Difference between revisions of "Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu"
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[[Image:Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American NES box art.]] | [[Image:Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American NES box art.]] | ||
− | '''''Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu''''' is a platform beat | + | '''''Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu''''' is a platform [[beat 'em up]] developed by [[Now Production]] and published by [[Hudson Soft Company]] for the [[NES]] in December 1990 and the [[TurboGrafx-16]] on 1991-01-18. In the game, you play Jackie Chan who is trying to rescue his sister (or girlfriend in the TG16 game) who has been kidnapped by a Sorcerer. Although the NES port was released first, it seems pretty clear that the game was first made on the TG16 and then ported to the NES. |
− | I first heard about this game because it was a prize on a children's game show, I think [[Masters of the Maze]], but I never saw it played until years later using an emulator. While the game looked good and seemed interesting, I first dismissed it as just another NES platformer. Years later, while looking for video game music to record, I played the game's [[NSF]] file and was impressed by the music. Wanting to know where in the game a particular song was played, I took to playing the game through and got to the third level. This was more than enough to impress upon me how enjoyable the game is, so I decided to play the game for real. I beat it on my second attempt on 2018-01-02. | + | ==Personal== |
+ | I first heard about this game because it was a prize on a children's game show, I think [[Masters of the Maze]], but I never saw it played until years later using an emulator. While the game looked good and seemed interesting, I first dismissed it as just another generic NES platformer. Years later, while looking for video game music to record, I played the game's [[NSF]] file and was impressed by the music. Wanting to know where in the game a particular song was played, I took to playing the game through and got to the third level. This was more than enough to impress upon me how enjoyable the game is, so I decided to play the game for real. I beat it on my second attempt on 2018-01-02. | ||
==Status== | ==Status== | ||
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* '''Overall:''' 6/10 | * '''Overall:''' 6/10 | ||
* '''Best Version:''' TurboGrafx-16 | * '''Best Version:''' TurboGrafx-16 | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{Spoilers}} | ||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
* The game has really attractive graphics. The characters are well animated and feature some of the best cartoon drawings on the NES. Many of the sprites are also hilarious. | * The game has really attractive graphics. The characters are well animated and feature some of the best cartoon drawings on the NES. Many of the sprites are also hilarious. | ||
− | * | + | * [[Masakatsu Maekawa]]'s music is quite impressive. It uses a coherent timbre throughout the game and several songs have a wonderful traditional Asian sound which fits the theme. The NES audio makes especially good use of the hardware. |
* The controls are very responsive and fluid. | * The controls are very responsive and fluid. | ||
* Each stage has a unique set of backgrounds, enemies, music, and a boss. | * Each stage has a unique set of backgrounds, enemies, music, and a boss. | ||
* I like how there are multiple secret stages, each which requires a new set of skills to master. | * I like how there are multiple secret stages, each which requires a new set of skills to master. | ||
− | * Unlike many NES titles, the game isn't | + | * Unlike many NES titles, the game isn't that difficult, which is a nice change of pace. Pitfalls, rather than killing you outright, punish you by setting you back or injuring you. However, the TG16 game is considerably harder. |
* The game includes a lot of interesting Chinese and Japanese mythology. | * The game includes a lot of interesting Chinese and Japanese mythology. | ||
Line 25: | Line 28: | ||
* The NES port eliminates large sections of the levels, and, with only five total, the game is too short. I would have loved to see another two or three levels or at least the rest of the TG16 levels. | * The NES port eliminates large sections of the levels, and, with only five total, the game is too short. I would have loved to see another two or three levels or at least the rest of the TG16 levels. | ||
* The NES port also eliminates a lot of the enemies and eliminates complexity for the rest, especially the bosses. | * The NES port also eliminates a lot of the enemies and eliminates complexity for the rest, especially the bosses. | ||
− | * The NES port gives you too many lives for the game to be a real challenge, the TG16 is more appropriate as it is harder and gives fewer lives. | + | * The NES port gives you too many lives for the game to be a real challenge, the TG16 is more appropriate as it is harder and gives fewer lives. The NES manual even gives you a cheat code to get 99 lives, pretty much guaranteeing victory as long as you're tenacious. |
* Josephine is described in the manual as being a Kung Fu master with abilities comparable to Jackie Chan, which is progressive, but, in the game, she shows no skills whatsoever, so her title is just window dressing. | * Josephine is described in the manual as being a Kung Fu master with abilities comparable to Jackie Chan, which is progressive, but, in the game, she shows no skills whatsoever, so her title is just window dressing. | ||
Line 71: | Line 74: | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
− | + | {{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/jackie-chans-action-kung-fu}} | |
− | + | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Chan%27s_Action_Kung_Fu}} | |
− | + | {{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Jackie_Chan%27s_Action_Kung_Fu}} | |
− | |||
[[Category: Games]] | [[Category: Games]] | ||
[[Category: Video Games]] | [[Category: Video Games]] | ||
+ | [[Category: 1990 Video Games]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Video Game Genre - Beat 'Em Up]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Video Game Genre - Martial Arts]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Video Game Genre - Tie-In]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Game Mechanic - Playable Non-White Character]] | ||
[[Category: NES Games]] | [[Category: NES Games]] | ||
[[Category: TurboGrafx-16 Games]] | [[Category: TurboGrafx-16 Games]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]] |
− | |||
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]] | [[Category: Games I've Beaten]] |
Revision as of 16:35, 18 February 2020
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu is a platform beat 'em up developed by Now Production and published by Hudson Soft Company for the NES in December 1990 and the TurboGrafx-16 on 1991-01-18. In the game, you play Jackie Chan who is trying to rescue his sister (or girlfriend in the TG16 game) who has been kidnapped by a Sorcerer. Although the NES port was released first, it seems pretty clear that the game was first made on the TG16 and then ported to the NES.
