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Like any self-respecting movie star, Jackie Chan has featured in his fair share of video games.
I recall playing Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu on the PC Engine back in the early '90s, and he got his own PS1 epic in the form of Jackie Chan Stuntmaster in 2000. Heck, he even promoted a NES clone back in the day and threw his weight behind the ill-fated XaviX Port, a Wii-style console that actually predated Nintendo's system.
You could say Chan and interactive entertainment have a long history. It's amazing, then, that it feels like we're only just getting the 'perfect' Jackie Chan video game – and it's one he's not actually officially involved with.
That game is The 9th Dragon, a side-scrolling action title set within Hong Kong's long-since-demolished Kowloon Walled City in the 1980s. Developed by FrameOver and published by Headup, the game places you in the Chan-like fighting trousers of 'Rookie', who is, as the name suggests, the newest member of "an elite police commando unit sent into Kowloon."
You're joined by Mei, "a seasoned officer with deep knowledge of the criminal underworld," and the two of you will need to "navigate a dangerous maze of gangs, corruption, and shifting loyalties."
With its voxel-style visuals and tight, gripping combat (which includes parries, ranged attacks and stealth takedowns), The 9th Dragon looks every inch like an '80s Jackie Chan in video game form – and I especially like the way that not everything in it is black and white. "Spare enemies or eliminate them," reads the game's Steam page. "Help the citizens of Kowloon or ignore them. Return the money you find or keep some for yourself. Your decisions shape Rookie’s path as his story unfolds."
If you fancy seeing what all the fuss is about – and seeing if my comparison to one of martial arts cinema's greatest stars holds water – then you'll be pleased to know that a demo is available to download right now. As well as being confirmed for Steam, The 9th Dragon is also coming to consoles.