Fist of Awesome

Look up punch in the dictionary and the first definition that comes up is "a thrusting blow, especially with the fist." Fist of Awesome more than punched it's £5,000 Kickstarter goal in the face, it blew passed it, raising over £11,000.

In December of 2012 Fist of Awesome was successfully funded, and less than a year later the side-scrolling beat 'em up was available on the Ouya and mobile devices. Developed by Nicoll Hunt of I Fight Bears, Fist of Awesome pits lumberjack Tim Burr against a flood of homicidal wild animals - bears, deer, bison and dinosaurs.

Tim Burr finds himself entangled in a time warp where the world of the hunted and hunter have reversed. Wild animals have taken over the earth and enslaved humans with no intention of returning to the woods. Backed by an extended, mighty, awesome fist, the "forest dwelling tree feller" resists the flipped roles and takes action, beating down those he once called lunch.

The newly intelligent wild animals are defeated through a combination of kicks and punches, with points awarded for each successful action. Execution of the more intricate blows grant more points, which in turn can be used to level-up and customize skills, making Tim Burr a better assailant. 

     

Fist of Awesome is an instant classic, bringing back fond memories of arcades, 8-bit graphics and button mashing. The controls are simple to pick up on, making the game one to be shared in the living room and introduced to novice gamers. The entire game is packed with hilarity; from the home brewed animalistic sound effects to the moronic banter between Tim and his fist, you may just find yourself in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Even the mere movements of some of the creatures will have you giggling like a child and wondering how something so elementary could affect you in this way.

Nicoll Hunt has created one of the best games currently available on the Ouya, successfully giving the console a higher purpose. It would be a shame to pass Fist of Awesome up, especially for a mere $3.99. Buy it, play it and I guarantee you won't regret your purchase. You'll probably even talk it up, call it awesome and introduce it to a friend.

Fist of Awesome is now available from Google Play, the App Store and on Ouya. Very shortly the game will be available on Gamestick and releases soon on PC/ Mac. Pre-order Fist of Awesome for PC/Mac from the official website.

Megan Bethke (@XboxBetty), NoobFeed.com.