This game was one of the first games i saw when I saw the Famicom for the very first time when I visited Japan and my parents made me go to school there for the summer. A bunch of new friends I just met would invite me over to play the latest games on the famicom - really thought it was a magical machine back then. I remember everyone was collecting erasers shaped like mini famicom cartridges - wish I kept them!
I was 7 years old, when I beat the C64 version on a C64C using "The Arcade" joystick. Pole and Blues would often trap you, if you didn't keep moving and jumping a lot xD Didn't know of any other version, other than the weird, side-scrolling sequel, Yie Ar Kung-Fu 2, before I became an adult and was introduced to RUclips :D
Brian Beuken talked about the Ocean conversions. The C64 version was really struggling in the early days, due to the size of the graphics and the coders inability to get a decent multiplexer working, it ground to a halt, resulting in Ocean taking it back in-house and Dave Collier took it on. Brian himself had never heard of the game before he and his team were asked to port it to the C64, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC, they rented the Arcade Game and had to play it to death.
Many say this and Karate Champ arcades were influential to Street Fighter series. Karate Champ was developed by former Data East employees working at Technos Japan for Data East before they became independent, then merged with Arc System Works. The one designer who created Street Fighter was also responsible for Moon Patrol and Kung-Fu Master arcades. Bruce Lee was very influential to not just video games, but anime and others as well. One or more of his films was used as the basis of Mortal Kombat's setting and theme. Even Liu Kang was the protagonist, but many die hard MK fans prefer the ninjas Scorpion and Sub-Zero just for their iconic moves. A possible spiritual successor to Yie Ar Kung-Fu was Konami's Martial Champion. In fact, Jin the protagonist, resembles Lee as he appears in Famicom and GBC versions, but with a headband and similarities to Ryu from Street Fighter series.
Was my first taste of Japanese gaming period, and my first Msx computer game and my first time experiencing a fighting game ever, thanks for the amazing video as it really made my day and brought up so many good memories.
Retro Core more than that, it was my first fighter and I still own the box cart and manual for the Arabic, Japanese and EU releases for the max plus a loos Famicom clone cart, would wish to get the original Famicom one boxed and the Gameboy color version one day, also I'm a big irem fan so off course I own vigilant, kungfu master and that other variant on the DMG that I can't remember the name of now😂😂
There's also the version on PS1, in Konami Arcade Classics, I don't believe it's emulation either. The DS Konami compilation with the game on it however, is emulation.
your probably right, most psx collections were actual ports not emulation, like the namco classics discs, capcom ones even atari ones.. oh is your Blood Reign a Curse of the Yoma? being a human is so boring, hekage..
The Famicom version are one of those games that usually come out a lot on Polystations, as well as several Konami ports that did not come out of Japan...
Wow, I used to play this on my Electron, so it was great seeing it again over 30 years later. And now you've ruined my day by reminding me how old I am haha!!! (I was born in 74) Love your channel, it's so great for nostalgia plus no one ever includes the Acorn Electron in comparison, so it's great that you do.
Retro Core not good is it, I'm falling apart haha!!! Crazy though when you watch a vid like this n it takes ya right back. It was a great time to be a kid and starting to see video games (Pac man, Space Invaders etc) in chip shops, swimming pools etc. Then we actually get home computers, and can play (very basic) arcade games at home. Great decades the 80's n 90's, defo my all time favs. Great music, the very starts of great gaming but we won't mention the fashion haha!!!
Another one of my favs, my cousin had this compilation cartridge for the nes with like 250 games on it and this was one of the games that I use to play all day. Also use to play mappy and city connection on the same cartridge. The konami collection for gba has a good port.
The first "real" fighting game. You had to master the technique for each character. Each one had a unique style and weakness which you had to exploit or you were dead after a round or two. It was really popular when it came out in the arcades. I remember people lining up to play it. Not sure what happened to the famicom / msx versions.
That one I played A LOT on the arcade and NES :) but yeah, both had strange controllers and they were good for that time, but they didn't aged very well, especially the controllers.
The Speccy port of Yie Ar Kung Fu is something I hold close to my heart as it was the first ever game I had ever played and I was 4 years old at the time. The Speccy port is the game that introduced me into the world of Computer and Video games and I am still a gamer to this day. What is your first ever game you played?
What was my first ever game? Hmm, that's a tough one to remember. Most likely some pong thing but my first ever real game was Treasure Island on the Commodore Plus 4. I thought that was great back in the mid 80s.
Poles made (And still are) lots of homebrew arcade conversions for Atari 8-bit computer, it was first computer for many of us, back in late 80's :) Wonder why they deided to make MSX (and Famicom/NES) version so much different than the arcade?
Konami did this frequently, change a game a lot for it's home port. Salamander on MSX is a completely different game from the arcade. Space Manbow MSX begun as a Thunder Force port but they changed it so much that they decide to make a whole new game out of it. Sunsetriders on Mega Drive also a lot different from the arcade game....and I could keep going on. I guess they tried to make the game to fit better in the hardware it was running.
Great comparisons! Yie Ar Kung-Fu for the Xbox 360 also contains the original arcade graphics and this game is also available in Konami Arcade Classics for the PlayStation.
