Current version:PlayStation 4
9 Monkeys of Shaolin

9 Monkeys of Shaolin

9 Monkeys of Shaolin is a PlayStation 4 fighting game released in 2020 developed by Sobaka Studio. It centers on combat encounters, offense-defense reads, and character matchups, with controls and information arranged around the DualShock 4 twin sticks, triggers, directional pad, and face buttons, with touchpad, speaker, light bar, or motion input where the game uses them.

AI score · out of 10
7.1 / 10
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About this game

9 Monkeys of Shaolin is a PlayStation 4 fighting game centered on combat encounters, offense-defense reads, and character matchups. Short bouts use character differences and rising difficulty for variety, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Animation, hit feedback, and readable arenas create match tension, while HD output, HDR or PS4 Pro modes, HDD streaming, surround audio, and television-distance interfaces need to preserve action, state, and text readability together. The genre-specific limitation is that button mapping, move recognition, multiplayer accessories, and cpu behavior can affect balance. Platform conditions also include HDD installs and loading, patch version, storage space, DualShock 4 battery life, PS Camera or PS VR requirements, visual modes, frame rate, and network services affect the current release. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features or conveniences from remasters, emulators, or other console editions.

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PlayStation 4

AI review

AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:

7.1 / 10PlayStation 4

Enjoyable staff combat best taken in short sessions.

9 Monkeys of Shaolin connects compact staff-fighting stages through a rural revenge story. Different strikes, Qi-powered modifiers and parries give the player useful responses to close fighters and distant shooters. Reflecting a projectile offers a particularly clear reward for learning timing. Equipment and upgrades earned between stages lead back to a tidy hub, making the structure comfortable for short visits. The scenery is often attractive, but flat dialogue and a familiar story provide less reason to push continuously onward. Autosaving makes stopping convenient, while rolling near gaps adds an avoidable movement frustration. The strongest appeal is in learning a few moves and completing a couple of stages at a time, rather than expecting constant narrative or environmental surprises.

Strengths

  • Attack variations and parries reward practice.
  • Stages and upgrades suit brief sessions.

Weaknesses

  • Flat story and voice delivery.
  • Rolling near gaps can be frustrating.

Who it is for: Players who enjoy staff-based brawling in short sessions.

Play notes: PS4 original; primary firsthand account covers early and middle sections.

View scoring basis
DimensionReview stateScoreWeight
Dimension

Short stages and upgrades suit brief sessions. Linear routes and limited narrative drive are less compelling across a long sitting.

Reviewed7.0 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Attack types, Qi modifiers and projectile parries create useful options within a straightforward scrolling brawler.

Reviewed7.4 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Attractive rural scenery establishes place, but flat delivery and a generic revenge tone limit character and emotional impact.

Reviewed6.8 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Autosaves and a tidy hub support short sessions. Rolling across dangerous gaps is frustrating and can send the character into a fall.

Reviewed6.8 / 10Not provided

Review sources

Not provided

Core information

Developer
Sobaka Studio
Publisher
TeyonBuka
Release date
2020
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Content kind
Game
Release state
Released
Region
Worldwide
Official website
Not provided
Offline minimum players
Not provided
Offline maximum players
Not provided
Online minimum players
Not provided
Online maximum players
Not provided
Tags
Melee CombatReal-time CombatFast-paced3D GraphicsSolo-friendlyReplayableMain Story Under 10 HoursCombosShort SessionsPlayer versus Player
Supported game languages
Not provided
Requires base game
Not provided
Standalone
Not provided
Age ratings
Not provided
Play modes
Co-opMultiplayerSingle player
Perspectives
Top-down

Release editions

Sources

Not provided