Last month, as part of a partnership with Sprint, Sony temporarily offered Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic as a free download from the U.S. PlayStation Store. Not one to shun a gift – unless it’s a chunk of Rothbart’s beard or a packet of mayonnaise – I scampered to my room like a good sheep and added the title to my digital library. Tarsier Studios’ goofy brawler received mixed marks from critics, but I figured that I could simply wipe it from my hard drive if it wasn’t up to snuff. It truly was a win-win situation. Sony notched another download, and I got a new game free of charge, without having to leave my man cave.

Fists of Plastic is very reminiscent of the Super Smash Bros. games. The battles take place on 2D planes, but the fighters and environments are rendered in 3D. The available combatants are pretty generic, but you can unlock additional duds to customize up to five characters. These garments range from traditional kung fu garb to absurd animal apparel, including a frog helmet and lobster claws.

The customization mode is pretty rudimentary, but there are enough options to ensure that each creation feels like a separate entity. Some of the reward requirements are pretty stiff, so you will have to work for a few of the more obscure articles. Unfortunately, the full bear suit continues to evade me, but at least I have something to strive for.

The eight battlegrounds are primarily of aesthetic value. There are a few horizontal platforms scattered throughout most arenas, but you don’t have to deal with environmental hazards, disappearing ledges or side-scrolling levels as in Nintendo’s mascot mashups. The levels are akin to Battlefield, a smaller, simpler stage from Melee and Brawl. Some of the Smash Bros. levels – namely Hyrule Temple and New Pork City – felt unnecessarily immense, so I definitely prefer more intimate arenas that facilitate confrontation.

The Whale Restaurant, my personal favorite setting, is a small eatery situated on a serene pier. Like all of the Fists of Plastic battlegrounds, it is basic, yet artistically elegant. Each stage features an impressive array of hues, which creates great contrast between lighter and darker shades. This color diversity helps create vibrant, distinct environments that really highlight the game’s Eastern flavor.

Fists of Plastic offers eight single-player challenges and a multiplayer mode. The challenges are generally straightforward tasks, but they do require some practice to master. For instance, in Sharpshooter, you simply have to toss shurikens at roving and stationary targets. Not a particularly difficult job, but the key is building and maintaining a score multiplier. Consecutive hits will increase your multiplier, while a miss will knock it back down to zero. So, it pays to practice patience and aim carefully. What’s more, targets will frequently crash into each other, which is particularly maddening if you just threw in that direction.

Additionally, there are online leaderboards if you want to vie for global Fists of Plastic supremacy.

Overall, the solo tasks are really fun, but it is disappointing that there are only eight of them. Seriously, where is the panda wrestling? How about a game where you catch insects with chopsticks?

Multiplayer is where Fists of Plastic really shines, allowing you to challenge up to three opponents – computer or human – in three game types: Deathmatch, King of the Hill and Dodgeball. Players can also be split into teams for some cooperative fun. Capture the Fish, the final option, doesn’t allow dummy AI.

The lack of online play is disappointing, but this is a game that should be played on a sofa with a group of friends. There is something special about a local multiplayer session fueled by friendly banter. I have no doubt that the multiplayer component would benefit from online play. It would definitely make the digital package more attractive. However, as is, the multiplayer mode is an extremely fun, chaotic experience, even if you have to rely on computer-controlled adversaries.

The combat system is rather simplistic. You have a handful of light combos, a block command, a throw and four chi power moves. Not really rocket science, but that seems to be a big selling point for the digital darling. It is a goofy, accessible game that can be played alone, with a friend, or at a party.

One thing that does baffle me is the mandate that players must use Sixaxis motion controls to execute chi power moves. For instance, to perform a slam, you have to hold the circle button and move the controller up once, then down again. Simple enough. However, in the heat of battle, I often find that these inputs delay my attacks. That is, it would be much faster and easier to press a few buttons. Even worse, some of my commands are completely ignored. Now, some of these problems can probably be attributed to human error. I get a little hasty sometimes, and probably don’t properly execute the established motions. However, I don’t think that I should be expected to closely monitor my movements during combat.

I am not one of those gamers who derides Sony’s Sixaxis motion technology. In certain situations, it can actually enrich gameplay. In particular, the Robo-Wings from Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction felt like a natural application for the tilt functionality.

However, I don’t like being forced to use the tech. As in Warhawk, allow me to select the input method.

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic really surprised me. The game got mixed marks from critics, so I wasn’t expecting much. However, once I started playing it, I discovered a fun, hectic multiplayer experience that could be played in a friend’s basement or in a living room during a party. The combat system isn’t deep, and the combatants’ clumsy movements are a bit awkward, but combine the game with a few cases and some pals, and you have a formula for a great night. Just don’t be the first to fall “asleep.”

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