $14.99
MonsterVine was provided with a PS4 code for review.
Back in December, I wrote a preview for Way of the Passive Fist at PSX. In my excitement, I specifically said that the game “could very well scratch a pacifistic itch you never knew you had.” Having just finished the game, I can say with confidence that I was more than right. Way of the Passive Fist is an incredibly unique beat-em-up (technically) that no one should miss, even if it has a couple warts.
Way of the Passive Fist’s story is perfectly basic. The story is told through scrolling text and still images in a way that evokes nostalgia for classic arcade games. You play as the Wanderer, a masked man wandering the deserts of Zircon V. The Wanderer’s only goal is to find Dr. Dyson, the villainous man who experimented on the Wanderer and gave him his robotic arm. Along the way, the Wanderer meets all sorts of freaks and psychopaths who want you dead. The twist is that the Wanderer doesn’t fight these wasteland deviants: he parries them.
What sets Way of the Passive Fist apart from similar games is its focus on defensive actions; a bold move for a beat-em-up. Outside of a super move, the Wanderer doesn’t throw any punches. Instead, you parry and dodge enemy attacks until they run out of stamina. Then you just tap them on the head to knock them over. It’s immensely satisfying to knock a colossal foe over after smoothly dodging and parrying their hefty punches, especially once you’ve learned each foe’s attack rhythm. Each enemy type has its own pattern of attack, which adds an extra layer to combat. You end up memorizing attack patterns without even thinking, which makes battles look and feel far smoother. Mix all this together, and Way of the Passive Fist starts to feel like the scene in an action movie where the badass protagonist beats every enemy without hitting anyone.
With each battle you gain experience and level up. Levelling up gives the Wanderer more health and new special moves, each of which is better than the last. Raking up parry combos fills your special gauge, which lets you unleash the Wanderer’s only offense-based abilities. From a simple punch to a gravity-bending explosion, each special attack rewards you both visually and in combat. As fun as it is to parry enemies, clearing an entire screen of foes with a single attack is euphoric.
Way of the Passive Fist’s primary issue is in its level design. Stages tend to drag on a bit too long, as most of them could definitely be shortened by a couple battles. Another issue is that some enemies use beam attacks that can’t be blocked. These attacks ruin the flow of a battle, as you have to stop parrying in order to dodge each beam. Luckily these enemies are few and far between, but their presence makes each battle with them feel like a chore (especially since one of the bosses frequently uses these attacks).
Visually, Way of the Passive Fist is a dream come true for anyone with even a twinge of nostalgia for the bright dystopian aesthetic that so many 80’s franchises featured. As a fan of 80’s films and goofy 80’s shonen anime, this was a strong selling point. The Mad Max and Fist of the North Star influences are easy to see, while the HUD and stages feel influenced by games like Turtles in Time and The Simpsons Arcade Game. The pixel art that makes up the entirety of Passive Fist’s visuals is nothing short of stunning. The detail in each sprite, environment, and “cutscene” is a joy to look at, so I have to commend everyone involved with the visuals. The artstyle itself is great as well, as it delicately blends 80’s cartoons with a clean, modern anime aesthetic.
The music in Way of the Passive Fist is incredibly memorable, with each track perfectly fitting its respective stage. While certain voice clips can be a bit repetitive, the intentionally hammy voicework for each boss is genius, rivalling X-Men Arcade for the best cheesy voice delivery in gaming.
The Final Word
Way of the Passive Fist is an original and incredibly fun take on the beat-em-up genre. While the levels could be designed a bit better, the parry-based combat is fun to do and cool to look at. Way of the Passive Fist is worth checking out for anyone looking for a simultaneously new and classic beat-em-up experience, and I’m proud to say it joins Cuphead and Guacamelee as some of the best games to come out of Canada.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
