Line #83 VideoGame/KungFuMaster


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kungfumaster1984.png]]
2
3	->''"Your love '''Silvia''' is in custody now. If you want to save your dear '''Silvia's life''', come to the Devil's Temple at once. 5 sons of the devil will entertain you."''
4	-->-- '''Mr. X''', game intro to ''Kung Fu Master''
5
6	''Kung-Fu Master'' is a 1984 UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame released by Creator/{{Irem}}, also known as ''Kung Fu'' in its 1985 Platform/{{NES}} port and ''[[MarketBasedTitle Spartan X]]'' in Japan (all versions except for the {{Platform/MSX}} one, which was titled ''Seiken Acho'' due to the existence of ''Jackie Chan in Spartan X'', a different MSX game by Pony Inc.). Playing as martial artist Thomas, you get to kick, punch and jump-kick an horde of...rather ''grabby'' enemies and acrobatic midgets throughout 5 straighforward stages.
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8	The original game's plot is [[ExcusePlot quite simple]]: the mysterious Mr. X kidnaps Thomas' girl, Sylvia, and leaves a letter challenging him to rescue her by going through a 5-floor pagoda known as ''Devil's Temple'', fighting against his hordes of grabby {{mooks}} and the ''5 Sons of the Devil'' (the [[CarryABigStick Stick Fighter]], [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang Boomerang Fighter]], [[TheBrute Strongman]], [[EvilSorcerer Magician]] and [[BigBad Mr. X]] himself).
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10	There were two sequels made for the console market. A Game Boy version of ''Kung Fu Master''[=/=]''Spartan X'' released in 1990, dealing with Thomas, now a secret intelligence agent, as he investigates the disappearance of scientist and engineers known in the field of weapon development, and the apparent involvement of mysterious millionaire and martial artists Zapp Morgan. Now Thomas has to face Morgan's contracted killers ([[ChainsawGood Chainsaw Man]], [[PlayingWithFire Napalm Bomber]], twin {{Ninja}}s and the return of Strongman) plus hordes of still very grabby {{mooks}}. The game plays identical to the original, albeit Thomas has a new flying/cartwheel kick attack and stages now have moving platforms and traps.
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12	And then there's ''Spartan X 2'', released in Japan in 1991 for the Family Computer, and [[NoExportForYou advertised but not released]] for the NES as ''Kung Fu II''. Now going by the name Johnny Spartan ([[AllThereInTheManual the manual]] revealing his original full name as Johnny Thomas), he's a police officer who lost his family in an incident with a new type of drug, which his father was subjected to. Quitting the corrupt police force, he becomes a secret service agent in order to track the drug route and find the mastermind, which turns out to be man named Caeson Hawk. Johnny confronts many drug smugglers and dealers ([[BreathWeapon Flames Joe]], [[YellowPeril Chin Gensai]], [[ScaryBlackMan Billy Beiry]], Mr. Benjamin and [[BodyguardBabes Murder Lin]]), and [[RunningGag once again]] very grabby {{mooks}} on his crusade against Caeson. Sylvia shines by her absence, with Johnny instead getting assistance from Tracey, his HQ contact, as well as his heavily-stressed chief, Steve. Just as before, two new moves are given to Johnny in the form of a {{Shoryuken}}-esque rising uppercut and an overhead throw.
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14	If you were looking for [[Film/TheKarateKid Mr. Miyagi]] and co., see {{Mentors}}. Also not to be confused with [[Series/KungFu1972 the film and TV series starring David Carradine]].
15
16	----
17	!!This game provides examples of:
18	* AirborneMooks: Jetpack-strapped thugs in ''X 2''.
19	* AlliterativeName: Billy Beiry.
20	* AllThereInTheManual: The Platform/GameBoy game's plot. ''X 2'' actually starts in the middle of the story, with the beginning detailed in the manual.
21	* ArbitraryWeaponRange: The stick fighter can't hit you if you're point blank no matter how much he swings. Exception is the Atari 7800 version, where it requires trading blows.
22	%%* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Mr. X.
23	* ArtifactTitle: In Japan, "Spartan X" doesn't really seems to have anything to do with the game itself (barring the fact that Irem bought the license from a movie of the same name, see the InNameOnly entry below). ''X 2'' actually tries to justify it by rechristening the main character "Johnny Spartan", and then having Caeson mention the fact he was once known as "Thomas".
