Shaq Fu

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This article is about the video game. For the album, see Shaq Fu: Da Return.


Shaq Fu
Shaq Fu logo
Shaq Fu cover for the Sega Genesis
Developer(s) Delphine Software International (Mega Drive/Genesis, SNES)
Tiertex Design Studios (Game Gear)
Unexpected Development (Game Boy)
The Dome Software Developments (Amiga)
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts (Mega Drive/Genesis, U.S. SNES, Game Gear)
Black Pearl Software (Game Boy)
Ocean Software (EU SNES, Amiga)
Designer(s) Paul Cuisset
Composer(s) Raphaël Gesqua
Engine Proprietary
Platforms Mega Drive/Genesis, SNES, Game Gear, Game Boy, Amiga
Release date(s) Mega Drive/Genesis
    SNES
      Game Gear
        Game Boy
          Amiga
            Genre(s) Fighting
            Mode(s) Single-player, two-player simultaneous, Tournament mode

            Shaq Fu is a 2D fighting game initially released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo on October 28, 1994. It was ported to the Game Gear, Game Boy, and Amiga platforms in 1995. The game was published by Electronic Arts and developed by the now-defunct Delphine Software International. It features former professional basketball player Shaquille O'Neal (also known as Shaq) as a playable character. Shaq Fu was met with mixed responses from critics upon release, though it has since come to be considered one of the worst video games of all time. A sequel, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, is in development.[1]

            Story

            In the game's storyline, Shaquille O'Neal walks into a dojo while heading to a charity basketball game in Tokyo, Japan. After speaking with Leotsu, a martial arts master, Shaq goes to another dimension, the Second World, where he must rescue a young boy named Nezu from the evil mummy Sett Ra.

            Variations

            File:Shaq Fu screenshot.png
            Shaq fighting Auroch, one of the characters excluded from the SNES version.

            The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version of Shaq Fu has five more playable characters (Auroch, Colonel, Diesel, Leotsu, and Nezu) and three more stages (The Lab, The Wasteland, and Yasko Mines) than the SNES version, therefore the Mega Drive/Genesis version has a longer story mode. The North Gate/South Gate stage is accessible in the SNES version with a cheat code, whereas the Mega Drive/Genesis version has the North Gate/South Gate stage available from the start. The Amiga version contains the same content as the Mega Drive/Genesis version (it even keeps the text "Licensed by Sega Enterprises, LTD" leftover from that version on the title screen), though the backgrounds have no animation. It also only has three songs; there is no music during the fights.

            The Game Boy version has the same seven characters as the SNES version, whereas the Game Gear version only has six characters (Shaq, Leotsu, Mephis, Rajah, Kaori, and Sett Ra). Both the Game Boy and Game Gear versions lack a tournament mode and in-game voices. Due to the Game Boy's monochrome screen, the Game Boy version is not in color.

            Reception

            Shaq Fu received mixed reviews at the time of its release. GamePro gave the SNES version a positive review, saying that the unusually small size of the sprites is balanced off by the incredibly fast game speed. They also praised the "ultra sharp" controls and impressive digitized graphics.[2] They reviewed the Genesis version as superior to the SNES version due to its additional characters and improved controls, and concluded that the game is "fun once you get used to the small, fast sprites."[3] Next Generation Magazine gave the game a 2/5.[citation needed] One of the multiple reviewers at Electronic Gaming Monthly scored it as a 6/10, and another gave it a 4/10.[4] It received a grade of D from Entertainment Weekly.[5]

            Retrospective criticism of the game has been generally negative. GameTrailers rated it number 4 Worst in their "Top Ten Best and Worst Video Games".[6] Allgame gave it a negative review, commenting that "Shaq Fu is a dud" in terms of fighting games based on basketball players.[7] Game Informer magazine placed it number 2 on the Top 10 Fighting Games We'd Like To Forget.[citation needed] In response to the negative feedback to the game, Levi Buchanan from IGN stated it was undeserved as a result of collective exaggerations.[8] The website shaqfu.com is dedicated to "liberating [the game] from existence" by finding and destroying as many copies of the game as possible.

            Sequel

            At the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, Shaquille O’Neal confirmed speculations in an interview with GamerFitnation that there would be a Shaq Fu 2.[9] On March 6, 2014 an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign was started for Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn. It will feature gameplay that heavily differs from its predecessor. The funding goal was $450,000 USD. If achieved, the game creators at Big Deez Productions promised that the game would be released for consoles (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360). The campaign ended on May 5, 2014, with the funding goal exceeded at $473,884.[1] The game creators at Big Deez announced they will be accepting Quark crypto-currency as a method of in-game payment.[10]

            See also

            References

            1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Indiegogo - Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn
            2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
            3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
            4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
            5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
            6. ↑ Top Ten Best and Worst Games of All Time, GameTrailers.com.
            7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
            8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
            9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
            10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

            External links

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