It's also on the Sega Saturn as part of the MSX Konami collection. The Saturn and PlayStation versions are left out though due to both being emulated "ports"
True, the MSX port is also on Konami Antiques MSX Collection. According to Wikipedia, Konami Arcade Classics (known in Japan as Konami 80's Arcade Gallery) was "developed for the System 573 arcade system - hardware based on the Sony PlayStation architecture. This made the collection easy to convert to the PlayStation home console. A look into the software's readme files reveals notes that the original ROM data was used to obtain assets for the reprogrammed games." Doesn't that mean it was ported and not emulated?
Mega like! Finally one of my favourite fighting games of all time. Despite of it's playability, Nintendo included the Famicom version in the Famicom Classic Mini, and I included it in my NES Classic Mini via hakchi2. The hit box of the game is broken, but still love it xD
I love Yie-Ar Kung-Fu Mark. I think I have all the Nintendo versions of it in my collection. I wouldn't made if Konami made another one. I still whistle to myself the music in the game. Nice work as always bro. Great choice of a game to start my Saturday. Anthony..
It's always good to have nostalgia. I may have upset a few NES fans by saying that port wasn't good. Funny thing is, I found the MSX to be tighter in the controls department.
There's a Yie-Ar Kung-Fu 2 , made by Konami for the MSX. It never got a NES release, but Imagine also licensed and ported it to a few computers (C64 and Spectrum I believe). I don't like it as much as the first one... it has 8 opponents instead of just 5 (And a proper ending instead of just looping), more backgrounds, a few secrets and some more stuff... but Lee has LESS moves on this game. It also has a 2 players versus mode which is kinda unbalanced since Player 1 only play as Lee while player 2 can choose between 3 of the "bad guys" (still my friends loved playing it). The game is also hard as nails, a *lot* harder than the first game, from level 5 onwards the enemies are *real* cheap and I never met anyone who could beat it without cheating. ( E S S C C C F F F F on title screen to start the game with 90+ lives :D )
I remember that that cpc version was not so jerky...it used to be fun playing this game back in the day. So it might be emulator problem! Apart from that...nice video as always!!! :)
I really liked this on the Andreas back when I was a kid. It was one of my favourite games on the system. I’m a little sad you don’t think much of it but I can see why. I remember being locked in place by consecutive enemy attacks being a pain back then too but outside those situations it feeling fine to play. Anyhow, it’s better than most Andreas versions shown on your video series so that’s something I suppose.
For some reason Amstrad has come out as Andreas in your post. Funny auto spell checker there. For me mine always changes not in to nit for some reason.
Order Of Magnitude - The Paranormal & Personal it's a simple yet addictive fighting game, I can honestly play for like 3 hours straight and still have fun
Had the NES version and actually I didn't really had problems with this version honestly. Yeah, it takes a while to get use to and for the most time it's guaranteed that you'll lose against Tao while first time playing, but then again with a little practice, the rest of the challengers should be a cakewalk. Also, it's funny how in this version, Mu is the last guy you fight with, while in the original Arcade he's the very first opponent.
To be more exact, 128K does have a sound chip. while 48K does not have any. 128K also has an advantage in regards of graphics, very simple, but helps to speed up rendering a little bit.
The Spectrum 128K has a bigger memory and RAM than the Spectrum 48K thus is able to create more detailed graphics, add more levels and features. Alot of the more bigger and complex games as well as arcade ports that came out in the early 1990's on the Spectrum are 128K only. Also, the Spectrum 128K has a AY Sound Chip which is very similar to the AY Sound Chip in the Atari ST and Amstrad CPC therefore creating better sound effects and music. The Spectrum 48K has a Beeper Sound Chip which creates basic sounds and music thus being inferior to the Spectrum 128K AY Sound Chip.
That's easy to explain. Famicom and MSX releases are cartridge ones. The original arcade had quite detailed BG graphics that would take a ton of cartridge space, and it would cost a lot back at the time. So they redid the BGs into very basic tiled ones, redesigned game a bit, and managed to fit it into just 24KB for NES and 16K for MSX - smallest sizes available on these platforms. The original arcade is 128K, for comparison. The other releases were all for home computers or modern consoles where storage wasn't an issue and did not increase the cost, so they were good to go with the original design.
Mark, there’s a near perfect PlayStation port on Konami 80’s Arcade Gallery! It was also re-released into the arcades 1 year prior to appearing on the PS1. Also, the DS version I’m pretty sure is emulated by M2.
Retro Core Mmm, I figured it was just a recoded version with assets used from the original ROMs. Especially since Yie Ar King-Fu runs as a vertical game in 80’s Gallery (and the PS1 version moves the score display around as a it’s vertical on horizontal), but the original PCB is just horizontal.
Retro Core also consider one more thing - I think all of the games on the PS1 version of Gallery seem to run at the 320 pixel wide mode, utilizing the screen correctly and not stretching assets. The original hardware on all those games I believe was 256 pixels tall (or wide if speaking about Yie At). If it was straight hardware emulation, wouldn’t the hardware have to simulate the resolution as well? Perhaps it’s a emulation/reprogramming hybrid we have going on here?
Interesting feelings you have about it Mark. I really hope its not going to be a NGX all over again....Welp, wishing it the best. But preparing for the worse. *^) Thank you for looking Mark. Keep it up.. 8^) Anthony..
I'm afraid I don't know the title of the song. It is part of a collection of remixed game songs a friend gave me a few years back. There's loads of great mixes. I would suggest looking on OCRemix site but there's nothing on there. Maybe a RUclips search for Yie Ar Kung Fu remixed music would help?
