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T'ai Fu
Voiced By: John DiMaggio
The protagonist of the game, an orphaned tiger who grew up among an order of Panda monks. When the Dragon Master and his forces lay waste to the Panda Temple in an attempt to kill him, T'ai sets off on a journey to learn of his lost past and end the Dragon Master's iron-fisted reign over China.
- The Ace: By the end of the game, he's versed in all the Kung Fu styles of the other clans, and has discovered the secret arts of his own.
- All Your Powers Combined: T'ai learns all of the techniques of the other clans, including his own. This allows him to ultimately defeat the Dragon Master in the final fight.
- Bring It: He says this word-for-word when taunting sometimes.
- Character Development: He starts out as a cocky rebel, but subtly matures into a more serious and respectful warrior by the end.
- Chivalrous Pervert: T'ai's a decent enough guy, but he's not above checking out the Leopard Master's daughter.
- The Chosen One: Near the end, he's told by his father's ghost that his birth came with a prophecy that he would be either the redemption or doom of his clan's legacy.
- Combat Pragmatist: While capable of beating foes down through pure martial arts, T'ai has the option to hurl objects at them, blast them with elemental Chi from a distance, or pick them up and hurl them into pits.
- Deadly Lunge: The whole point of the Leopard Pounce technique.
- Elemental Powers: If T'ai gets a Chi Scroll power-up, he'll be able to use flames, wind, water, lightning, and earth on his chi attacks.
- Good Is Not Soft: T'ai's a heroic martial artist, but that doesn't stop him from being a Combat Pragmatist.
- Goomba Stomp: The Monkey Style allows T'ai Fu to curl himself into a ball and bounce on the heads of his enemies.
- Half-Dressed Cartoon Animal: In an unusual take on this trope, T'ai Fu wears pants - it's a shirt that he's lacking.
- Hidden Depths: Despite his cocky attitude, T'ai Fu has a great deal of empathy for those who have suffered under the Dragon Master's tyranny, and is determined to help them whenever he can.
- Hurricane Kick: His basic combo ends with T'ai performing a spinning kick with both legs.
- I Shall Taunt You: T'ai has the option to taunt his enemies. It's actually practical, as taunting after a 5-hit combo can replenish health.
- Ki Attacks: The Mantis Style gives him access to Chi-based projectiles.
- Last of His Kind: Thanks to the Dragon Master's campaign of extermination, he's the only known Tiger left.
- My Instincts Are Showing: A downplayed case, but the Leopard style includes a dash technique that lets him run on all fours like a real cat would.
- Not Quite Flight: The Crane style offers him the ability to glide for short distances.
- Panthera Awesome: He's a tiger.
- Running on All Fours: The Leopard Style increases the running speed of T'ai Fu by having him run on his arms and legs for a bigger dash. It also gives him a Deadly Lunge attack.
- Shoryuken: The final technique he learns, the Fist of the Tiger, lets him perform a Chi-infused rising uppercut.
- Tiger Versus Dragon: T'ai is a tiger whose nemesis is a dragon.
- Tragic Keepsake: The amulet he wears is revealed to be his father's.
- Underestimating Badassery: He's initially quick to dismiss the notion of Lotus being a challenge (due to her Blue Blood status), and likewise sees the Monkey Master as a foolish drunk. He's quick to drop this attitude on both counts once his opponents prove they can back up their talk.
- Walking Shirtless Scene: T'ai Fu fights without a shirt, leaving him bare-chested throughout the entire game.
- Would Hit a Girl: He fights and defeats Lotus to earn the Leopard Pounce technique.
Lo Ping
Voiced by: William Hootkins
T'ai Fu's first instructor and caretaker at the Panda Temple. After the Dragon Master lays waste to the temple as punishment for trying to hide the last Tiger, Lo Ping encourages T'ai to venture forth and learn of his destiny.
- He Knows About Timed Hits: He explains the basic mechanics in rather blatant button terms.
