Kung Fu Master

[rdefabri]

I always liked the Data East / IREM arcade game "Kung Fu Master". I know this game was released on multiple home gaming / computer systems, including the 2600, the C64, and the 7800 - but never the Atari 400/800.

Links to the 2600 and 7800 versions:

 

 

 

Never understood why this wasn't released on the Atari 400/800, but I'm guessing it was just timing - by the time this hit, maybe the Atari 8-bits were declining in popularity, but I just don't remember. I know there are multiple games like this, but this one always struck me as odd.

 

My programming days are long over, but would love to see a port of this for the Atari 8-bit...one can dream!

 

 

[Tempest]

I had the Apple II version and it sucked pretty hard. The NES version is the only way to go, all others are pretty janky.

[rdefabri]

I had the Apple II version and it sucked pretty hard. The NES version is the only way to go, all others are pretty janky.

 

Yes it looks lame - the 7800 version isn't bad, but the TIA chip kills it IMHO. I'm glad to see folks making ports such as Phoenix - can't wait for that to be completed.

[sanny]

The NES version is the only way to go, all others are pretty janky.

 

I don't know the NES version, bit the C64 version was ok. At least, I played it regularily back then.

[Mclaneinc]

While I'd never turn a new release for the Atari down I have to say that I found Kung Fu master boring, maybe its because I was rubbish at it but I gave it a good go after playing it on my C64 and even tried the arcade version in MAME later on but still I just don't 'get it'...Oh well, horses for courses I guess.

 

Oh I seem to remember that sales of the game were small compared to usual arcade ports..

[Gunstar]

I wanted Kung Fu Master for both my A8 and 7800 back in the day. I could never find the 7800 version for sale back then. Was it an NTSC release or one of those PAL only 7800 releases? I tried to play it on 7800 emulation, but the title wouldn't work, at least with the emulator I use, which is on the Dreamcast Win CE.

 

I'd love to see a version of it done for the 8-bit Atari today, since the vast majority of ports and home-brews have been better than commercial releases of 25-30 years ago anyway. It probably would have not been so good as a quick and dirty Apple or C64 port back then.

 

But I am very surprised that it wasn't a new release for the XEGS, and the XE cart remakes and new titles were mostly competent titles! But then it wasn't Atari who released it on the 2600/7800 anyway was it? I seem to recall it's an Absolute or Activision title for the 2600 and 7800, like Double Dragon?

Edited September 21, 2016 by Gunstar

[+FujiSkunk]

Data East themselves released home computer ports of the game, which means the option to release for the Atari 8-bits probably sat with them. Sadly they, like most other third-parties at the time, just weren't interested in the Atari line.

 

I played the C-64 version to death, and I would say it ranks about as highly as the NES version. The only ding against it in my mind is the wonky use of the space bar to switch between punches and kicks. A necessary evil given the C-64's single-button joystick, but it's still annoying, if only a little.

 

And yeah, the Apple II version is pretty bad.

[retrocanada76]

The MSX version is pretty good too:

[snicklin]

Does this game remind anyone of Green Beret?

[MrMaddog]

I had the Apple II version and it sucked pretty hard. The NES version is the only way to go, all others are pretty janky.

 

I agree, the NES version is the only one I like. Even the arcade version feels cheap since the attacks don't always connect and the baddies quickly suck health from you like vampires while you're trying to shaking them off.

 

I'll have to watch that Battle of the Ports video to see how the differences are...

[tjlazer]

Wish there was a port of Kung Fu Master and Karage Champ for the XL XE series!

[Gunstar]

Yes to Kung Fu Master, but as far as Karate Champ, WKC/IK were always good clones of KC, maybe even better, I never felt a need at all for KC with IK/WKC on our 8-bit.

[lbaeza]

 

http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-kung-fu-master_16260.html

 

Regards,

 

Luis.

[_The Doctor__]

not even close, the name is the same but not the game

[Gunstar]

That one was a type-in from Antic or Analog, I remember because I typed it in hoping it would be better than I knew better than to believe... It was fun for 15 min. or half an hour and I never loaded it again.

 

Back then, once I owned Karateka and World Karate Champ and Ninja on my 130XE, I didn't care if any other martial arts games were published for the Atari, I was a happy camper. I hoped for sequels, of course.

