9 Monkeys of Shaolin - Monkey See, Monkey Demo

“I know kung-fu” forever immortalised by Neo in The Matrix, and now a sentence you can utter, once you download the 9 Monkeys of Shaolin Prologue, available today on Steam.

From Buka Entertainment and Sobaka Studios, this martial arts extravaganza gets an extended gameplay trailer to demonstrate what players can expect when it’s released mid-October for PC and consoles. 

To stretch those muscles before release, how about downloading the 9 Monkeys of Shaolin Prologue? Play either in single-player or co-op (either online or in split-screen mode) and crack some skulls. 

The makers already know how to make incredibly satisfying, bone-crunching combat through their earlier title Redeemer (you can read the review here), and this time around they’ve gone for a classic tale of revenge. You play Wei Cheng, a Chinese fisherman who sets out to avenge the death of his friends, slaughtered in a pirate raid.

With a focus on 70s kung-fu cinema and old school beat ’em ups, 9 Monkeys of Shaolin currently tops my most anticipated fighting games for the remainder of the year. So far the pinnacle has perhaps been Streets of Rage 4, will this imminent release reach the same accolades?

Key features in 9 Monkeys of Shaolin include:

• 3 unique fighting styles: fight on earth, in the air or use mysterious magic seals. Combine these elements to defeat every enemy on your way.
• Captivating narrative: discover the fascinating story of Wei Cheng and follow him as he rises from a simple fisherman to the master of Shaolin martial arts.
• Stunning visual style: unlikely combination of historical and mystical elements gives you an exciting experience from every scene appears on screen.
• Extensive character development system: you learn a great deal of ways to victory as you discover various unlockable perks, items and fighting styles.
• More than 25 different levels: Chinese villages, pirate ship, Buddhist monasteries, Japanese mansions, ancient ruins and many more.
• 10 types of Chinese and Japanese polearms, each with its unique traits. Discover the landscapes to find new items!
• Co-op play: invite your friend to help you fight through growing waves of enemies and complete the game together.

Almost everybody here is kung-fu fighting, almost as fast as lightning:

Stop fannying about and download 9 Monkeys of Shaolin Prologue now on Steam; otherwise, the wait isn’t long as the full release hits shelves on the 16th October for PC, PS4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch.