Choice of Kung Fu

A satisfying Choice of... game that lets you develop your own fighting style, become a teacher, and defend the Middle Kingdom. Or simply seek enlightenment. While the events aren't as dramatic as other Choice of... games, the main character is self-motivated and the story feels complete, neither rushed or hanging on the usual cliffhanger.

Choice of Kung Fu has... issues, and my recommendation comes with some caveats.

If you are as nuts about martial arts and Wuxia as I am, you will probably enjoy Choice of Kung Fu. There are nods to five animal styles of kung fu (though monkey and mantis have curiously been swapped out for leopard and dragon). The prose is strong, and in Choice of Games tradition, there is some degree of queer representation. This is a game that let me play a chi-wielding bisexual woman, slay a demon, play board-games with a ghost, murder an invading European gunman with my bare hands and have sex with a gender-fluid fox spirit. That is just plain rad. There's no denying the base-level appeal of Choice of Kung Fu. There is a niche this satisfies.

The problems are in the execution, and while I won't say that the game is ruined as a result, it is definitely hindered.

Let's start with the stat system. The choices you make early on have a profound effect on your stats that can radically alters the course your story takes later on, but often, the effect these choices have is not at all obvious before they are made. This turns much of the game into trial-and-error. One could argue this contributes to replay value and experimentation, but when one's decisions are not informed, they're bumbling in the dark instead of making meaningful choices. One may well be tempted to consult a guide if there is a particular ending or achievement they want to get.

Further, despite the martial arts theme and the seeming plethora of choices relevant to fighting style, combat is incredibly shallow and none of the style labels you are slapped with have any meaning, given that you are never informed as to what any of them mean. While I don't necessarily need a convoluted RPG rule-set, something denoting skill in basic categories like strength, agility, strikes and grappling would have been nice.

Faults in mechanics, however, are perhaps less important than the faults in the story Kung Fu tells. Put succinctly, the game is hampered by its own ambition. It tries to tell of a quest for the wisdom of a dragon, a rebellion against the Empire, a conflict with foreigners, the rise of the players' new marital arts school, a duel with a challenging master and a romance, all at once, and few aspects of the story meet an actually satisfying end. Once the romance runs its course from introduction and building of relationship points to vaguely-alluded sex, the narrative seems to forget the relationship is a thing that exists, and it receives no real mention during the last two chapters. The Blue Scarfs Rebellion in particular is frustratingly left hanging, despite all the emphasis placed on it early on and how compelling the plight of the people under inept Imperial rules is. The game pushes the consultation with the Dragon Sage as the most interesting and important goal of the game, and if you don't agree and don't build your stats accordingly, you can expect to be left out in the cold with an anti-climax.

While I see the better game Choice of Kung Fu could have been and am frustrated at some decisions of its design, I don't regret buying it. There is definitely fun to be had with what is here.

One of the best text-based games I have played, for my "vibe", so to speak.. This one pleases me so much on the way history evolves and it is narrated, all the insights, the thoughts and etc... For me, it gives a feeling of ever evolving/growing/understanding, I really liked this, was a very nice experience for me, I replayed lots of times, before and after steam.

I would speak much more, but I fear I would be misinterpreted because I don't know how to 'present' my 'feelings' that this game causes me.

A very solid text adventure game that does a good job of immersing you in the wuxia genre - which is rare enough already. The author clearly did her research on both the genre and the cultural nuances that gave birth to it.

The story is fairly standard as far as the genre goes - you're a gifted student in a monastery, with a great ambition that can be achieved through hard work and a little supernatural help. The characters you meet along the way aren't super deep, but they're enjoyable nonetheless.

As for the gameplay, I feel it's a little easy - your first few choices will give you some very solid stats, and as long as you stick to your strengths you'll find it hard to lose. Still, there's room for experimentation.

The only flaw really is that it wasn't too ambitious - the game could have been more. Hopefully, other games seeking to use the wuxia setting can use this game as inspiration.

Choice of Kung Fu is the fifth game from Choice of Games/Hosted games that I have made it all the way through the story at least once in my COG career. And although Choice of Robots is by far and away the biggest story with the most choices in it, I have to say Choice of Kung Fu is my favorite now because I enjoy and am most interested in the martial arts story.

The game starts off with YOU wanting to join the Peach Tree monastery and having high ambitions. The story let's you choose your style of fighting which makes the game so much enthralling. You are also highly in command of your thoughts on all kinds of matters including when to fight, how to fight or when more peaceful actions are required.

I'm not going to giveaway anything else because you will have much more fun making your own choices when confronted with all the trials presented to you in Choice of Kung Fu.

