The odds are stacked against you, but that is quite all right. After all, if you put yourself in the proper position, they can only attack one or two at a time. In that regard, the odds don’t seem very fair – for them.

Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand, an Activision release for the Game Boy Advance, is a frenetic chop ‘em, sock ‘em romp that features solid two-dimensional graphics, excellent animation, a convenient storyline, and constant action.

Jackie, a globetrotting archaeologist, is taking a break in his travels by working in his uncle’s antique shop. Suddenly, a very big and scary looking man enters the shop, demanding that Jackie surrender “magic scrolls.” Of course, Jackie doesn’t know what he is talking about, but before he can do much, the muscle-bound antagonist (Hak Foo, the main enforcer of the Dark Hand) has destroyed the shop and found one of the scrolls.

It seems that the Dark Hand is after the eight scrolls, knowing that by collecting them, he will be able to unleash sinister demons upon the world. It’s up to Jackie to recover all the scrolls. But to do that, he’ll have to fight his way through hordes of henchmen. Leaving young Jade with his uncle, Jackie sets off. During the course of his adventure he will meet up with Captain Black (commander of a covert law-enforcement agency), Valmot (leader of the Dark Hand), the Shadowkhan (Dark Hand warriors) and Shendu (an ancient demon trapped inside a centuries-old artifact).

Though the game environments try to emulate a three-dimensional scale, all of the action takes place on a vertical scale. Controls are kept rather simple: the A button is to punch, the B button is for kicking, L button blocks, R button jumps and the D-pad controls movement. Of course, you can create interesting moves and combinations by working the buttons in tandem.  Double tapping the opposite direction that Jackie is facing, the hitting the A button produces a hand flip ending with a back punch. You can also pick up objects and use them in battle.

The graphics are well illustrated, though the sound is only average. You can save games, but have to go through huge levels in order to get to the point where you can save the game.

This game is quite a lot of fun to play. It is a reflexive exercise, and you have to keep on your toes, let your fingers dance across the buttons, and watch for the onslaught of opponents. There are three difficulty levels to this game, meaning that most gamers will find a challenge.

Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand should probably be on the shelves of action GBA gamers. It is an enjoyable, fast-paced game.

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 8.5
The levels are big and the action seems nonstop. As you move along, you will continually wonder when you can get to a place where you can save the game.

Graphics: 7.7
The game tries to give players a three-dimensional sense by allowing characters to move forward and back, as well as laterally. All the fighting is on a vertical plane. The animation is well done, and the game, overall, is well illustrated.

Sound: 7
Nothing special here.

Difficulty: 8
The game is well designed. While the controls are kept simple, you can create combination moves for devastating attacks. The game features three difficulty levels to appeal to most game fans.

Concept: 7.5
The storyline supports the action, and there is plenty of action.

Overall: 8.2
This game is fun, fun, fun. The martial arts moves are well rendered, the storyline is passable and the animation is very nice.