Play Kung Fu Panda (S)(Eximius) Online

I picked up Kung Fu Panda for the Nintendo DS back in 2008, a time when licensed games were a real mixed bag on the handheld. Published by Activision, it was one of those titles you'd grab hoping it captured some of the movie's spirit without being a total mess. It fit right in with the era's portable offerings, a side-scrolling beat 'em up that tried to do something a little more than just basic combat.

You control Po, the panda, through a series of linear levels, punching and kicking your way through waves of enemies like boars and gorillas. The main goal is to progress screen by screen, often breaking open crates for health or coins and navigating some light platforming sections. A couple of the more distinct mechanics involve sliding puzzle tiles to clear paths and engaging in touch-screen mini-games during certain boss encounters, like the one against Tai Lung. The pacing is fairly brisk, though the difficulty can spike unexpectedly, especially during some of the more precise jumping sequences. It feels a bit clunky at times, but nailing a combo or finally solving a puzzle gives you a genuine sense of accomplishment.