ShaqFu 2? Shaq gets his first video game in nearly 20 years with ShaqDown

By Anthony John Agnello January 9, 2013

shaqdown — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Some people lament how the video game business has changed. Mobile, social, and PC games are drowning console games and arcade games are a distant memory. Old schoolers shouldn’t lament too much, though. The truth is that the modern age of gaming is just a louder, bigger, more affordable version of the past. Think about it like this: 20 years ago, you had to pay $60 and own a Super Nintendo to make Shaquille O’Neal punch a monster in the face. That’s right. The fighter ShaqFu was $60 when it came out in 1994. Today, you can play Hiptic Games’ ShaqDown, wherein Shaq beats up many monsters, for just 99-cents. See? It’s the same but better.

Hiptic and publisher One Spear Entertainment released ShaqDown on Wednesday for iOS and Android. You play as “the justice bringer” Shaq as he protects the innocents from zombies.

The game is part of a proud tradition of placing former basketball stars in ridiculous games. The practice was earnest back in the ‘90s with ShaqFu and Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City, but took on an ironic twist to hilarious effect in recent years with games like Barkely, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa and Adam Saltsman’s advertisement/game Dikembe Mutombo’s 4 ½ Weeks to Save the World.

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Apple

Anthony John Agnello

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Anthony John Agnello is a writer living in New York. He works as the Community Manager of Joystiq.com and his writing has…

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