Review: Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior HD

May

2010

Robert Workman, iPadNewsDaily Contributor
04:01 PM ET

We know that the iPad is a helpful device for a number of uses, but we had no idea it would be the home of a fitting tribute to one of the best martial arts movie stars of all time, Bruce Lee. The legendary “Enter the Dragon” star takes center stage in Digital Legends’ fighting game "Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior HD," a game that fares way better than other games based on the Lee legacy (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, we’re looking at you).

In the game, you choose from Lee or nine other fighting characters as they duke it out in a variety of overseas locales, from the Hong Kong docks to a training temple to a festive village. The goal is to beat your opponent using your skills and mastery, as each character has special techniques, punches, kicks and combos to bring down their opponent. It plays like a traditional fighting game, even though you don’t have the benefit of a Street Fighter-style controller.

That’s okay, because Digital Legends has done an good job making the game play well on the iPad . Movement and attacks are handled with utmost precision by utilizing the touch-screen, and you never have to worry about a command being done wrong. You can also customize your controls as you see fit, finding a comfortable means to kicking someone’s butt all over the screen.

Not only is the fighting action good, but the modes are varied as well. Five are available in all, including a Story Mode (where you guide Bruce on his destiny to defeat his opponents in a deadly tournament, “Enter the Dragon” style), Arcade (quick fights), Time Attack (where you beat opponents in the fastest amount of time), Versus (player versus player, which isn’t half bad) and Survival (where you take on a string of opponents until you lose). All of these are worth playing around with, although enthusiasts who follow Lee with a passion will want to go right to Story Mode first.

Bruce Lee hasn’t been done favorable justice in past game releases, but in Dragon Warrior HD, he looks fantastic. The character animation is very lifelike, thanks to Digital Legends’ use of real-life martial arts actors to model the moves in the game. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to be playing as Lee, you’ll still like the way your character moves and performs their techniques. The backdrops are gorgeous, looking splendid on the iPad’s HD screen. As for sound, you’ve got your usual punch and kick noises (they could be meatier), along with a soundtrack perfectly fitting for a Bruce Lee production.

Considering that the iPad doesn’t have a huge penchant for fighting games (unless you like a somewhat warped port of the iPhone version of Street Fighter IV), it’s great to see Digital Legends take the initiative with Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior HD.

Price: $4.99

File Size: 82.6 MB

Developer: Digital Legends Entertainment

Platform: iPad (coming soon for iPhone/iPod Touch)

iPadNewsDaily Rating (out of 4 stars): ★★★★