It's good.
Not "insanely good" like a choice of robots, for example... but definitely good, and worth buying
Pro:
-The author really did some research into the traditional Chinese culture. Although sometimes I was forced to wiki what the heck the character is wearing, it's very immersive
-Tropes of wuxia ("martial arts epic") genre are implemented carefully and elegantly. So even when you recognize them, you do it with a smile, not frustration
-Don't want to spoiler anything, but some of the endings are just wonderful.
Con:
-Romance options are... eh... well, I'd prefer none to the one written so blank.
-your base attributes are for 80% set in like the second choice... that is, before you start caring for answers
-I personally find the game a little too easy. Even when I was intentionally choosing dumbest variants I get one of the best endings
... but this basically means that I replayed the game numerous times, which is more than I could say of many "chose your adventure" stories, even one, that I generally liked

I enjoyed this very much. Lots of choices. Interesting characters. I feel the story I chose (and probably other story-paths, too) could be lengthened into a pretty great book with more character development. I even learned a few things about Chinese culture. As a person who recently began studying Shaolin Tai Chi, I was particularly interested in the subject and found it very satisfying. 9 out of 10.

This game is awesome. You start as a monk from humble beginnings and grow into a legend by overcoming difficult challenges.

Pros:
-Thrusts you into the action right away. Presents a situation that greatly helps you define your character personality and fighting style.
-Clear decisions.
-NPCs are well done. Usually focuses on only one or two per chapter, so you get to know them.
-Thoughtful and reflective writing style.
-Lots of abilities. Your decisions will improve one by alot or a couple by a smaller amount.
-Disciples. You can found your own school and decide how to teach your students.
-End goals. You can work towards how you want to deal with the foreigners, try to be the one to ask a question to the dragon sage, or just ignore both of these and live your life.
-Interesting challenges and tests of character.

Cons:
-The use of magic seemed a little cheap, I wish it would have been done a different way.
-Romance options. You just pick a direction you want the main story to go in. There are basically 5 options. The description of all 5 are the same, they are exceptionally hot that's it. You have 2 tries to get that person to like you. Then it skips ahead to a brief description of a stable relationship, never to be revisited or talked about. You learn next to nothing about their personality or why they love you.
-Mostly well paced story, but the ending is too abrupt. It felt like there was a large gap between the 2nd last and last chapter, but it's not presented that way.

Overall:
It's one of the better CYOAs. I would definitely play another game by this author.

7.5/10

This story is pretty much how you think it is. Do you want to be a powerful monk, a peaceful one, one that focuses on simply the craft of kung fu? Do you align yourself with those who taught you or do you go on and forge your own path? It's a good read if the premise interests you. Romance optinos are slim and not very well developed, but that really isn't the focus of the game anyway. Customization is great, and there are a lot of different type of kung fu master you can be.

This was a great story! I really wish that I had gotten around to reading it earlier. The character development was very interesting, but I think that my only issue was that the story seemed rather short. Nonetheless, I'd still rate this story as a 9/10.

A very fun little choose your own adventure tale, its definitely one of the best crafted; all the stats seem to nicely correlate with my play style, and I thoroughly enjoyed the choices I was given. If I had any complaints, it would be the somewhat abrupt ending; it felt as if there was at least another third or quarter of the game left when I got the ending screen. It wasn't a deal breaker, nor did it leave a sour taste in my mouth, but I would have prefered a little more closure or at least an epilogue.

I digress; Choice of Kung Fu is a very solid title, possibly one of the most solid ones from this publisher. It never gets preachy or mired in exposition, and gives the player a good sense of being a martial arts protagonist.

This is one of my favourite games of "Choice of..." series. It doesn't feel neither too long nor too short, provides quite a lot of options to choose from and various endings. Besides the theme of Chinese martial arts seems enticing to me. If you like Choose Your Own Adventure type of games, you should definitely give it a try - you will be rewarded.

I decided to purchase this game after I was pleasantly surprised by Choice of Robots. While I find myself enjoying that game more, this was an engrossing story that kept me entertained and caused me to go through the entire story in one sitting. Please note that this is more like a choose your own adventure book just presented in digital form (and with far more options that those books ever provided). It is not even a visual novel, it is simply words on a page and the choices you get to make, with a series of stats behind the scenes that dictate the flow of the story and options available to you as well. If you can find yourself engrossed in a tale like this without pictures to go with it or if you enjoy discover and text adventures like the incredible Analogue: A Hate Story I'm sure that you will enjoy this as well.

