Shaq Fu

Matt Karch, CEO of Big Deez Productions, recently sat down for an interview with Red Bull to shed light on the potential Indiegogo-funded Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn. He discussed the direct involvement of basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, and made sure to distance A Legend Reborn from its poorly-received predecessor, 1994's Shaq Fu.

When I met Shaq he told me he wanted to get back into games. I told him he couldn't do anything until we addressed the massively pulsing sore thumb called Shaq-Fu... We are dropping pretty much everything [from the first game] but that element of cheesy absurdity. Oh, and we are keeping Shaq of course. We might have a few cameos from new and improved versions of old characters, but that's about it.

It's curious that a game being marketed so heavily on its nostalgia factor would want to be "definitely-not-a-sequel," as Karch described it. A Legend Reborn is going for a beat 'em up style, while the original was a fighting game. "We discussed other options... but I don't think anyone would have really cared about a Shaq shooter."

With the Street Fighter and Devil May Cry influences on the game's aesthetics, A Legend Reborn has the potential for massive violence. However, Karch insisted the game will stay true to Shaq's kid-friendly appeal.

Shaq has a well-deserved reputation of being a good family-friendly guy and having him tote guns around doesn't really match his image. We will be going for more of an over-the-top thing than a gory thing. As much as I would love to see Shaq rip off a head and pitch it at a second enemy, I don't think it's in line with Shaq's image. Expect exaggerated physics and ragdolls galore, just not copious amounts of gore.

O'Neal seems to be heavily involved in the production of A Legend Reborn. Karch says Big Deez is even "planning on creating a live action sequence with Shaq that sets up the game." Big Deez promises a release on Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360 if its Indiegogo campaign reaches its $450,000 base goal. As of this writing, the campaign has raised just under $217,000 with 20 days to go — an extension after missing its previous deadline. Do you think this Shaq Fu non-sequel will be a slam dunk or an air ball? Let us know below.

[source redbull.com]