Review: Funky Punch

Overview Funky Punch is a quirky and creative arcade-style fighting game that will have you button-mashing, getting your groove on and smiling at the same time. It’s the App Store’s first fighting game and it brings a unique dancing twist to the genre, setting a high standard with its graphics, gameplay, sound and style. While it’s a great start, there are some missing game components.

Gameplay Funky Punch uses a virtual D-pad and on-screen buttons to control movement and activity. This makes it so you’re not tapping away all over the middle of the screen, but using a more conventional, control-pad approach instead. The game’s big differentiator is dancing: when you’ve used a lot of your character’s special power (represented with a yellow status bar), you can bust a dance move to recharge it (this can be amusing if done while an opponent is laying on his backside).

In case that was confusing: Funky Punch basically works like a 3D version of Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. Using a combination of directional and attack controls, a character will perform varying fighting moves (pressing down and A at the same time will yield a sliding kick, for example). More powerful moves are called “special” moves and require some extra energy, represented by a yellow bar (as opposed to the red bar, which represents life). There are a few different game modes, including quest, trial, survival and emotimania, where a group of smiley-faced stick figures charge at your character and begin a brutal and disturbing gang attack (I’ll never look at emoticons the same way again). Funky Punch doesn't have a multiplayer or online mode. It's also missing a feature to change the difficulty setting, and lacks an in-game storyline. Review Funky Punch is a fighting game that feels happy. Maybe it’s the dancing component, or the game’s colors and music, but it gives off a refreshing vibe that is perfect for light moments of iPhone gaming relief. The gameplay is extremely user-friendly and responsive. At the same time Funky Punch tends to crash, does not allow for iPod background music and has no option for saving game progress. If you are logged out to the home screen, you’ll need to restart the game completely. If the screen is darkened or locked during game play, crazy emoticon men will continue waling on your unattended character (if they’re your opponents, that is). Also, after an accepted phone call, the app will relaunch.

In short: it’s got its share of problems. In terms of gaming, the app is very enjoyable, but can become fairly easy for skilled button mashers. There should be an option to increase gaming difficulty, perhaps adding in more complex combinations and special moves that users might be exposed to or learn as the game goes on. Also, the 10-battle campaigns tend to end flatly, with a simple “You win!” screen, as there is no storyline or animation in Funky Punch. This can be feel unrewarding. Overall, it’s a fun game, but with a $7.99 price tag, functionality problems and no multiplayer mode, some improvements to gaming depth, difficulty and iPhone integration are necessary. Summary Funky Punch plays well and has a lot of potential, but needs some more development to increase its difficulty, usability and value.

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