- Mr. Exposition: He basically exists to explain the present state of affairs to T'ai.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Lo Ping doesn't blame T'ai for the Dragon Master's attack, as there was nothing he could have done to change it.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Non-lethal version. He survives the Dragon Master's raid on the Panda Temple, but T'ai never returns to said temple, and never refers to him again outside a brief mention to his father's ghost.
Sifu, the Mantis Master
Voiced By: Soon-Tek Oh
A mysterious sage who appears to T'ai Fu in flashes of light throughout the story, serving as his most frequent mentor and advisor. He has a vested interest in helping the young Tiger achieve his full potential, and seems quite knowledgeable about the present state of affairs.
- Big Good: He's the one directing T'ai Fu across China to become skilled and powerful enough to take on the Dragon Master.
- Cool Old Guy: His voice and posture mark him as elderly; his Chi mastery and willingness to train T'ai into a hero mark him as him cool.
- Hero of Another Story: Well, "hero" might be a bit of a stretch, but he seems to have a history with the other clans' masters, if the Leopard Master's reaction to hearing about him is any indication.Leopard Master: Is that old peddler selling visions again? Still, he tends not to bother with just anyone...
- Chi Attacks: His clan was especially well-known for their ability to harness Chi as a coherent weapon. He passes this skill down to T'ai in the form of the Chi Blast and Chi Shot.
- Mr. Exposition: He provides T'ai with a lot of his knowledge about the world around him.
- The Obi-Wan: Wise, elderly, mysterious, and knowledgeable about mystical forces...Sifu checks off a lot of the boxes.
- So Proud of You: Upon T'ai Fu's victory, Sifu praises him for his successes, and responds to the former's gratitude for having faith in him thus:Sifu: Faith, young master T'ai, is a belief in something for which there is no proof. It does not apply here.
- You Are Not Ready: He stops T'ai from his initial approach on the Dragon Master's lair, warning him that he has to uncover his own clan's lost Kung Fu secrets in addition to learning the skills of the other clans before he can face the Big Bad.
The Leopard Master
Voiced By: Alan Oppenheimer
Leader of the remnants of the Leopard Clan, this elderly warrior holds court in their fortress stronghold. When T'ai arrives at said fortress and fights through the guards to gain an audience, the Leopard Master consents to train the young Tiger...provided he can prove himself in one last challenge...
- Heir Club for Men: Averted. He views his daughter with great respect and clearly values her as his successor, considering he describes her as the best fighter of the Leopard Clan.
- Noodle Incident: He and the Mantis Master seems to have some past history, if his remarks about the "old peddler selling visions again" is any indication.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Considering that T'ai battled his soldiers with lethal force — including, potentially, setting several of them on fire — he's rather patient when listening to the intruder's requests.|
- The Rival: Implied to have been one to Lau Fu, the Tiger Master, in the past.
- The Stoic: He keeps his tone even and stern; even when lamenting his daughter's defeat at T'ai's hands, he doesn't lose his temper beyond a low growl.
Lotus, the Leopard Princess
Voiced By: Giselle Loren
As the feisty and arrogant daughter of the Leopard Clan's master, Lotus is supremely confident in her own skills, and equally confident that T'ai Fu is an insolent trespasser who will quickly fall to her. In order to earn the right to learn the Leopard Clan's martial arts techniques, T'ai has to face her in single combat.
- Action Girl: She's just as much a warrior as the soldiers she commands.
- Arrogant Kung Fu Gal: Her voice drips with condescending glee prior to the match, thinking that T'ai Fu will be easy pickings.
- Blue Blood: She's the Princess of the Leopard Clan. Doesn't stop her from kicking ass and being the main boss battle when dealing with the Leopard Clan.
- Bring It: At the start of the match.Lotus: Come on, Tiger!
- Deadly Lunge: She wields the Leopard Pounce technique this way.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Connected to the Groin Attack entry, it sometimes looks like she's, er..."headbutting" T'ai in a sensitive region.
- Groin Attack: Depending on the position of their bodies if she knocks T'ai to the ground, her hammer-fist could hit T'ai right in the delicates.