As someone who cherishes old Chinese kung fu movie and manhua, one can say this game made with some strange choice of wording.

In this game, the use of "magic" and "chi" are confusing for the first time player, if they are the same in the game, why not just use "chi." When players see the word "magic," they thought of stuff like throwing a fireball which is not here. There are more terms in the game that is somewhat out of place but is relatively simple to figure out.

Also, like to point out is that some phrasing of choice the author use is very suggestive, believe me, you not going to fall for the demon fox trap on your first playthrough, the option itself will tell you not to fall for her trap.

I adore old Chinese material, but this game is not one. The modern TV drama strongly influences the author, you can tell by the setting it uses. There is a dragon, demon, and immoral creatures, which is excellent materials for old setting fantasy, then by the end, probably ask why even bother.

Overall, this game is a good buy, the achievement part is enjoyable, but if you have a selection between this and another title, I say go with the latter.

This game is AMAZING! It allows the user to alter the storyline and choose their fate, this is also really good as it gives the audience a chance to choose gender (so the target demographic is bigger doing this and equal).I like this game as it shows stats showing how you're doing this is very good and vital for the game as the choices you make decides on the person you are and if you're really worthy as a monk and a teacher but the question is are you going to choose to be good or bad? ;)

This interactive visual novel/text-based game brings you into a Chinese mythical world of monks, kung-fu fighting, fox spirits, wise teachers, and the Empire. Decide your own personal style of kung-fu and find your path while you rise in the ranks of your Order. Eventually, you might meet the wise Dragon Sage and ask them a question, but before that, you will have to make many choices -- about your stance with the Empire, your friends and rivals, and what to do with your strength and knowledge.

The Good

The Bad

This game does a great job in both immersing you into its world and making your choices feel like they matter. In the early game it is all about building your character's skills and the late game is all about using those skills. A bad decision can give you a bad result. There is a lot of veriety of skills you can build and use and it creates some very interesting experiences. What is even better, the overall goal of the game changes based off what the player wants to do. I actually ended up changing my goal the first time I played based on my character's experiances. That is a rare thing for a game to do, and I approve.

Why do kites fly?

An interesting question, for a warrior monk, but an important one to ask.

Well done in both characterization and tone, Choice of Kung Fu is a continued breath into the seldom explored, and even more seldom analyzed, world of Chinese myth and style; even if it is a bit of a short whiff. I wont give anything away but I will say that if you've ever played Jade Empire, and enjoyed it's style and storytelling, then Choice of Kung Fu will give you another chance to explore such a world again. Full of Kung Fu, Chi, Fox Spirits, Romance, and Rebellion; I was once again, pulled into the story of a single monk residing in a small monastery on the side of a mountain, seeking to learn from the fabled Dragon Sage. The breadth of play styles are impressive and refreshing as is usual in a Choice of Games/Hosted Games title. While the one ending I have gotten was fitting, it left me wanting more. Though, this is a testament to the quality of the story telling rather than the feeling of an incomplete narrative.

A highly pleasurable title from our always entertaining friends at CoG/HG and the writers they help promote. I can solidly recommend Choice of Kung Fu to anyone who is a fan of, or has passing interest in, a Chinese themed setting that spans your life as a monk of the Order of the Peach Tree. Years will go by and it will be your choices that dictate the fate of the very nation you live in. Will you fight with honor and be as the Buddha would be? Perhaps you will dedicate your life to the pursuit of martial prowess and open a Dojo? Maybe you would just like to live happily with your thoughts as you create poetry with your lover? Maybe none of these things. That is the fun part of these games.

It's all up to you!

Another good product from COG. I liked very much the prospect of being a kung fu master. Interesting story well worth the money and play time.

8/10 As Zhuge Goku made love to a fox-demon. Hoped to father a kid mixed of Gohan and Naruto. Didn't. Very disappointed.

While I feel like it's missing a final chapter, it touts a fairly solid story and a lot of different ways to confront its challenges. I was a bigger fan of Choice of Robots really, but still a fun play and worth three bucks.

disclaimer: played the web version previously


If you like CYOA games, or kung fu stories, should be a good one for either crowd.

CYOA fans:

- has lots of choice variety to shape your character and story


kung fu fans, you can:

- choose and shape and specialise your combat style from a wide variety
- discover and learn techniques and wisdom from ancient scrolls
- be an obedient or rebellious student in a variety of manners
- leave your school behind to find your own adventures
- found your own school of martial arts and take on challengers
- quite a lot more!

as a CYOA it's solid and well worth a go, and for kung fu fans it's definitely a winner. ;)