by Jack Davies

Created on: June 22, 2008   Last Updated: February 14, 2011

Fight, beat opponent, advance to next opponent... Ok, so on the surface its not exactly an original concept, but then with the massive range at the fingertips of gamers there are very few newly-developed games that can be considered truly unique. It has become a battle of details that distinguishes each games from the rest and it is the details of this game that make it a diamond amongst coal.

Rag Doll Masters has stripped the driving theory of fighting games to its most basic level, different button combinations mean your stick figure will use different attacks, hand to hand against a series of opponents who gradually increase in difficulty from pretty easy to pretty hard. The game seems to understand gamers and the way they want to play - the progression in difficulty is well judged and although it drags along a little at the start, it gives you a chance to master the controls. This game should not be considered a 'hardcore' game, it doesn't have the fictional structure or game-play complexity of the best fighting games but Rag Doll Masters definitely has something of its own to offer.

Those who have trawled through the pages of countless Internet games, whether to distract you from school, work, or just life generally, will probably recognize the key physics of this game. The clue is in the name, but don't think that playing online games that use rag doll physics qualify you to dismiss this game. Essentially rag doll physics means your character will send opponents flying with every punch landed and this is extremely satisfying - you'll find yourself wishing all fights were like this!

The game's graphics are a simple combination of stick figures and more detailed backgrounds which isn't for everyone but it genuinely doesn't feel like a 'cop-out' by the designers. A little more variation would be nice - it does sometimes look repetitive (in fact at times the whole game feels repetitive) but overall the game-play is attractive.

Overall Rag Doll Masters is an enjoyable and charming game which is refreshingly modest in its design. The game-play is nothing special and there are better fighting games around but in terms of the whole package this game is fun and satisfying to play and has the makings of a minor cult classic. Games that seem entirely unpretentious are rare but Rag Doll Masters achieves this with the kind of effortless charm that will endear itself to many casual gamers.

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