My Kung Fu is stronger.

I love a good beat ‘em up. Turtles in Time still holds the record for my favorite of all time, and more than likely will always hold that title. Needless to say, a solid button masher with some finesse and just enough challenge to make it both fun and rewarding can sometimes be a difficult thing to find in these games. 9 Monkeys of Shaolin has both the combat complexity and the right amount of challenge to really stand out from the sea of beat ‘em ups in the world. This is one of the good ones, everyone.

Players take the role of Wei Cheng, a fisherman who has his entire village burned down to the ground by bandits. Badly wounded, Wei is taken in by Buddhist monks who teach him their unique fighting style. Wei, along with the other monks, decide to take down these gangs that are ransacking the area.

Platforms: XB1, PC, PS4, Switch
MSRP: $29.99
Price I’d pay: $29.99

Combat is the main part of 9 Monkeys. It is both simplistic in nature, but very complex when players dive deeper into it. There is the standard attack which can hit multiple enemies, a thrust attack that hits only one opponent, but is more powerful and can interrupt armored enemies, a flying kick that allows Wei to close the gap in between enemies and a dodge that can offer up some invincibility frames and get out of the way of attacks. Along with that, there is a parry ability that can stop an attack in its tracks as well as reflect projectiles back at enemies. Throughout the game, players are also introduced to different stances like acrobatic stances that allow for even more combo options and a magical stance that allows players to put down seals that can offer up buffs and traps. On top of all this, Wei can use chi attacks utilizing a meter that can power up his normal attacks. This meter can also be used for a “super attack” that can devastate any enemy in the path of it. The combat is both fun and skillful all depending on how the player plays it. Each final hit on an enemy is powerful and satisfying, and really makes the game feel like a fighting spectacle.

Throughout the levels, players will find teas they can drink that will restore health, give damage buffs, infinite chi, and higher defense. These will come in handy when taking on multiple enemies at a time as well as the boss encounters. There are also secret collectables that can be found.

There are multiple enemy types that come in different varieties. Some are your standard grunts, some come armored, some are projectile focused, some are even spiritual enemies. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, and players must be willing to switch up their attacks to be able to finish all the enemies off properly. It adds more variety to the combat so that players aren’t just button mashing the entire time.

After each mission, players are sent back to the home base where they can upgrade their abilities using skill points they earn as well as change equipment they get for each story mission completed. There is a total of 9 skill trees to upgrade and tons of unlockable equipment that offer up all kinds of buffs and abilities that players looking for a different style of play can get it however they wish.

The story spans five chapters, each with its own gang and boss at the end. For the most part, there are at least five or six missions to take on each with varying length and style. Most of which are standard left to right beat ‘em up levels. There are the few levels that have players doing things like saving people from a burning building or repairing something that requires the player to go back and forth to take parts back. There are the few levels that require the player to make jumps using the dodge mechanic. While not difficult, it was annoying at times since some jumps required perfect distance and timing and in a game like this, it doesn’t work very well. Falling wasn’t a game over and I didn’t even lose health, but being forced to make those jumps just took up some time.

The game can also be played both online and couch co-op. With the option to have friendly fire on as well, it makes it even more challenging. I still have no idea why anyone would play it with friendly fire on. Sounds like a glutton for punishment. Every level can be replayed as side missions that offer up more skill points to plug into the skill trees.

There is the occasional glitch that pops up, like enemies or myself getting stuck on the environment or a dead enemy’s weapon floating forever in the air, but nothing ever game breaking really.

I had a great time with 9 Monkeys of Shaolin. It was a fun time for the most part, and I constantly wanted to experiment with the different gear and skills. It was one that I always found myself jumping back into it just to get a few more levels in. If you’re a fan of the beat ‘em up genre, this is one you will need to check out. It has the style and the complexity to keep players having fun for the entirety of the game.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.