No, not talking about the MSX comp. The arcade version is also on the PS One as well. Has nine other arcade games (Time Pilot, Gyruss, Super Cobra, to name a few) on the disc. Just google Konami Arcade Classics. The disc came out in Japan as Konami 80's Arcade Gallery. ruclips.net/video/daLkY6OPwlE/видео.htmlm20s
Right, know what you are referring to now. That version is also an emulation so it was omitted. It's basically the Arcade code running on a PlayStation.
Obviously the arcade version is best, but I used to love this on the C64 back in the day. I was even able to beat it; you just need to git gud. ;). The AI did cheat though, especially Pole. I didn't know this got a DS release either. I might have to pick it up. And finally, like a lot of modern remakes of retro games, the 360 version looks bland and soulless.
As always with conversions of japanese games made in England, the C64 versions looks the part but does not really play it. Anyways, I remember somehow enjoying it back in the day. Probably having a lot of time to practice and not using emulators with their inherent input lag helped a bit back then.
Nice video as always, man! Yet, I can't help but feel bugged at how bad at the Famicom/MSX/GB release you are, it's just that you said that the hit detection was off made me question how the game works because I had no problem with it, but it IS hard as hell
I could get VERY far on the MSX version, looping it several times on the same game. Each loop changes the color of the background. The game works properly, Mark just needs more practice on it :)
Compared to the Arcade version I do feel it is off. Actually, I thought the MSX version was slightly tighter in the control department but still too slippery.
NES version is not cheap , its just you are not used to it, controls are better for someone who had played in their childhood. Hit detection is spot on !!!
Im heard this game on C64 was quite buggy in the cracked version release. Im (or brother) did do have the original tape version (which im newer heard about the arcade in its time at all). Yes, some enemies can been hard, but they are all possible to beat and even become quite easy (and you get a lots of extra lives in this game). Its not the best game, no, but its does have a great soundtrack.
You are very wrong about the NES version. Its a very good and enjoyable game and always included in famiclone collections along with Super Mario,Galaga,Contra etc.
Yie Ar Kung-Fu is one of those strange games where it seems to be popular, but I don't know why - the arcade original looked and sounded cool, but was very hard and that just made it not fun to me.
Konami tried with other fighting games and they where all mediocre to bad,only Kensei was somewhat good on Playstation.They were great on beat m ups though.
Look for me, the GBA is the best console version... But I think could be a good version or remake in the 16bit consoles, a remake one could be play why the other characters like the actual fighting games.
First was Karate Champ by Data East, then there was also Kung Fu master originally titled Spartan X, based upon the Jackie Chan movie of the same name (afaik Meals on Wheels in the west). Yie Ar Kung Fu came later. Although arguably the first 1-1 beat em up was very likely Warrior by Cinematronics with an unusual top down view.
So I figured out why the NES/MSX ports play so badly: The enemy AI will constantly shift along where during brief periods, they become invincible. They also get I-frames, so no connecting hits like the arcade. Yeah, the NES port is overrated
Well i also dont know if NES based from MSX but i do know they look similar, in fact when i little i thought its original from NES and some console change the sprite except MSX, poor me and my poor knowledge orz.
Many NES games that people think originated on the NES were actually on the MSX first. The most famous is Metal Gear. Actually, Puyo Puyo that I reviewed a few weeks back may have been on the MSX first. Articles state that the games was made for a Famicom disc system cover disc but a few people have mentioned that the game started life of the MSX first.
Hahahahahaha i know that, i also shock when i search and found Puyo Puyo is Original from MSX2 and Famicom Disk System (under the name "Famimaga Disk Vol. 5: Puyo Puyo") in 25 October 1991 after that its got Arcade port in October 1992, i always thought its Original Sega Genesis to compete with Tetris in NES after Sega lose the right to make Tetris in console.
Its really funny How the ports developed by the creators of the game (Konami) are the ones that most differ from the original game. That said, the collisions detection on NES and MSX versions isn't random. I haven't played the nes version too much, but I could reach level 25 of the MSX and I can tell you it wasn't a random mash of buttons. There is a certain distance you need to hit each one of the moves. MSX also got Yie-Ar Kung-Fu 2, which was also ported for other systems. It adds a few more stuff to the game, but Lee now has LESS moves and the difficulty is really ramped up, I like 2 less than I like 1 (but it was a fav among my friends because of the welcomed 2 players mode :) )
Konami just knew what to do in order to reduce the game size 8 times (128K>16K), and did best possible in given limitations, I think. MSX and NES versions are much the same and equally playable.
Hey Mark, The Neo-Geo Mini has been officially announced. Have a look bro. atariage.com/forums/topic/223548-the-official-neo-geo-thread/page-588 Anthony..
Woah, look at all those ports. I was a little late to this one but I think my view of it was tainted by some bad ports like the Famicom one. I'm not sure why nobody could make good 8-bit fighting games purely from a gameplay standpoint, seems god awful across the board at jumping, pulling off special moves, and hit boxes. Still if you try the first Street Fighter arcade game, damn is it stiff as hell. So GBA or DS FTW, or MAME heh.
The NEA version isn't as bad as Mark makes it look :) I played the hell out of the MSX one back at the day. The collision detection isn't random, you just need to position yourself correctly. When you get the gripes with it (and it shouldn't take too long), the game is very enjoyable!
