Kung-Fu Master
Kung-Fu Master on MSX1
Kung-Fu Master, originally released in arcades by Irem in 1984, landed on the MSX 1 as an early home conversion. It was designed by Takashi Nishiyama and draws heavy inspiration from Bruce Lee's Game of Death and the Jackie Chan film Wheels on Meals (known as Spartan X in Japan). This beat 'em up was a major arcade hit, and the MSX version brought the side-scrolling brawler experience to home computers with simplified graphics but the same core pacing.
You play as Thomas, a martial artist who must fight through five floors of a tower to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend. Each floor is a scrolling stage filled with enemies that approach from both sides. The basic moves are punch and kick, and you can also jump to avoid attacks or hit airborne foes. The game is relentless - enemies keep coming, and you have to time your strikes carefully while managing the limited space on the screen. A familiar pattern emerges: fight a wave of common thugs, then face a miniboss like a knife-wielding fighter or a whip-wielding woman before moving up.
For MSX 1 owners in the 80s, this was a solid arcade port that captured the addictive difficulty of the original. It's not as smooth or colorful as the arcade, but the action is faithful and the challenge is real. Compared to later beat 'em ups, it's simple - but that simplicity makes it easy to pick up and still fun for a quick session. If you appreciate early brawlers and the history of the genre, this is a title worth trying to see where the formula started.
How to Play Kung-Fu Master Online
Getting Started
When you start the MSX version of Kung-Fu Master, press Enter to begin. The game immediately throws you into the action with no title screen menus - it's an arcade port through and through. Your objective is simple: reach the top of the tower by defeating every enemy on each floor.
Move left and right using the Arrow Keys. Press X to jump (this also lets you attack while airborne) and use S to punch or kick. The core loop is non-stop: enemies spawn from the edges, so keep moving and attack as soon as they get in range. Don't let them surround you - retreat and create space if needed. A new enemy appears almost as soon as you down the previous one, so stay alert.
Each floor ends with a boss that requires a pattern to beat. For example, the knife-throwing man can be taken out by jumping over his knives and landing a hit. After defeating the floor boss, you climb a ladder to the next stage. There is no save feature, so you'll need to complete the game in one sitting. If you're playing for the first time, expect to lose many lives quickly - it's a tough game that rewards patience and precision.
Kung-Fu Master Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: Trigger 1
- S: Trigger 2
- Enter: Start
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