At £7.99, Fists of Plastic is well worth the asking price for the multiplayer alone, so it’s a pleasant surprise that the single player challenge mode also delivers such a robust experience. While initially feeling fairly slight, or even little more than a series of training rooms in which to master techniques, the challenges soon bloom into something far more addictive. While many obviously involve fisticuffs, Tarsier has broadened the experience with the inclusion of ‘Acrobatics’, ‘Sharpshooter’ (target shooting with shurikens) and ‘Way of the Firefly’ options. The focus of design in these modes is very impressive, and even if you rarely have the opportunity to experience the joy of multiplayer, there is more than enough to entertain the solo gamer. Meeting the required scores for Bronze, Silver, Gold medals and, ultimately, the coveted Fists of Plastic is hugely addictive and immensely satisfying, and requires genuine skill. Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun.

In fact, a sense of fun is a theme that runs throughout Fists of Plastic. Every convincingly-plastic, fully customisable character is lovingly imbued with a million low budget Kung Fu movies and the soundtrack is stuffed with knowing winks to Carl Douglas’ ‘Kung Fu Fighting’. The ability to animate your character with the analogue sticks, rather than being just a gimmick, also serves to draw you deeper into the charming kitschiness of it all. While a lot of the credit for the game’s creative vision should be given to series creator (and Media Molecule co-founder), Mark Healey, Tarsier Studios should still be applauded for capturing the essence of the 70s Kung-Fu movie-inspired original without losing any of its charm.

Unfortunately there is a fly in the ointment, namely the omission of an online multiplayer mode which, for a modern multiplayer-focused fighter, feels like a major oversight. Tarsier have stated that the degree of physics calculations within the game make online play impractical, but that the PC original managed to overcome this issue gives us hope that it may be added in the future. In fairness, the excellent enemy AI helps alleviate this somewhat, and the game does include online leaderboards as well as the ability to record video clips and post them on YouTube, but online combat is definitely missed.

Despite this, Fists of Plastic is an absolute gem. The disappointment felt by the omission of online play soon fades when you have a room full of players, and in our book, the game delivers one of the best multiplayer experiences you can find on PS3. It’s engaging, unique, humorous and hugely polished, and earns its place as one of the top original titles on PSN with ease. Now, if you’ll you excuse me, I’m off to reclaim my rightful place as King of the Hill…

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