In a lot of ways Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is similar to the recent Watchmen releases. They both have great graphics but the gameplay and its lack of variety is severely lacking.
The main option in this 2D beat em up is the story mode. A quick intro sequence tries to grab you in but it doesn't do its job as it's mostly forgettable. But once you start to play, the first thing you will notice is the interesting visual style.
It has a grainy look to it, but coupled with bright visuals, it is an extremely good looking XBLA release. You can also play Invincible Tiger in multiple 3D modes but I didn't have any 3D glasses or a super expensive 3D-capable TV to test out this mode.
Even if it was the most amazing 3D ever, it wouldn't make up for the game's lackluster gameplay. You can punch, kick and jump to take down wave after wave of enemies. You can jump around certain areas of the pretty environments and use objects like barrels to stun opponents. But there is no evolution to the combat and it feels like a straight up button masher from the start.
Another issue with Invincible Tiger is the difficulty. I died numerous times and when I went into the options menu to make it easier, I couln't find a list of difficulty options.
You can attempt to take the action online but shortly after release, it was completely void of any players. At least same screen coop is available if you so choose.
Some added value is included with Time Trial and Endurance modes, but neither choice is anything that make this game stand out.
After playing this game, it would be a real stretch for me to recommend Invincible Tiger at any XBLA price level. When I saw that this game is a $15 title, I strongly recommend taking a pass. If you are craving to try out Invincible Tiger, I'm confident the demo will provide you with more than enough time with the game.
Pros: Beautiful graphics
Cons: Boring gameplay, Way overpriced
GamePro Score: 2.5
The Info -- Developer: Blitz Arcade, Publisher: Namco Bandai Games, ESRB: T, Players: 1-2 (online and off), Price: 1200 MS Points