24	* TheBeastMaster: Mr. Benjamin sics his trained gorilla against you.
25	* BeatEmUp
26	%%* BigBad: Mr. X (Arcade/NES), Zapp Morgan (Platform/GameBoy) and Caeson Hawk (Spartan X 2).
27	%%** TheDragon: For Caeson at least, Murder Lin.
28	* BigFancyHouse: Caeson's "Dark Manor", which has its own underground drug factory and ''Olympic-sized'' swimming pool.
29	%%* BigNo: ''Noooo!!!''
30	* BoundAndGagged: Sylvia. Didn't look quite clear in the Arcade and NES versions because she could still yell "Help me, Thomas!" during the intermission after Stage 2, but the screen bezel for the U.S. cabinet depicts her to be gagged as well, as does the title screen for the Amstrad version.
31	%%* BreathWeapon: The dragons in the original and Flames Joe's signature attack.
32	%%* ChainsawGood: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Chainsaw Man.]]
33	* CircusOfFear: The Gypsy Air Circus in ''X 2'', which are actually a band of smugglers.
34	%%* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Zapp Morgan.
35	%%* CowboyCop: Johnny Spartan, much to his boss' chagrin.
36	%%* DaChief: Steve.
37	%%* DamselInDistress: Sylvia.
38	* DeathFakedForYou: [[spoiler:Johnny asks Tracey]] a favour: to claim his death at the end of ''X 2''.
39	%%* DragonLady: Murder Lin.
40	%%* DumbMuscle: Strongman and Billy Beiry.
41	%%* EndlessGame: The original.
42	* EqualOpportunityEvil: Mr. X employs Midgets as {{Mooks}}.
43	* EternalEngine: Stage 04 and 05 in the Platform/GameBoy game, Morgan's weapon factory.
44	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: All bosses but the [[FinalBoss final ones]] are just given generic descriptive names of their weapon/tactic. Averted in ''X 2'', though.
45	%%* EvilCounterpart: Mr. X to Thomas.
46	* EvilLaugh: Mr. X is ''fondly'' remembered for his mocking laughter in the intermission "cutscenes". All bosses mockingly laugh at Thomas after he loses too, with Strongman having a lower pitch and Magician a higher.
47	%%* EvilTowerOfOminousness: Devil's Temple.
48	%%* {{Expy}}: Chainsaw Man is one to [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]].
49	%%* FanRemake: [[http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBoQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.onemorelevel.com%2Fgame%2Fkung_fu_remix&ei=cbZRTYXfFIrZgQfu47DlCA&usg=AFQjCNFX-qNU4RltxoAkYoNATsYxmDSB_g Kung-Fu Remix]].
50	* FanSequel: [[http://www.thegamespage.com/backroom/backroom.php?game=kungfu2final&s=1 Kung Fu II]] and [[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/522160 Santa Fu]], the latter of which is made by some of the guys behind ''VideoGame/AbobosBigAdventure''.
51	* FanVid: Creator/{{Cinemassacre}} associate Mike Matei made an excellent video tribute called "Kung Fu Bandito" that can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2pDLJgdKBA&feature=related here]] (Might be NotSafeForWork). [[spoiler:Featuring WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd in the very end, killing Kung Fu Bandito [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim with a clean headshot]].]]
52	** The epic Japanese-made ''WebAnimation/NatrapsX'' trilogy: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-OpqNvbjk0 Natraps X]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgoR8T8hTEs Sylvia ga Taosenai]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwdSlFMZoOg Natraps X FINAL]].
53	%%* GasMaskMooks: The Napalm Bomber, as seen in the game's boxart.
54	* GuideDangIt: The Magician is the only boss who needs to be struck in a specific way to hurt him.
55	* HereWeGoAgain:
56	-->''"Congratulations, Thomas and Sylvia! But their happiness does not continue long."\
57	'''Stage 1 starts'''
58	* HighAltitudeBattle: Stage 04 in ''X 2'' takes place atop a moving plane.
