China Warrior (USA)
China Warrior (USA): TG16 Fighting
China Warrior is a 2D fighting game released for the NEC TurboGrafx-16 in North America during the late 1980s or early 1990s, an era when home consoles were just beginning to embrace the competitive one-on-one brawler genre. It was developed and published by NEC themselves, serving as a launch-era title that showed off the system's graphical capabilities. While many fighting games of the time were pixel-art affairs, China Warrior opted for large, detailed character sprites that stood out on the TurboGrafx-16.
The player selects a martial artist character and fights through a series of opponents in standard best-of-three rounds. Each fighter has a set of basic attacks - punches, kicks, and special moves - executed through button combinations. The game follows a tournament structure, pitting the player against increasingly challenging foes until a final boss. It's a straightforward arcade-style fighter with a focus on memorizing attack patterns and timing.
China Warrior is worth checking out today as an early example of the fighting game genre on a platform not often associated with it. Its sprite work and music capture the distinct feel of late-80s arcade fighters, making it a curiosity for retro enthusiasts. That said, it's a primitive effort by modern standards - with limited move sets and stiff controls - so it's best approached as a piece of history rather than a competitive deep game.
How to Play China Warrior (USA) Online
Getting Started
When you first boot up China Warrior, you'll be at a title screen. Press the Start button to proceed to the character select screen, where you choose your fighter from a handful of martial artists. Each character has slightly different stats and special moves, but no detailed descriptions are given. After selecting, the first match begins immediately.
The core loop is simple: fight your opponent by moving left and right with the D-Pad, using the S button for standard attacks (punches and kicks) and X for jumping. Special moves are performed by inputting directional commands (like quarter-circles) and pressing the attack button. Blocking is not automatic - you need to hold away from the opponent to block high attacks and crouch-block for low attacks.
Each match consists of two rounds; you need to win both to progress to the next opponent. There is no practice mode, so learning enemy patterns through trial and error is the way to advance. Keep an eye on your health bar and try to land powerful special moves when the opponent is vulnerable. The game ends when you defeat the final boss or lose all your continues.
China Warrior (USA) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
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