Yie Ar Kung-Fu

"Yie Ar Kung-Fu" (this name should just be read, because it is unlikely to be pronounced correctly), released in 1984, is rightfully considered one of the first classic fighting games, which laid the foundation for future masterpieces. At a time when the genre was just beginning to gain popularity, this game offered a unique set of mechanics and a variety of rivals, which made it really exciting.

One of the main advantages of the toy for me personally is the variety of fighters and their unique fighting styles. Each opponent that the main character faces has its own set of techniques and weapons, which makes the fight truly unique. For example, you will meet with a fighter who can seriously hit with a stick or get his feet, while the other generally uses a fast chain, charging it into the hero at every opportunity. There is a fighter who literally spits something dangerous, turning the fight into a test of speed and reaction. Well, a flying fat man will make you believe that the matrix exists. And don't let the skinny girl fighter confuse you. It is generally difficult to get into it. This diversity forces you to change tactics from battle to battle and look for new ways to win each time.

The gameplay of "Yie Ar Kung-Fu" is simple, but therein lies its genius. Thanks to dynamic and responsive teams, the battles become intense and exciting. Each battle requires concentration and dexterity, as opponents can act aggressively and unpredictably. Although the protagonist's movements are simple, the need to adapt to the style of each enemy makes the game really exciting.

The graphics for 1984 look decent: the characters and their movements are well animated, and the battle arenas create a suitable atmosphere for duels. Even the limited capabilities of the platform do not prevent the game from conveying the spirit of martial arts, which was an impressive achievement for its time.

"Yie Ar Kung-Fu" (just read from the monitor without trying to pronounce it) is a vivid example of how you can create an exciting fighting game with simple but fascinating mechanics and a variety of rivals. This is a game that laid the foundation for an entire genre and still remains a cult classic for all fans of retro gaming and martial arts.

8 out of 10.

I've invested too many hours to count into video games, but as far as single sessions are concerned I think Yie Ar Kung-Fu may take the top spot. It was Christmas of maybe 1987 or thereabouts where I put in I believe around 8hrs non-stop, obsessive? unhealthy? Very likely, but also a lot of fun.

I pushed the game to its limits and learnt that it basically has no end, after you defeat every opponent it just starts again, and again, and again, and again.

It's an early one on one beat em' up style game, before we had Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken etc we had the likes of Yie Ar Kung Fu and it was glorious.

You'd take turns battling your foes who are varying martial artists and later some weapon wielders before fighting your arch nemesis (Who is basically a clone of you).

The difficulty curve was actually quite low after you master the controls and learn that one particular move was overpowered and started spamming that!

Regardless of this flaw the game had a lot of content, was very addictive and set the stage for all the incredible games that were clearly influenced by it.

A true retro classic.

The Good:

Great characters

Excellent combat

The Bad:

Never ending!

One overpowered move