- Humanoid Female Animal: She looks more like a human woman with leopard coloration, ears, tail and paws.
- Interplay of Sex and Violence: When taunting, her voice gets downright sultry.
- Kick Chick: One of her more frequent strategies is to do a handstand and lash out at T'ai with her legs.
- Ms. Fanservice: Sultry voice, shapely body, Stripperiffic outfit? Check, check, and check.
- Panthera Awesome: She's a leopard, one of the bosses of the game, and the one who teaches T'ai the Leopard Pounce technique after their fight.
- Running on All Fours: Her Leopard Pounce technique has Lotus running on all four limbs to increase her limbs and attack T'ai with a Deadly Lunge when he's within range.
- Sore Loser: After being defeated by T'ai, she takes the opportunity to get back at him while teaching him her clan's techniques by demonstrating the Leopard Pounce technique on him. T'ai takes it in stride.
- The Smurfette Principle: The only female boss of the game despite not being affiliated with the other bosses.
- Stripperiffic: Lotus' royal outfit consists of a snug top, a loin-skirt, and panties...and that's it.
- Tsundere: Lotus initially thinks little of T'ai Fu, and scoffs at his compliments after she loses their duel. All the same, she helps her father teach T'ai their clan's arts, and seems to be checking him out once or twice.
Monkey Master
Voiced By: John Kassir
The leader of the tree-dwelling Monkey Clan is as fun-loving and wacky as his subjects, which led the Dragon Master sparing them out of amusement. Though he initially comes off as a big-mouthed drunk, he's much more skillful and cunning than he lets on.
- Alcohol Hic: He lets out a belch or two during his fight with T'ai Fu, implied to be due to the booze he's seen drinking during the fight.
- Authority Equals Asskicking: Unlike the Leopard Master, the Monkey Master gets a chance to show his ability as a Kung Fu master.
- Bullying a Dragon: How his taunting of T'ai Fu comes off at first, considering that he's an old man taunting a fighter in his prime. Averted, however, as it turns out he's no slouch, himself.
- Combat Pragmatist: Whether it's taunting his opponent to make them lower their guard, or climbing out of punching range to hurl rocks at them, the Monkey Master isn't afraid to fight just a little bit dirty.
- Cool Old Guy: Fun-loving, wise-cracking, and pretty friendly once you get to know him.
- Defeat Means Friendship: His wisecracking gets friendlier after T'ai proves himself in a fight.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Like the Leopard Master, we never get a name for him beyond his title.
- Goomba Stomp: One of the skills he teaches after his boss fight.
- The Hyena: Before and after his boss fight, he's quick to uncorke a cackle.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: His initial introduction to T'ai makes him out to be a drunken, disrespectful old fool. It quickly turns out he's wiser and more formidable than he lets on.
- Sad Clown: When describing how the Crane Clan has been enslaved by the Dragon Master, the Monkey Master's jovial tone slips, suggesting that it might be a coping mechanism for dealing with the oppression the clans face.
Fei Liu, the Crane Master
Voiced By: Iona Morris
As the leader of the graceful and elegant Crane Clan, Fei Liu's beauty was well-known. When the Dragon Master took over, this led to her enslavement — first by the Dragon Master, then by his subordinate, the Rat Pirate.
- Badass in Distress: Zig-zagged. While she's a martial artist herself, she admits that her clan weren't as fierce combatants as their peers.
- Foil: To Lotus. Both are beautiful martial artists who hold positions of leadership in their respectiveclans, but Fei Liu is more humble and welcoming than Lotus.
- Go-Go Enslavement: Implied to have been the nature of her imprisonment.
- My Friends... and Zoidberg: Her opinion of the other clans that T'ai has trained under is as follows:Fei Liu ...The wise Mantis, the fierce Leopards, and...well...the Monkeys...
- Not Quite Flight: One of the skills she passes on is the ability to hover in mid-air.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: When T'ai objects to her calling him a master, as he's not at that level yet, she points out that he's mastered skills from several clans by this point.