NES version of TMNT Tournament Fighters (1993) is a great fighting game for a 8-bit platform, in all regards, from visuals and sound to gameplay. No problem with making a good fighting game for a 8-bit platform, it just happened that genre evolved enough to be actually good by the time when 8-bit platforms got faded away.
I was thinking about that and in some respects getting into positions correctly is harder with the smaller sprites 8-bit needs. Certainly everything is smaller in scale compared to SF2 or even IK+.
I have tried that one in emulation since it's such an expensive game to own, probably why I forgot it heh. TMNT:TF was okay, on par with good GB fighting games, good visuals but suffering from the flicker so common to all the bootleg Famicom entries. Yeah the genre took off as the NES ended with only a few SMS like SF2 in Brazil or the Korean Jang Pung games before stopping. I just picked up SFA on GBC which is excellent, probably one of the latest 8-bit entries iirc. I think the genre is just much harder to do on 8-bit too compared to 16-bit hardware.
I was waiting for this episode. Unfortunately, I'm extremely disappointed. Some comments on the gameplay are severely influenced by the lack of a proper emulator or a congruous playtime. That's too bad 'cause this show is running for a long time now and I always find it fascinating.
Sorry Mik1 but I'm not able to please everyone all of the time. I've been playing this game for many years and in all honesty I've always thought it was rubbish, especially on the Famicom /NES. I know many regard this game as a classic and I understand it introduces a lot of what made modern 1 on 1 Fighters what they are today but I just don't think it's a very good game. Probably mainly due to the awkward controls.
Thanks for your answer :) Sorry if my comment was a little rough, that wasn't my intention. I can see your point about controls, it's just that I played the game so many times on c64 and NES and I really don't think the AI on the former and the collision detection on the latter are half bad. Then again, I totally agree, not every video can please everyone, so keep up.
This game was one of the first games i saw when I saw the Famicom for the very first time when I visited Japan and my parents made me go to school there for the summer. A bunch of new friends I just met would invite me over to play the latest games on the famicom - really thought it was a magical machine back then. I remember everyone was collecting erasers shaped like mini famicom cartridges - wish I kept them!
I know those mini eraser Famicom carts. I don't own any myself but have seen them a few times.
I was 7 years old, when I beat the C64 version on a C64C using "The Arcade" joystick. Pole and Blues would often trap you, if you didn't keep moving and jumping a lot xD
Didn't know of any other version, other than the weird, side-scrolling sequel, Yie Ar Kung-Fu 2, before I became an adult and was introduced to RUclips :D
Brian Beuken talked about the Ocean conversions.
The C64 version was really struggling in the early days, due to the size of the graphics and the coders inability to get a decent multiplexer working, it ground to a halt, resulting in Ocean taking it back in-house and Dave Collier took it on.
Brian himself had never heard of the game before he and his team were asked to port it to the C64, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC, they rented the Arcade Game and had to play it to death.
Many say this and Karate Champ arcades were influential to Street Fighter series. Karate Champ was developed by former Data East employees working at Technos Japan for Data East before they became independent, then merged with Arc System Works.
The one designer who created Street Fighter was also responsible for Moon Patrol and Kung-Fu Master arcades.
Bruce Lee was very influential to not just video games, but anime and others as well. One or more of his films was used as the basis of Mortal Kombat's setting and theme. Even Liu Kang was the protagonist, but many die hard MK fans prefer the ninjas Scorpion and Sub-Zero just for their iconic moves.
A possible spiritual successor to Yie Ar Kung-Fu was Konami's Martial Champion. In fact, Jin the protagonist, resembles Lee as he appears in Famicom and GBC versions, but with a headband and similarities to Ryu from Street Fighter series.
I remember playing the Famicom version on Chinese NES knock-off consoles.
In SinClair 2X when Lee jumps he farts 💨 😂 😂 😂
Was my first taste of Japanese gaming period, and my first Msx computer game and my first time experiencing a fighting game ever, thanks for the amazing video as it really made my day and brought up so many good memories.
No worries Terry. Wow, that's a lot of firsts for you and this game. That's a true trip down memory lane.
Retro Core more than that, it was my first fighter and I still own the box cart and manual for the Arabic, Japanese and EU releases for the max plus a loos Famicom clone cart, would wish to get the original Famicom one boxed and the Gameboy color version one day, also I'm a big irem fan so off course I own vigilant, kungfu master and that other variant on the DMG that I can't remember the name of now😂😂
That's cool. I had a similar thing going with collection all Technosoft games.
There's also the version on PS1, in Konami Arcade Classics, I don't believe it's emulation either. The DS Konami compilation with the game on it however, is emulation.
your probably right, most psx collections were actual ports not emulation, like the namco classics discs, capcom ones even atari ones.. oh is your Blood Reign a Curse of the Yoma? being a human is so boring, hekage..
The Famicom version are one of those games that usually come out a lot on Polystations, as well as several Konami ports that did not come out of Japan...
Wow, I used to play this on my Electron, so it was great seeing it again over 30 years later. And now you've ruined my day by reminding me how old I am haha!!! (I was born in 74) Love your channel, it's so great for nostalgia plus no one ever includes the Acorn Electron in comparison, so it's great that you do.
1974, not far off that myself. 1975 here 😁
Retro Core not good is it, I'm falling apart haha!!! Crazy though when you watch a vid like this n it takes ya right back. It was a great time to be a kid and starting to see video games (Pac man, Space Invaders etc) in chip shops, swimming pools etc. Then we actually get home computers, and can play (very basic) arcade games at home. Great decades the 80's n 90's, defo my all time favs. Great music, the very starts of great gaming but we won't mention the fashion haha!!!
