I recently downloaded Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic via a free PSN promotion a few days ago. After spending some time with it, I can say this game is severely flawed. Controls, gameplay, story - wrong, wrong, wrong. While not completely horrid, there’s so much that could have been perfected. Let’s take a closer look and see why these fists of plastic need to be recycled.

We’ll start with the gameplay. There isn’t much going on here. You can only play with/against others locally which is a major set back at this point in today’s gaming. Online multiplayer is a major contributor to a game’s replayability and sales and this game does not have it. It’s sad because some of the modes could be fun online. Speaking of the modes, there’s only some local multiplayer games and a challenge course to play around with, neither keep your attention for very long. I’ve only had this game a few days and it’s forgettable already what challenge I left off attempting to complete.

The controls are horrible. It utilizes the SIXASIS aspect of the PS3 controller but in an awkward way that frustrates more than succeeds. Suppose you want to shoot a fireball, well you need to hold a button down, aim your direction, and shake the shit out of the controller like an angry father pulling a teenage boy off his daughter. And maybe, just maybe you’ll hit your target. I also dislike the jump feature which uses the “X” button on the controller. This game looks and plays like Nintendo’s Smash Brothers series with side scrolling action on different elevated levels but “up” doesn’t jump, “X” does. Perhaps I’m too used to up direction for jumping but it really throws me off. The up direction is used as a direction for your fireballs or some attacks. A serious controller reconfigurement is desperately needed.

And now for the story…the story, wait, there isn’t one. Granted it is classified as a ”fighting” game but atleast throw in some type of enemy tower system a la Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter. The only options you have are the local multiplayer games or completing the solo challenges, that’s about it. The local multiplayer games get old quick and the challenges can be finished in less than one hour, unless you’re a trophy completionist.

Over all, the game isn’t worth the $10 price tag it came with but the free promotion makes it better. It’s doubtful that anyone who has this will be playing it a month down the road. There is barely a handful of features that make this game semi fun (such as using the right analog stick for weapons) and there are definitely more flaws than positive notes. In short, you’re is better off spent else where.