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Rah
- it's The Kung Fu, one of the very first releases
on the PC Engine!
This game came like a slap in the face back in 1987
- never before had such massive characters hit the screen
of a home console. Even by arcade standards, this was
as big as they could (and should) get.
Admittedly, the game itself is a bit shoddy. But it's
still a nice technological showcase for the machine
- a very straightforward 'walk along the screen and
whoop ass' endeavour, very similar to the likes of Spartan
X (1984) and Vigilante
(1988). It does well given the circumstances - today
the visuals strike as laughable and the animation jerky,
but the gameplay is still crisp and fun.
The aim is to use your character's (very limited) arsenal
of moves to take out waves of oncoming opponents and
flying objects. Each of the game's 4 stages is split
into three sections, each one ending with a one-on-one
'boss fight', for which the screen will stop moving.
Good reflexes will get you through the obstacle course
no sweat, whereas only a set tactic will deal with each
of the rivals.
Bear in mind that if ever you take two or three straight
hits in a row, the hero's next attack becomes a flurry
of super-powerful punches. Use this well, and most bosses
can be easily reduced to jelly.
Don't think, feel...
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The
Kung Fu
THE功夫
PC ENGINE |
DETAILS
| Format |
PC
Engine |
| Released |
21
Nov 1987 |
| Publisher |
Hudson |
| Product
ID |
HC62001 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Although
stamped 'Vol.1', The Kung
Fu just missed the PC
Engine's 30th of October launch
date.
Punch, kick, it's all in the
mind.
Standard PCE case, 2Mbit HuCard,
monochrome booklet. |
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SCREENSHOT
GALLERY
&
TACTICS
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Throughout
all 4 stages, the best trick is to hold back and slow down the screen:
flying objects become a lot easier to deal with this way, and it's
really worth picking them all off: many of them contain secret 'Power
Up' energy boosts.
Each stage is divided into 3 areas that are ended by a one-on-one
'boss fight' - follow the tactics listed below to dispatch them
easily.
Between stages you'll also be presented with a quick 'Bonus Game':
earn extra energy by hitting the vase with accurate timing (right). |
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BOSS
1-1
The
first boss is very easily defeated.
Simply hold RIGHT and the II button set on autofire. |
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BOSS
1-2
The
second boss is very similar to the first.
Stay somewhere in the middle of the screen,
Hold RIGHT, and both the II and I buttons on autofire. |
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BOSS
1-3
Stage
1's third
boss is a complete pushover.
Immediately head for the far right of the screen,
Hold RIGHT, and the II button on autofire. |
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BOSS
2-1
A
bit trickier now for the first kung fu girl: immediately walk straight
up to her, literally pushing her against the wall, and hit her with
a punch from the I button on autofire. The second it hits and pushes
you back a little, step immediately back up to her and hold the
(autofire) I button again. It's a very fast strategy, that beats
her in no time at all. |
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BOSS
2-2
Harder
still is the first 'clone' boss: this trick is quite hard to do,
but deadly when it works: quickly place yourself in the middle of
the screen, but take one step to the right (the image above right
illustrates the perfect place). If the placement is correct, holding
the I and II buttons on autofire nails him each time he tries to
kick. If you fail the placement, try to push him back, taking hits,
until you get the right spot - otherwise there's no real other strategy. |
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BOSS
2-3
Back
to basics for the boss of Stage 2-3:
Immediately push her into the right corner,
Hold RIGHT and both I and II buttons on autofire.
On the off-chance that she might get out of it, push her back in
straight away and repeat. |
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BOSS
3-1
The
'Jackie Chan' boss of Stage 3-1 is one of the first opponents for
which there doesn't seem to be a 'guaranteed tactic'. The best technique
seems to be to take two direct hits (without attacking) and unleash
a 'Super Punch' counter (see picture). This takes care of him in
4 blows, at the cost of 8 energy blocks - and those are the best
odds you'll get. |
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BOSS
3-2
The
'Black Clone' of Stage 3-2 can be dealt with in the same way as
the first kung-fu girl from Stage 2-1. Walk straight up to him against
the right corner, and punch him in the face with the I button (with
autofire). After the hit, walk quickly back up against him and immediately
repeat. The idea is to be super-quick, and stay close to him. If
he escapes, punch him back into the corner. You might take a couple
of hits here. |
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BOSS
3-3
The
Jackie Chan boss returns at the end of Stage 3, and he's just as
hard to beat as in Stage 3-1. In fact the best tactic remains the
same: take 2 direct hits without attacking, and let rip a 'Super
Punch' counter attack (see picture). Again, there doesn't seem to
be a better way of taking care of him without taking licks. If anyone
has a better trick, please let us know! |
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BOSS
4-1
The
'Grey Clone' of Stage 4-1 is relatively easy to beat, but you need
good reflexes: stand still, and wait for him to kick (see picture).
His kick will miss. He steps forward afterwards to come in with
a punch: stop him by immediately by slapping him in the face with
a I button punch. Wait again for another kick, and repeat. |
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BOSS
4-2
The
'Peroxide Jackie Chan' of Stage 4-2 is another opponent with a tough,
reaction-based strategy. Stand in the far left corner, and wait
for him to approach. The second he raises his knee to attack (see
picture), strike him with a I button punch. After getting hit, he
will take 1 step forward, 2 steps back, 2 steps forward, and attack
again: nail him the second he raises his knee. It sounds tough,
but once you get the rhythm it becomes quite easy - and fun. |
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BOSS
4-3
The
final boss, the 'Drunken Master', is an absolute monster: not only
do all of his strikes take 2 damage points, but he can also replenish
his energy during the fight by drinking from his gourd. To make
things worse there seems to be no real strategy to take care of
him... So go for the usual 'take 2 hits and counter attack' strategy,
and try to take him out as quickly as you can - before your energy
runs out, that is. Good luck! |
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'The
Kung Fu' and 'Hudson' are registered trademarks of Hudson Soft Ltd.
'PC Engine' and 'NEC' are registered trademarks of NEC Corporation
The Kung Fu TM & © 1987 Hudson All Rights Reserved
Page content, design & layout © 2008 www.Jap-Sai.com |
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