Another one of my favs, my cousin had this compilation cartridge for the nes with like 250 games on it and this was one of the games that I use to play all day. Also use to play mappy and city connection on the same cartridge. The konami collection for gba has a good port.
Maaaan the C64 version have some sweeeeets tunes like always!
The first "real" fighting game. You had to master the technique for each character. Each one had a unique style and weakness which you had to exploit or you were dead after a round or two. It was really popular when it came out in the arcades. I remember people lining up to play it. Not sure what happened to the famicom / msx versions.
Some people have mentioned that the MSX / Famicom game was redesigned for memory saving reasons.
Soooo many memories :) Going to fire this one up when my college friends drop by.
It would've been wicked if you had the golden harvest logo for the intro to the game. Great vid
Hehe, that would have been cool. I didn't think about that.
OMG!! Thanks my friend.
You're welcome.
That one I played A LOT on the arcade and NES :) but yeah, both had strange controllers and they were good for that time, but they didn't aged very well, especially the controllers.
That's right. The game is too floaty for my liking.
The Speccy port of Yie Ar Kung Fu is something I hold close to my heart as it was the first ever game I had ever played and I was 4 years old at the time. The Speccy port is the game that introduced me into the world of Computer and Video games and I am still a gamer to this day. What is your first ever game you played?
What was my first ever game? Hmm, that's a tough one to remember. Most likely some pong thing but my first ever real game was Treasure Island on the Commodore Plus 4. I thought that was great back in the mid 80s.
I remember playing the Arcade version. Wasn't bad, but pretty hard.
The CPC is strong in the graphics department. Its too bad so many of the CPC games dont show it. This one does, though!
The CPC is a pretty nice but of hardware for its time. Sadly it was also the victim of crappy ports.
Poles made (And still are) lots of homebrew arcade conversions for Atari 8-bit computer, it was first computer for many of us, back in late 80's :) Wonder why they deided to make MSX (and Famicom/NES) version so much different than the arcade?
Konami did this frequently, change a game a lot for it's home port. Salamander on MSX is a completely different game from the arcade. Space Manbow MSX begun as a Thunder Force port but they changed it so much that they decide to make a whole new game out of it. Sunsetriders on Mega Drive also a lot different from the arcade game....and I could keep going on.
I guess they tried to make the game to fit better in the hardware it was running.
it´s classic....classicly found on any famiclone
Great comparisons! Yie Ar Kung-Fu for the Xbox 360 also contains the original arcade graphics and this game is also available in Konami Arcade Classics for the PlayStation.
It's also on the Sega Saturn as part of the MSX Konami collection. The Saturn and PlayStation versions are left out though due to both being emulated "ports"
True, the MSX port is also on Konami Antiques MSX Collection. According to Wikipedia, Konami Arcade Classics (known in Japan as Konami 80's Arcade Gallery) was "developed for the System 573 arcade system - hardware based on the Sony PlayStation architecture. This made the collection easy to convert to the PlayStation home console. A look into the software's readme files reveals notes that the original ROM data was used to obtain assets for the reprogrammed games." Doesn't that mean it was ported and not emulated?
I could be mistaken, but I seem to recall getting to the second set of fighters on the C64 version without cheating.
i really love the modern rendition of the music.
It's pretty good. No idea who produced it though. I found it in my game music remix collection that I've built up Iver the past ten years.
Mega like! Finally one of my favourite fighting games of all time. Despite of it's playability, Nintendo included the Famicom version in the Famicom Classic Mini, and I included it in my NES Classic Mini via hakchi2. The hit box of the game is broken, but still love it xD
I'm glad it's not just me who thinks the hit box is broken. :)
I love Yie-Ar Kung-Fu Mark. I think I have all the Nintendo versions of it in my collection. I wouldn't made if Konami made another one. I still whistle to myself the music in the game.
Nice work as always bro. Great choice of a game to start my Saturday.
Anthony..
It's always good to have nostalgia. I may have upset a few NES fans by saying that port wasn't good. Funny thing is, I found the MSX to be tighter in the controls department.
There's a Yie-Ar Kung-Fu 2 , made by Konami for the MSX. It never got a NES release, but Imagine also licensed and ported it to a few computers (C64 and Spectrum I believe).
I don't like it as much as the first one... it has 8 opponents instead of just 5 (And a proper ending instead of just looping), more backgrounds, a few secrets and some more stuff... but Lee has LESS moves on this game. It also has a 2 players versus mode which is kinda unbalanced since Player 1 only play as Lee while player 2 can choose between 3 of the "bad guys" (still my friends loved playing it). The game is also hard as nails, a *lot* harder than the first game, from level 5 onwards the enemies are *real* cheap and I never met anyone who could beat it without cheating. ( E S S C C C F F F F on title screen to start the game with 90+ lives :D )
On Yie-Ar Kung-Fu 2 the third opponent is named Po-Chin and he fights using paralyzing farts.
Yeah, HE FARTS on you. Good one, Konami. :)
I remember that that cpc version was not so jerky...it used to be fun playing this game back in the day. So it might be emulator problem! Apart from that...nice video as always!!! :)
Sadly not an emulation issue. It really is like that. Sometimes our memories make things seem better than the actually were.