Edited March 23, 2020 by Gunstar

[lbaeza]

START VOL. 5 NO. 2 / OCTOBER 1990

https://www.atarimagazines.com/startv5n2/kungfumaster.html

[Gunstar]

Ah yes, Antic section in STart. So I have that bit in my binder where I tore out all the Antic sections of STart and put them in a 3-4 ring binder. My very disappointing first time of ever subscribing to an Atari Magazine (ANTIC). I still have the STart magazines, but without the Antic sections.

[Yaron Nir]

one of my favorite of all time games, spend a lot of coinsin the acrades plays back in the 80s early 90s. wanted to work on a port myself, but just occupied with other ports.

there are excellent graphic persons and music persons here in AA and not to talk about guru coders that can easily work such a port.

 

@miker , how about creating the opening music and in-game music and post it here just for fun  

 

I would love to see some graphics arts by @TIX and @José Pereira just to show how the game could look like on A8 and how will be the main sprites look like for this game.

 

if you think about it, it's not that hard game to accomplish.

Antic Mode 4 can work

Interleaved charsets for screen graphics with some nice DLI colouring

main character can be made of 2-3 players

other buggers can be software sprites as they are repeating them selves over the screen.

the throwing knife can be missiles.

 

 

[miker]

Haha, I may try. Just need some time.

[lbaeza]

Hi 

 

According to a currently offline article published on Atariware , Kung-Fu Master was created by Pelusa Software, who were a small team of Atari fans located in Arica, Chile. The main idea of the game was inspired by two arcade games: Yie-Ar Kung Fu (Konami, 1985) and Kung-Fu Master (Irem, 1984).

 

 

Years later, German González, formerly from Pelusa, told Atariware that the game was sent to two magazines: First it was sent to Mundo Atari magazine, from Chile, where his letter was published on issue 24 (June-July 1989) with only a congratulation, no game listing was published there, and the magazine folded the next month. The other magazine Germán sent the listing was Antic, although it was finally published on STart vol 5 issue 2, october 1990. This magazine was a continuation of Antic. You can see an article on page 99 entitled Kung Fu Master, and the listing on pages 112 and 113. In addition to that, a local software publisher named Turbo Software, included the game as "Kung Fu" on at least 2 cartridge games compilation: cartridges "C5" and "2". No permissions were asked to German, and no royalties were sent to him because of the sales of these cartridges including his creation. Germán came to know about this years later, when he bought one of these cartridges second hand on a flea market for his Atari personal collection.

 

 

 

This game was coded on a NTSC Atari computer using Atari Basic, using as few lines as possible so it could be published on a magazine. This program does not work OK on PAL systems, although it has already been fixed by local Atari fans.

 

Kind regards,

 

Luis.

[miker]

Hm... the music seems pretty doable.

 

 

kung_fu_master-gamestart.wav kung_fu_master-ingame.wav

[Yaron Nir]

4 minutes ago, miker said:

Hm... the music seems pretty doable.

 

 

kung_fu_master-gamestart.wav 428.38 kB · 0 downloads kung_fu_master-ingame.wav 1.62 MB · 0 downloads

hahaha very nice @miker i could practically picturing the fighter walking and kicking and punching the bad guys  

[TracMan]

I remember the C64 version from when it first came out as it used hardware sprite doubling which just about did the trick for the large enemies.  My mate at the time (we were both about 12) had a C64 and pointed out the flaw when the guy walks up stairs, the players legs goes first behind the background and then in front, not that it detracts too much.  Something I had forgot was the C64 was adept at mixing hi res and low res, so if you want a detailed background you might be better off using hires.

[TIX]

On 3/24/2020 at 1:48 PM, Yaron Nir said:

.

 

I would love to see some graphics arts by @TIX and @José Pereira just to show how the game could look like on A8 and how will be the main sprites look like for this game.

 

.

hmm..  ?

surely we'll need a wider sprite for kicks and punches.. 8 pixels wont do !

 

EDIT: or maybe use the Bruce Lee technique, with double wide pixels on the frames that must be wider !

Edited April 2, 2020 by TIX

[TIX]

Hey @Yaron Nir it's a pretty simple sprite to draw, and (if I may say so) already looking better than the c64/amstrad versions !

it's only a 2 frames walk for now, I added a bandana just because it's cool