Contents
Personal
I first heard about this game because it was a prize on a children's game show, I think Masters of the Maze, but I never saw it played until years later using an emulator. While the game looked good and seemed interesting, I first dismissed it as just another generic NES platformer. Years later, while looking for video game music to record, I played the game's NSF file and was impressed by the music. Wanting to know where in the game a particular song was played, I took to playing the game through and got to the third level. This was more than enough to impress upon me how enjoyable the game is, so I decided to play the game for real. I beat it on my second attempt on 2018-01-02.
Status
I do not own the game, but I have beaten the NES version.
Review
- Overall: 6/10
- Best Version: TurboGrafx-16
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- The game has really attractive graphics. The characters are well animated and feature some of the best cartoon drawings on the NES. Many of the sprites are also hilarious.
- Masakatsu Maekawa's music is quite impressive. It uses a coherent timbre throughout the game and several songs have a wonderful traditional Asian sound which fits the theme. The NES audio makes especially good use of the hardware.
- The controls are very responsive and fluid.
- Each stage has a unique set of backgrounds, enemies, music, and a boss.
- I like how there are multiple secret stages, each which requires a new set of skills to master.
- Unlike many NES titles, the game isn't that difficult, which is a nice change of pace. Pitfalls, rather than killing you outright, punish you by setting you back or injuring you. However, the TG16 game is considerably harder.
- The game includes a lot of interesting Chinese and Japanese mythology.
Bad
- There isn't much to explore in the game. Once you discover the hidden bells, you've found everything the game has to offer, and it's just a matter of honing your skills.
- The NES port eliminates large sections of the levels, and, with only five total, the game is too short. I would have loved to see another two or three levels or at least the rest of the TG16 levels.
- The NES port also eliminates a lot of the enemies and eliminates complexity for the rest, especially the bosses.
- The NES port gives you too many lives for the game to be a real challenge, the TG16 is more appropriate as it is harder and gives fewer lives. The NES manual even gives you a cheat code to get 99 lives, pretty much guaranteeing victory as long as you're tenacious.
- Josephine is described in the manual as being a Kung Fu master with abilities comparable to Jackie Chan, which is progressive, but, in the game, she shows no skills whatsoever, so her title is just window dressing.
Ugly
- Nothing.
Media
Box Art
The American NES release has a nice colored-pencil drawing of a young Jackie Chan with kung fu silhouettes in the background. It certainly gets the point of the game across, but it doesn't quite address the silliness of the game. I don't care much for the gray backdrop or the inappropriate lettering, but it's still my favorite box.
Documentation
Maps
Videos
- youtube.com/watch?v=2vK9C5nQcGU - Longplay, NES.
- youtube.com/watch?v=KtKUeSeXIOA - Longplay, TurboGrafx-16.
Titles
Language | Native | Transliteration | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
English | Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu | ||
Japanese | ジャッキー チェン | Jakki Chen | Jackie Chan |
Links
- Games
- Video Games
- 1990 Video Games
- Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy
- Video Game Genre - Beat 'Em Up
- Video Game Genre - Martial Arts
- Video Game Genre - Platformer
- Video Game Genre - Tie-In
- Game Mechanic - Playable Non-White Character
- NES Games
- TurboGrafx-16 Games
- Trope - Damsel In Distress
- Games I've Beaten