A staff-wielding revenge story
9 Monkeys of Shaolin follows Wei Cheng, a Chinese fisherman who only knows the basics of ancient martial arts when a pirate raid kills his friends and family. From there you fight through Medieval China with a battle staff, watching him grow from a simple fisherman into a master of Shaolin martial arts. The game plays like a classic beat 'em up with a side-scrolling perspective, and it carries the atmosphere of 70s kung-fu movies. Expect a challenging adventure with hordes of enemies rather than a casual stroll.
Fighting with three styles
Combat is built on three unique styles: fight on earth, fight in the air, or use mysterious magic seals. Mixing these elements is how you take down every enemy in your path. On top of that, a character development system lets you unlock perks, items, and fighting styles as you progress, so your approach to a fight keeps changing. You also have 10 types of Chinese and Japanese polearms to work with, each with its own traits, and you can search the landscapes to find new items. There are more than 25 levels to clear, ranging from Chinese villages and pirate ships to Buddhist monasteries, Japanese mansions, and ancient ruins.
Playing with friends
Co-op play lets you invite a friend to fight through the growing waves of enemies and finish the game together. Online Co-op and Remote Play Together are both available, so you can team up over the internet or hand a controller to someone nearby. The controls are described as user friendly, which keeps the focus on the brawling rather than fiddling with complicated inputs. Bring your trusty battle staff and get ready for a hardcore brawler that rewards learning how each enemy behaves.