It's not jerky. It like this by design. Everytime you are hit you need a bit of time to recover from it. Probably more realistic as a fighting game.
I really liked this on the Andreas back when I was a kid. It was one of my favourite games on the system. I’m a little sad you don’t think much of it but I can see why. I remember being locked in place by consecutive enemy attacks being a pain back then too but outside those situations it feeling fine to play.
Anyhow, it’s better than most Andreas versions shown on your video series so that’s something I suppose.
For some reason Amstrad has come out as Andreas in your post. Funny auto spell checker there. For me mine always changes not in to nit for some reason.
5:40 what the hell does a rock n roll music does in a martial arts game?
Yeah, that is a very odd and unfitting choice of music.
Great video!
One i didn't know about....time to fire up mame. Many thanks mark
No problem. It is a pretty tricky game to master.
Order Of Magnitude - The Paranormal & Personal it's a simple yet addictive fighting game, I can honestly play for like 3 hours straight and still have fun
Retro Core more tricky than Street Fighter 2.
Had the NES version and actually I didn't really had problems with this version honestly. Yeah, it takes a while to get use to and for the most time it's guaranteed that you'll lose against Tao while first time playing, but then again with a little practice, the rest of the challengers should be a cakewalk. Also, it's funny how in this version, Mu is the last guy you fight with, while in the original Arcade he's the very first opponent.
Maybe I need to give the NES version more time?
Actually I had more trouble with the Original Arcade version instead. So, your opinion, man. lol.
HIYAAA! THERE, HERE'S YOUR KUNG FU WORD EVERYONE CALM DOWN, YOU HEARD IT DON'T ASK AGAIN! (Kicks a 500 feet tall brick wall by 1 kick without damage)
I prefer the NES version over the Arcade
What does it means exactly on the ZX Spectrum when they say 48k, 128k, etc? Does it refer to the games file size or something like that?
To be more exact, 128K does have a sound chip. while 48K does not have any. 128K also has an advantage in regards of graphics, very simple, but helps to speed up rendering a little bit.
Thank you!
The Spectrum 128K has a bigger memory and RAM than the Spectrum 48K thus is able to create more detailed graphics, add more levels and features. Alot of the more bigger and complex games as well as arcade ports that came out in the early 1990's on the Spectrum are 128K only. Also, the Spectrum 128K has a AY Sound Chip which is very similar to the AY Sound Chip in the Atari ST and Amstrad CPC therefore creating better sound effects and music. The Spectrum 48K has a Beeper Sound Chip which creates basic sounds and music thus being inferior to the Spectrum 128K AY Sound Chip.
Well, some of that title music was highly varied...
1-2-KungFu sounds like an 80s song!
It probably was is some part of the world.
That's right Mark. Sadly, when to deal with the public, there's bound to be negativity lurking around.
Anthony..
Yep, that's just the way it goes I guess.
They had an attempt on the C16 but couldn't try to do this on Vic-20?
It's odd how the Famicom/MSX port went a different way from the rest.
That's easy to explain. Famicom and MSX releases are cartridge ones. The original arcade had quite detailed BG graphics that would take a ton of cartridge space, and it would cost a lot back at the time. So they redid the BGs into very basic tiled ones, redesigned game a bit, and managed to fit it into just 24KB for NES and 16K for MSX - smallest sizes available on these platforms. The original arcade is 128K, for comparison. The other releases were all for home computers or modern consoles where storage wasn't an issue and did not increase the cost, so they were good to go with the original design.
@@shiru8bit That heavily explains. I always wonder why the Famicom/MSX version is so different from the original Arcade version.
The sound emulation on the DS seems wrong?
Mark, there’s a near perfect PlayStation port on Konami 80’s Arcade Gallery! It was also re-released into the arcades 1 year prior to appearing on the PS1. Also, the DS version I’m pretty sure is emulated by M2.
I'm sure the PlayStation version is also emulated.
Retro Core Mmm, I figured it was just a recoded version with assets used from the original ROMs. Especially since Yie Ar King-Fu runs as a vertical game in 80’s Gallery (and the PS1 version moves the score display around as a it’s vertical on horizontal), but the original PCB is just horizontal.
Retro Core also consider one more thing - I think all of the games on the PS1 version of Gallery seem to run at the 320 pixel wide mode, utilizing the screen correctly and not stretching assets. The original hardware on all those games I believe was 256 pixels tall (or wide if speaking about Yie At). If it was straight hardware emulation, wouldn’t the hardware have to simulate the resolution as well? Perhaps it’s a emulation/reprogramming hybrid we have going on here?
wow what didnt this get ported to back in the day ?
Interesting feelings you have about it Mark. I really hope its not going to be a NGX all over again....Welp, wishing it the best. But preparing for the worse. *^)
Thank you for looking Mark. Keep it up.. 8^)
Anthony..
Famicom version, my childhood ;______; thanks! Keep it up!
Question: name of the song at the end of the video?
I'm afraid I don't know the title of the song. It is part of a collection of remixed game songs a friend gave me a few years back. There's loads of great mixes. I would suggest looking on OCRemix site but there's nothing on there. Maybe a RUclips search for Yie Ar Kung Fu remixed music would help?
No PS One version? It's on the Konami Arcade Classics collection.
Please read the video discription. It's also on the Saturn too.
