History VideoGame / WayOfThePassiveFist

The game was initially released digitally on March 6, 2018 for Steam, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, and UsefulNotes/XboxONE. On April 11, 2019 it got a digital release for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch as well.

''Way of the Passive Fist'' is a BeatEmUp developed by Household Games. Taking place on Zircon V, a planet too close to the sun, you play as The Wanderer, a mysterious blue-haired man wearing a gas mask and a shawl hiding a bionic arm. The Wanderer is skilled in the martial art known as the [[MartialPacifist Way of the Passive Fist]].

One morning after defeating a large man with a motorcycle wheel for an arm named Breen, he notes that the MadScientist [[BigBad Doctor Dyson]] is back at it again, and journeys across the deserted lands of Zircon V to stop his plans once and for all.

* CreateYourOwnHero: As the Wanderer encounters Dyson's human experimentation labs towards the end, the narration notes the Wanderer himself had been turned into a cyborg by the villain in this place.
* {{Cyborg}}: The Wanderer is one with his bionic arm, as well as Breen with his motorcycle wheel arm. You encounter several other cyborgs later on as well. [[spoiler: Dyson is revealed to be a very powerful one as well.]]

* LimitBreak: Parrying, dodging, or countering enough enemy attacks in succession will build up a combo, letting The Wanderer perform a super punch, grapple, or gravity well attack with his bionic arm depending on how high the combo is. This is crucial for defeating bosses and later, enemies that can't just be tired out. Also, for scoring purposes they are better used as finishers.
* MartialPacifist: The Wanderer of course, as his only means of offense is knocking tired enemies down and returning projectiles. He does have super moves and defeated enemies all sink dead into the sand, mind you.

* TacticalSuicideBoss: The fourth boss cannot be approached, or else he'll hit the Wanderer with his unblockable and unavoidable scorpion tail. Too bad he keeps spawning plant people which will allow the Wanderer to build up combos for his grapple slam move, which will hit the boss with its shockwave.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: Believe it or not, "Parry" does not translate to Portuguese as "Papagaio" (Parrot).

* ExcusePlot: Even compared to the simple main story, New Dawn teases a continuation that turns out to be merely a joke. Then the player is told to play Passiverse mode, which [[NoPlotNoProblem outright has no plot]] and ends on a silly congratulations message.
* ExtendedGameplay: Clearing the Story mode unlocks New Dawn and Passiverse. The first is a continuation to the story and the latter is a gauntlet of random levels.

* NoticeThis: Checkpoints have an icon near them telling players they can be activated with the special attack button. However, item containers on the background don't have the icon and the game never mentions them, so it's very likely for players to make it to the end without ever realizing they're there.

* TacticalSuicideBoss: The fourth boss cannot be approached, or else he'll hit the Wanderer with his unlockable and unavoidable scorpion tail. Too bad he keeps spawning plant people which will allow the Wanderer to build up combos for his grapple slam move, which will hit the boss with its shockwave.

* EvilKnockoff: The final stage of New Dawn features unexplained clones of the protagonist as elite mooks. They can spam the punch and grab specials]] over and over and don't get tired.

-->"No more... DYSON!"

* DumbMuscle: Breen, a brutish-looking giant biker, is met while he's disdainfully holding the tip of a book and dropping it. He then shouts "No more... BOOKS!" before fighting the Wanderer.

* VideoGameDashing: The first level up unlockable is a dash action. It is useful for crowd control and is required against attacks that are otherwise both unblockable and undodgeable.

* CheckpointStarvation: The stages usually place a checkpoint for every 2 arenas, meaning it being more merciful is an indicator of how tough the next encounter is.

* DeathWorld: Zircon V was said to be dangerous to colonize due to being too close to sun, but people foolishly settled there anyway. The sunlight is so strong in the noon that it's said to be a death sentence unless you find cover. [[spoiler: Dyson's master plan is to convert all of humanity into cyborgs that can withstand the sun]]

* GameplayGrading: By racking up combos and avoiding using super moves, the player can earn silver and gold medals for each encounter. This is the only thing that grants experience points, which encourages replaying previous levels to unlock the two super moves and health upgrades as soon as possible.

* LimitBreak: Parrying, dodging, or countering enough enemy attacks in succession will build up a combo, letting The Wanderer perform a super punch, grapple, or gravity well attack with his bionic arm depending on how high the combo is. This is crucial for defeating bosses and later, enemies that can't just be tired out.

* PaletteSwap: Enemy colors determine which attack patterns they have. Black enemies in particular are invincible and perform unblockable attacks until all other enemies are beaten.