Lau Fu, the Tiger Master (UNMARKED SPOILERS)
The long-dead Master of the now-extinct Tiger Clan. Others speak of him as a gifted fighter and honorable leader, and his death at the hands of the Dragon Master marked the land's fall into darkness. T'ai Fu's path ultimately brings him to the ancestral home of his people, where he discovers that Lau Fu may be dead, but not necessarily gone...
- Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: His ultimate fate following the demise of the Dragon Master.
- Foreshadowing: Lau Fu is brought up a couple times by others, with emphasis upon his skills and the respect he earned. He ends up becoming relevant by the climax.
- Ghostly Goals: So long as the Dragon Master's rule continues to oppress China, Lau Fu cannot pass on to the afterlife.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: As it turns out, he's the father of Tai Fu himself.
- Our Ghosts Are Different: He remains bound on the mortal plane, can appear before others, and can impart martial arts skills and Chi.
- Posthumous Character: He's been dead well before the start of the game. His spirit, however, still lingers.
- Power Glows: His spirit is wrapped in a shimmering blue aura.
- Shoryuken: The Fist of the Tiger technique, which he teaches to T'ai as the last skill he needs to stand a chance against the Dragon Master.
- So Proud of You: He expresses this to T'ai Fu at the end of the game.
- Super-Empowering: Implied. At the end of the game, he passes his Chi down to Tai Fu, urging him to use it wisely.
- Tragic Keepsake: The pendant Tai wears is a memento passed down from Lau Fu.
- Wham Line: The following line brings a whole new light to the personal stake in T'ai's quest.Lau Fu: Rise... my son.
Crusher Python
Voiced By: Kevin Michael Richardson
A high-ranking member of the Snake Clan, this brutish snake lurks within the ruins of the Tiger Temple as the first boss. If T'ai wants to learn of his clan's history, he'll need to get past him first.
- Battle in the Rain: A rainstorm is drenching the temple grounds when you confront him.
- Bring It: If you don't attack him for a few minutes, he'll thump his staff on the ground a few times in a non-verbal challenge.
- Carry a Big Stick: He fights T'ai with a sturdy battle-staff.
- Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Like the rest of the Snake Clan, the Crusher Python is a villain.
- Wakeup Call Boss: Up till now, you could spam combos at foes to bring them down quickly. The Crusher Python, however, will punish you with a counter-strike from his staff if you try to get greedy with your attacks.
Rat Pirate Captain
Voiced By: John Kassir
This unscrupulous, unwashed corsair is quite happy with his servitude to the Dragon Master Having won ownership of Fei Liu in a bet, he now has the whole Crane Clan under his thumb. To free them, Tai must make his way to the Rat Pirate's ship and face him in the fourth boss fight of the game.
- Authority Equals Asskicking: He's the leader of the coastal region, a position he maintains through force.
- Boss-Arena Idiocy: While it wouldn't be unreasonable to think that a Pirate Captain would have a stock of gunpowder barrels on his ship, you'd think that he'd do a better job of keeping it somewhere that intruders couldn't get ahold of them.
- Fat Bastard: This rat's gut is as huge as his nasty temperament.
- Gameplay and Story Segregation: According to the manual, the Rat Clan are cowards who fight in groups. In-game, the Rat Pirate comes after you alone, and he's dangerous enough that Tai has to resort to outside elements to make him vulnerable.
- Hidden Depths: Brutish as he may be, this Pirate won Fei Liu by challenging the Dragon Master to a wager, and winning the bet!
- Sinister Scimitar: He wields a cruel-looking, meathook-esque sword in your fight with him.
- Turns Red: Literally. After soaking up enough hits, the Rat Pirate wraps himself in a fiery red aura that makes himself invincible. The only way around it is to hit him with an explosive barrel.