No, not talking about the MSX comp. The arcade version is also on the PS One as well. Has nine other arcade games (Time Pilot, Gyruss, Super Cobra, to name a few) on the disc. Just google Konami Arcade Classics. The disc came out in Japan as Konami 80's Arcade Gallery. ruclips.net/video/daLkY6OPwlE/видео.htmlm20s
Right, know what you are referring to now. That version is also an emulation so it was omitted. It's basically the Arcade code running on a PlayStation.
The background in Amstrad CPC version was made by a kid? XD
Hehe, maybe but at least it's colourful.
Obviously the arcade version is best, but I used to love this on the C64 back in the day. I was even able to beat it; you just need to git gud. ;). The AI did cheat though, especially Pole.
I didn't know this got a DS release either. I might have to pick it up. And finally, like a lot of modern remakes of retro games, the 360 version looks bland and soulless.
The GBA version looks almost arcade perfect!
Haven't played this a lot, but I did spend countless hours on the sequel. Never beat it though...
As always with conversions of japanese games made in England, the C64 versions looks the part but does not really play it. Anyways, I remember somehow enjoying it back in the day. Probably having a lot of time to practice and not using emulators with their inherent input lag helped a bit back then.
Nice video as always, man! Yet, I can't help but feel bugged at how bad at the Famicom/MSX/GB release you are, it's just that you said that the hit detection was off made me question how the game works because I had no problem with it, but it IS hard as hell
I could get VERY far on the MSX version, looping it several times on the same game. Each loop changes the color of the background. The game works properly, Mark just needs more practice on it :)
Rafael Lima that's exactly my point
Compared to the Arcade version I do feel it is off. Actually, I thought the MSX version was slightly tighter in the control department but still too slippery.
NES version is not cheap , its just you are not used to it, controls are better for someone who had played in their childhood. Hit detection is spot on !!!
Alright...no need to cry about it. He found it not so....
Agreed this guy has NO idea of what he is talking about
Sami . Man retro core always is impartial and neutral with is review... Don't be a Fanboy.
That's right. I try not to be bias towards any format. In this games case I really did feel the NES / Famicom version played poorly.
Retro Core I 100% agree with you though I find it even worse.
Im heard this game on C64 was quite buggy in the cracked version release. Im (or brother) did do have the original tape version (which im newer heard about the arcade in its time at all). Yes, some enemies can been hard, but they are all possible to beat and even become quite easy (and you get a lots of extra lives in this game). Its not the best game, no, but its does have a great soundtrack.
The soundtrack is good, that's for sure.
You are very wrong about the NES version.
Its a very good and enjoyable game and always included in famiclone collections along with Super Mario,Galaga,Contra etc.
I need Battle of the Ports for Yie Ar Kung-Fu 2)
Wait what the 360 version came out in 2017!!?, that cant be right surely?
2007 i believe, should be correct year its crap anyway.
Sorry, my error, 2007 is the correct year.
Yie Ar Kung-Fu is one of those strange games where it seems to be popular, but I don't know why - the arcade original looked and sounded cool, but was very hard and that just made it not fun to me.
GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods THE UNITED KINGDOM IS BACK EVERYBODY
the xbla version is like play the arcade drunk or high.... it´s blurry man ....XD
It looks horrid.
Retro Core That version was probably made by the same people who made Superman 64 or Rocky and Bullwinkle on the nes.
I really loved this & Karate Champ back then.. Street Fighter def gets way too much credit.. Konami needs to bring the series back..
Konami tried with other fighting games and they where all mediocre to bad,only Kensei was somewhat good on Playstation.They were great on beat m ups though.
Yep, Konami released that many poor 1 on 1 Fighters that I've forgotten most of them.
Retro Core Indeed. Galactic Warriors and Track & Field II were next.
Too bad there was no SMS port of the game, it would have been close to the arcade.
I reckon it would have been since the Master System is quite a powerful 8bit console.
What do you mean you won't pay for the 360 version? The sheer audacity of it all. ;)
Hehe he, Digital Eclipse aren't getting my money with their half arsed efforts.
I didn’t know that your name is AAAAAAAAAA.
Only when I'm lazy 😉
Look for me, the GBA is the best console version... But I think could be a good version or remake in the 16bit consoles, a remake one could be play why the other characters like the actual fighting games.
Hahaha. Let's them complain Mark. I got your back for sure. 8^)
Anthony..
Thanks man. It's impossible to please everyone all of the time 😊
Yeah, but we try are best to please everybody. 8^)
Amazing video! Maybe the first 1vs1 beat em up in videogame history. Wow, the Xbox "updated" version is really awful, pixel art always wins.
First was Karate Champ by Data East, then there was also Kung Fu master originally titled Spartan X, based upon the Jackie Chan movie of the same name (afaik Meals on Wheels in the west). Yie Ar Kung Fu came later. Although arguably the first 1-1 beat em up was very likely Warrior by Cinematronics with an unusual top down view.
pause at 12:07 for flying swastikas
Yie ar Kung fu Movil Phone 2006
I tried to find that but couldn't :(
Wait, theres still games made for the Xbox 360?
It would've made sense to release that on the Xbox One instead.
It was ported to the 360 a few years ago. It would be nice, but it's not a well sold, high demand game, ergo no XBOX ONE port.
Rockman IXA but he said it got released in 2017
Maybe that was when it was made backwards compatable? According to the wiki it was released in 2017.
