Kung Fu, The (Japan)
Kung Fu, The (Japan) - Fighting Classic
Kung Fu, The is a 2D fighting game released for the NEC TurboGrafx-16 in Japan. While the original arcade classic featured side-scrolling beat-em-up action, this TG-16 adaptation reimagines the concept as a one-on-one fighter, following the trend of many console ports of the era that shoehorned arcade martial arts brawls into the burgeoning fighting game genre. The exact release year and developer are not widely documented, but it stands as a curious Japan-exclusive title that attempted to translate the Kung Fu license into the competitive head-to-head format popularized by games like Street Fighter II.
Players select a martial artist and engage in rounds of combat against CPU opponents. The core loop involves reading the opponent's patterns, blocking or evading attacks, and landing punches and kicks to deplete a health bar. Matches are decided by best-of-three rounds, win a match, and the game advances to the next challenger. Basic movement is left and right with the D-pad, and a button press triggers a standard attack while another handles jumping or special moves. Without a manual, the specific move set remains ambiguous, but the general premise aligns with the era's two-button fighting controls.
Today, Kung Fu, The is an obscure oddity in the TurboGrafx-16 library. It never received a Western release, so it serves as a curiosity for collectors of Japanese TG-16 software. The 2D fighter genre is crowded, and this title does not introduce any groundbreaking mechanics. However, for fans of retro fighting games or those exploring the system's Japanese exclusives, it offers a brief arcade-style experience that captures the early days of console fighters. It is a niche title best approached with tempered expectations, appreciated more for its rarity than its refinement.
How to Play Kung Fu, The (Japan) Online
Getting Started
When you launch Kung Fu, The on the TurboGrafx-16 emulator, the first screen will likely present a title screen in Japanese. Press Start (Enter) to proceed. You may need to use Select (V) to navigate between options. The menus are entirely in Japanese, so look for the kanji for 'fight' or 'start' - usually the top-most option leads directly into the game. If there is a character select screen, you may choose your fighter before the match begins.
The core loop is simple: you face a single opponent in a best-of-three round match. Use the D-pad (Arrow Keys) to move left and right. Press S (B button) to perform a punch or kick attack, and use X (A button) to jump. Experiment with pressing directions while attacking to see if that changes the move. Block by standing still or pressing away from the opponent - some games of this era block automatically when you do nothing. Defeat each opponent to advance to the next fight. The game ends when you lose all rounds.
If you lose, you may see a continues screen with an option to insert credits (usually pressing Start again). Since this is an emulated ROM, you can simply reload if you run out of continues. The game is short, intended for quick arcade-style sessions. Don't expect a deep tutorial or complex combos - it is very much a product of its time.
Kung Fu, The (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
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