So after finishing the main crunch of the book we get into where Mr. Law shines, lets build a world and story. The quick and easy Beginning, Bridge, and Climax way of thinking about an adventure (an episode) is great. Also the number of movie references and use the plot synopsis to build your game is by far the best. Certainly hope they didn't have to dish out to much in licensing or get too many legal challenges...stupid modern copyright rules...Mr. Law is encouraging me to go by your movie! I'm sure a lot is public domain and considered reference material only under the Fair Use rules (which really don't technically exist here in Canada).
A huge amount is written about the different factions of the Feng Shui universe, though with only one truly heroic one in the Dragons, it leaves a little to be desired from a players point of view. But that's ok, its really window dressing that is not forced upon you, and it's great for the GM to weave perhaps a sub-plot that the players are unwittingly helping a faction, and now they have to find a way to counteract what they just did, or take revenge for being used.
The idea that whole world is big game of capture the flag with Feng Shui sites to gain advancement points (Xp) is wonderfully silly and motivating. While penalties for losing a site isn't enormous, it does give player incentive to go back an protect sites they already claimed.
I find it quite awesome you can almost smell that they really wanted to get the license for Mortal Kombat so they could at least do Outworld in this universe, albeit in more a Mortal Kombat-the Movie way than game way. But, it's easy enough to simulate if you really wanted to.
Mook, Enemy, and Boss building is great and super easy, though I find the http://fs2tools.atlas-games.com/ a bit overwhelming and hard to look at too long without going cross eyed.
So Final tally. Despite some of my grumbles, the system is pretty good and just different enough to inspire me to try it. Who's it for is kind of hard to answer. But for those who prefer a more narrative system like Fate, this game is most likely not for you, since there is a quite a bit of crunch. For those who like more strategic games, Feng Shui may just fit the bill. But just remember, despite its looks, its more than min/max and customizing your character...though there is a lot of that, especially if you just think of Archetypes as classes. Certainly using a game board to track your shots (initiative actions) and completely ignoring a physically plotted map will take certain players, like me, a bit of time getting use too, but its easy enough to scrounge from other systems to aid in this (like Fate and their idea of Zones for a map idea and tracking range).
Value: $$$$ (on par with most modern hardcopy RPGs)
Enjoyment: ^_^ at least 90%.
Future Investment: Go buy some action movies maybe? Please make Feng Shui combat tracker app for Android and not just for IOS please.
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