So I figured out why the NES/MSX ports play so badly:
The enemy AI will constantly shift along where during brief periods, they become invincible. They also get I-frames, so no connecting hits like the arcade.
Yeah, the NES port is overrated
Many NES games are over rated :) but this is certainly one of those.
2:31 why did Konami make this?
I'm sorry, but the C64 version looks the best, and if you give the game more than the 10 minutes you gave it - than it also plays not bad at all...
Is Yie Ar Kung-Fu 2 is worse than the NES/MSX version?
No idea.
Yie Er Kungfu, to be honest i dont know this game originally from Arcade, i more familiar with console version specially Nintendo console version.
I was surprised to see that the NES version and MSX version were different from the Arcade game.
Well i also dont know if NES based from MSX but i do know they look similar, in fact when i little i thought its original from NES and some console change the sprite except MSX, poor me and my poor knowledge orz.
Many NES games that people think originated on the NES were actually on the MSX first. The most famous is Metal Gear. Actually, Puyo Puyo that I reviewed a few weeks back may have been on the MSX first. Articles state that the games was made for a Famicom disc system cover disc but a few people have mentioned that the game started life of the MSX first.
Hahahahahaha i know that, i also shock when i search and found Puyo Puyo is Original from MSX2 and Famicom Disk System (under the name "Famimaga Disk Vol. 5: Puyo Puyo") in 25 October 1991 after that its got Arcade port in October 1992, i always thought its Original Sega Genesis to compete with Tetris in NES after Sega lose the right to make Tetris in console.
famicom ver is the best
You didn't get into how the GBA port plays.
Same as the NES version to be honest.
Well, that's a shame.
👍😶🎮🙌
Loved the 'bad unplayable' NES version. Had not much issues with it at 13.
Its really funny How the ports developed by the creators of the game (Konami) are the ones that most differ from the original game.
That said, the collisions detection on NES and MSX versions isn't random. I haven't played the nes version too much, but I could reach level 25 of the MSX and I can tell you it wasn't a random mash of buttons. There is a certain distance you need to hit each one of the moves.
MSX also got Yie-Ar Kung-Fu 2, which was also ported for other systems. It adds a few more stuff to the game, but Lee now has LESS moves and the difficulty is really ramped up, I like 2 less than I like 1 (but it was a fav among my friends because of the welcomed 2 players mode :) )
Konami just knew what to do in order to reduce the game size 8 times (128K>16K), and did best possible in given limitations, I think. MSX and NES versions are much the same and equally playable.
The MSX version feels tighter to me in the control department.
Hey Mark,
The Neo-Geo Mini has been officially announced. Have a look bro.
atariage.com/forums/topic/223548-the-official-neo-geo-thread/page-588
Anthony..
😎 I know all about that. Been following it. I have a feeling its going to be a cheap emulation device justike the Neo X. Such a shame 🙁
Woah, look at all those ports. I was a little late to this one but I think my view of it was tainted by some bad ports like the Famicom one. I'm not sure why nobody could make good 8-bit fighting games purely from a gameplay standpoint, seems god awful across the board at jumping, pulling off special moves, and hit boxes. Still if you try the first Street Fighter arcade game, damn is it stiff as hell. So GBA or DS FTW, or MAME heh.
The NEA version isn't as bad as Mark makes it look :) I played the hell out of the MSX one back at the day. The collision detection isn't random, you just need to position yourself correctly. When you get the gripes with it (and it shouldn't take too long), the game is very enjoyable!
The MSX version is tighter in the control department I found.
NES version of TMNT Tournament Fighters (1993) is a great fighting game for a 8-bit platform, in all regards, from visuals and sound to gameplay. No problem with making a good fighting game for a 8-bit platform, it just happened that genre evolved enough to be actually good by the time when 8-bit platforms got faded away.
I was thinking about that and in some respects getting into positions correctly is harder with the smaller sprites 8-bit needs. Certainly everything is smaller in scale compared to SF2 or even IK+.
I have tried that one in emulation since it's such an expensive game to own, probably why I forgot it heh. TMNT:TF was okay, on par with good GB fighting games, good visuals but suffering from the flicker so common to all the bootleg Famicom entries.
Yeah the genre took off as the NES ended with only a few SMS like SF2 in Brazil or the Korean Jang Pung games before stopping. I just picked up SFA on GBC which is excellent, probably one of the latest 8-bit entries iirc. I think the genre is just much harder to do on 8-bit too compared to 16-bit hardware.
The FAMICOM version is horrible
No it's not. :)
I
Well go back and play your LJN games then.
No I won't.
Its a good game and a classic on famiclones,go back and play Pokemon shit
I was waiting for this episode. Unfortunately, I'm extremely disappointed. Some comments on the gameplay are severely influenced by the lack of a proper emulator or a congruous playtime. That's too bad 'cause this show is running for a long time now and I always find it fascinating.
Sorry Mik1 but I'm not able to please everyone all of the time. I've been playing this game for many years and in all honesty I've always thought it was rubbish, especially on the Famicom /NES. I know many regard this game as a classic and I understand it introduces a lot of what made modern 1 on 1 Fighters what they are today but I just don't think it's a very good game. Probably mainly due to the awkward controls.
Thanks for your answer :) Sorry if my comment was a little rough, that wasn't my intention. I can see your point about controls, it's just that I played the game so many times on c64 and NES and I really don't think the AI on the former and the collision detection on the latter are half bad. Then again, I totally agree, not every video can please everyone, so keep up.