59	%%* IHaveYourWife
60	* InNameOnly: The Japanese version, ''Spartan X'', took its name from the Japanese title of the Creator/JackieChan film ''Film/WheelsOnMeals'', since Irem bought the license to make a game based on the film. Despite the title, the game has nothing to do with the movie outside of the names of the two main characters (Thomas and Sylvia) and was more inspired by the unfinished Creator/BruceLee project ''Film/GameOfDeath''.
61	%%* ItsAllUpstairsFromHere: The entirety of the original game.
62	* {{Kiai}}: The original arcade game has Thomas doing Creator/BruceLee-style kiaing when he attacks, specifically, he goes "Ata!" when he punches or kicks, and "wooga!" when he jump kicks.
63	%%* KungFuWizard: The Magician. Although he utilizes stage magic as opposed to real magic.
64	* LetXBeTheUnknown: Mr. X, pretty much. The Japanese manual states the group he's leader of is also known as the "Mysterious Organization X".
65	* MightyGlacier: Strongman packs a ''very mean'' punch/kick, but he also telegraphs which attack he's going to use.
66	* MirrorBoss: Mr. X in the NES game uses the same moves as Thomas, added to his unique specialty in blocking/dodging attacks.
67	%%* {{Mooks}}
68	* TheMovie: The French film ''Le petit amour'' features the game heavily and became known internationally as ''Creator/AgnesVarda's Kung Fu Master!''.
69	* MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours: Probably why Mr. X went through all the trouble of kidnapping Sylvia.
70	* {{Ninja}}: Most {{Mooks}} in the Platform/GameBoy game are these, plus two more as bosses. ''X 2'' has 4 ninjas hidden in Caeson's olympic-sized swimming pool.
71	%%* ObviouslyEvil: The Devil's Temple.
72	* OffWithHisHead: Kicking Magician has this effect: his head falls off and he teleports, unharmed.
73	* PersonalSpaceInvader: Most enemies attack by throwing themselves on you and attempting to weigh you down.
74	* PublicDomainSoundtrack: Whenever you complete the temple, the game plays a snippet of Dvorák's "New World Symphony".
75	%%* PyroManiac: The Napalm Bomber.
76	* RegeneratingHealth: Only the bosses have a rather slow health regeneration, which is only noticed if the player does notable damage, and disengages. The Atari 7800 version increases this rate.
77	* TheRival: Mr. X and Caeson. In the latter's case, it's implied they have met before (probably from the incident in which Johnny lost his family).
78	%%* SaveThePrincess: The original game's plot.
79	%%* ScaryBlackMan: Strongman and Billy Beiry.
80	%%* ShipLevel: Stage 03 in ''X 2''.
81	* SmashingSurvival: The UrExample. Any time you let an enemy get too close to you they will grapple you and you have to waggle the joystick frantically to break free.
82	%%* SmokeOut: Magician's teleport includes it.
83	* SpellMyNameWithAnS: One that's basically become fanon. Thanks to a [[BlindIdiotTranslation mistranslation]] in the fan-translation of ''Spartan X 2'', any time the game is discussed, the main character is called "Keiji Thomas".[[note]]In the Japanese game, Caeson calls him "Toomasu-keiji", which translates to "Detective Thomas", referencing his past as a cop.[[/note]]
84	* SuperNotDrowningSkills: The last section in the final stage of ''X 2'' has Johnny walking underwater without any ill effect. The {{Mooks}} falling into the water to hug him aren't affected either.
85	%%* TeleportSpam: The annoying habit of Magician and Chin Gensai.
86	* TimedMission: The timer starts at 2000 and counts down at around 18.4 per second, gives around 100 seconds per floor. The timer starts a CriticalAnnoyance when it's around 320.
87	* TrainTopBattle: Stage 02 in the Platform/GameBoy game and the first one in ''X 2''.
88	* TwelveBarBlues: Used in the main gameplay theme of the original game.[[note]]This was also done in Moon Patrol, another Irem game.[[/note]]
89	* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: Both Tracey and Steve communicate with Johnny through their group's HQ-Link as part of the game's cutscenes.
90	* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Invoked by Caeson, who claims that doing exactly that wouldn't be much fun, and instead challenges Johnny to a "special stage" made only for him.
91	%%* YellowPeril: Chin Gensai.

Context VideoGame / KungFuMaster