Way of the Passive Fist

The intriguing gameplay and myriad difficulty options are enough to make Way of the Passive Fist an intriguing curio, but it falls into the some of the traps it tries to escape

Household Games clearly have vision and creativity on their side, as well as some very skilled artists and musicians. All they need is to exercise a little restraint on whatever they work on next.

Way of the Passive Fist starts out strong with an interesting concept, but that interest soon wears off thanks to poor execution. Once you've played the first chapter you've pretty much played all 10 as there is never any variation on offer. Combine this with the fundamental flaws of basing the gameplay purely around blocking and dodging and you have a recipe for a promising and unique but ultimately disappointing game.

Way of the Passive Fist is an imaginative twist on a classic genre. It's fun to imagine a hero that can go through an entire warrior's journey without laying a hand on anyone… mostly. (The Wanderer's special attacks are a power punch, body slam, and gravity-powered explosion.) The idea isn't to beat everyone to a pulp, it's to rhythmically withstand everything that everyone else can dish out.

Much like a deep dish pizza, Way of the Passive Fist isn't what it seems on the surface. And like the heavy alternative to the NY slice, it's not something I can recommend to everyone. However, it's a totally inventive, gorgeous, and well-executed spin on rhythm-based games, where the action never lets up.

While I wouldn’t recommend the game to everyone due to its overall difficulty and what ends up being a fair amount of repetition, ultimately for brawler fans seeking out a challenge it delivers something both tough and fresh...

undefined.What it lacks in gameplay variety, Way of the Passive Fist makes up for in its unique focus on defense and its accessible approach to difficulty. I enjoyed playing through the story mode and learning the different attack patterns of my opponents as each interaction felt like a mini-rhythm game. If you are looking for an arcade-style brawler that has achievements and a fun hook, there's no need to be passive about downloading this one on the eShop.

For a beat 'em up indie game all about dodging and deflecting, it is worth absorbing every punch of Household Games' excellent Way of the Passive Fist.

Way of the Passive Fist is unique among the rest of the brawlers in the genre. Though the experience is mostly entertaining, the rhythmic gameplay can sometimes feel like a chore. Ultimately, the experience will have you reminiscing about the days of action-packed Saturday morning cartoons.

Way of the Passive Fist is unique and is great for the perfectionist. However, it lacks in enemy variety and mechanics. It's still fun and the free new rogue-like mode adds an extra challenge.