The Boar Boss
Voiced By: Kevin Michael Richardson
The Boar Clan serves the Dragon Master as a dependable mercenary army. Their leader, the strongest brute of the lot, has set up camp in the snowy mountain pass that once served as the home of the Tiger Clan. In order to finally become a true master by harnessing the lost arts of his clan, Tai will have to face him in single combat.
- Authority Equals Asskicking: One doesn't lead a clan of barbarians by being soft, as the Boar Boss is more than happy to demonstrate.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: After being beaten the second time, he uses the last of his strength to hurl his remaining bombs at his clan's statue, breaking off its head so that it falls and crushes him.
- Blood Knight: Of all the Dragon Master's underlings, he's the one who seems most eager to fight T'ai when they face one another.
- Climax Boss: He's the second-to-last boss, and his defeat leads to some key reveals about T'ai Fu's past. And he will make you work for your victory.
- Dual Wielding: The Boar Boss brings two brutal-looking cleaver-esque Swords into his duel.
- Harmless Freezing: You first encounter him frozen in a block of ice.
- Hidden Depths: His meditating in an ice block, his apparent supernatural connection to an ancestral statue, and his willingness to Face Death with Dignity all paint him as more than just a mindless thug.
- Throw Down the Bomblet: His arsenal includes primitive hand grenades.
- Turns Red: After his health bar is drained once, the Boar Boss is brought Back from the Dead by the power of the sacred boar statue in the background. Cue round two.
The Dragon Master
Voiced By: Steve Susskind
The tyrannical overlord of ancient China. He orchestrated the downfall of the Tiger Clan in the backstory, as their martial and mystical prowess was the greatest threat to his plans of conquest. In the present day, he sacks the Panda Temple and tries to finish the job by murdering the last surviving member of the Tiger Clan, T'ai Fu. He rules the land from the Forbidden Palace, which Tai must venture to in order to avenge his clan.
- All Your Powers Combined: The Dragon Master can use any of the elemental variants of the Chi Shot technique during his boss fight.
- Big Bad: He's the main villain of this story.
- Bond Villain Stupidity: After blasting T'ai Fu twice with Chi Attacks, he doesn't bother checking his body afterwards.
- Defeat Equals Explosion: Upon taking fatal damage, the Dragon Master staggers back a few steps before imploding.
- Evil Is Hammy: The Dragon Master, as befitting a sorcerer emperor, doesn't have much of an indoor voice.
- Evil Sounds Deep: The Dragon Master speaks with a deep, growling voice that's borderline demonic.
- Fatal Flaw: Pride. He's so assured of his own power that he assumes that T'ai Fu died in their first encounter. Later, when T'ai comes back for round two, the Dragon Master doesn't expect his training to be enough to beat him.
- Foil: To T'ai Fu, appropriately enough — both are the Last of Their Kind, but T'ai has dedicated himself to fighting on behalf of the other clans, while the Dragon Master seeks to rule with an iron fist.
- Hannibal Lecture: He drops one on T'ai prior to their final battle.Dragon Master: Not one clan could stand up to me in the past, yet you are so bold as to now suggest that with your combined powers, you'd be a match for a Dragon?! For me?! You arrogant fool! You pitiful infant! Prepare to commiserate with your father--you'll be with him shortly.
- Kung-Fu Wizard: Literally, in this case. His mastery of martial arts and sorcery go hand in hand.
- Last of His Kind: After the Dragon clan was corrupted and wiped out by ambition and infighting, he's the only one left.
- Non-Standard Character Design: Most of the cast as some form of anthropomorphic design. The Dragon Master, meanwhile, is a straight-up Chinese dragon without any anthro alterations.
- Orcus on His Throne. Despite proactively seeking T'ai Fu out in the prologue, the Dragon Master spends the rest of the game in the Forbidden Palace, waiting for his minions to kill T'ai for him.
- Reptiles Are Abhorrent: He's a dragon, and a nasty piece of work at that.
- You Fool!: Barks this almost word for word at T'ai Fu at one point.
- You Killed My Father: The Dragon Master's the reason there aren't any more Tigers around. He also killed T'ai's father, playing this trope completely straight.
