Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon GBA Coming

March 19, 2003, 11:38 am EST
Total comments: 4

Snatch the Game Boy from my hand, grasshopper. Only then may you play this game in August.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Game to Hit Shelves in August 2003

Highly Anticipated Adventure Captures Martial Arts Magic of Academy Award-Winning Movie

SAN FRANCISCO--March 19, 2003--Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world's largest video game publishers, today announced that the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon™ action/adventure game will ship for retail in August 2003. Developed by Genki Co., Ltd. under license from Sony Pictures Consumer Products and based on Sony Pictures Classics' Academy Award®-winning movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will be available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Ubi Soft China will also develop Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for the Nintendo Game Boy® Advance.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the most innovative and exciting movies in years, and we've dedicated ourselves to capturing the incredible look and feel that made the film such an amazing hit," said Tony Kee, vice president of marketing for Ubi Soft Entertainment. "With compelling characters, action-packed fighting sequences and stunning environments, the game will feature the martial arts magic of this classic film."

About Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Set in 19th Century China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts fighting game based on the classic teachings and techniques of the Wudan style. Combining adventure and intense, dynamic combat with the ability to explore lush, interactive environments, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon suspends the laws of space, gravity, and the human body. Players represent one of four characters: Li Mu Bai, Yu Shu Lien, Jen Yu, or Lo.

Each character possesses specific moves, talents, and deadly weapons; players must work to improve their fighting skills as they compete against intelligent foes and seek revenge against the sinister Jade Fox (killer of Li Mu Bai's master and Yu Shu Lien's fiance). The gameplay experience effectively captures the martial arts magic and fluidity of movement that made the film a huge success:

Engage in the intricate sword-fighting and superhuman acrobatics of the movie
Run, jump, leap, climb, hang, block, dodge, fight hand-to-hand, defy gravity, and use special combination moves unique to each character
Explore environments from the film including the bamboo forest, the waterfall, the bar room, the Governors Palace, and the streets of Beijing
Use strategy and strength to vanquish enemies on the ground, on rooftops, atop trees, and in the water
Relive the film experience with rich storylines, distinctive characters, and Mandarin dialogue with English subtitles

Talkback

Fammy2000March 19, 2003

Gotta love the "Movie was popular and we didn't expect it so let's make a game and get it to market years later" thing they have going on. Classy. Much better than the "Rush a game to market just to get sales before people see through the hype."

DjunknownMarch 19, 2003

19th Century China? Call me stupid but I thought CTHD took place around the Han Dynasty (Roughly the same time as the Roman Empire as an Western Equivelant) And again, don't quote me on this one but the Green Destiny was supposed to be forged during the era of the Pre-Dynastic Emperors (I dunno how to bring this one home, but its around 400-500 B.C.E).

Anybody up on their Chinese history to clarify?

MELAZOMAMarch 19, 2003

With all due respect, Djunknown, you are dead wrong. Take my word for it. I'm Chinese. I live here state-side(California) but had the "privilege" of being crammed on Chinese History in the home-country before... *_* And in case you wonder no I do not speaky chinee anymore (mods please don't ban me...)

In any case, 19th century is about right. CTHD takes place in the Ching(Qin, among other spellings) Dynasty aka the last Dynatsy. Notice the long braid-hair worn by the men in the movie? It is the distinct mark of the era, no other Dynasties had such custom.

As for Han... that one was thousands of years (Han D. circa 3rd Century B.C.--not sure if that implies the 200s or 400s B.C.) before the Ching (19th Century).

The Ching-Ming Jian(Green Destiny Sword) in the movie is said to have been forged in Han Dy. and ended up in the possesion of Li Mu Bai circa the Ching Dy. (I'm not read up on the original MA novel, in fact, don't know where to look anymore...)

DjunknownMarch 20, 2003

Thanks for the clarification. It would also explain why the taverns and resturants looked semi-modern. I always wondered about that...

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