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Yie Ar Kung-Fu

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This version of Yie Ar Kung-Fu contains some significant differences compared to the versions directly ported from the original arcade release. For once, the hero of this game is not Oolong, but a fighter named Lee, inspired in appearance by the famous martial artist. All the opponents in this ve...

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Developer
Konami

Released on
1985

Size
1 Player

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Fighting

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

This version of Yie Ar Kung-Fu contains some significant differences compared to the versions directly ported from the original arcade release. For once, the hero of this game is not Oolong, but a fighter named Lee, inspired in appearance by the famous martial artist. All the opponents in this version are different as well; beside bearing other names, many of them also exhibit different fighting styles – for example, there is a character who throws fireballs, another one who can fly, etc. Altogether, there are only five possible opponents in this release, as opposed to ten in the other version. There is only one location (background) in the game, a kung-fu training hall.

Gameplay-wise, this version retains the basic system of the original; however, due to the reduced number of opponents, there are less moves in the game. A distinct addition is a jump kick, and the ability to bounce off the walls.

Yie Ar Kung-Fu

Overview & History

Released by Konami in 1985 for the Family Computer and later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, Yie Ar Kung-Fu is widely celebrated as the primordial ancestor of the modern one-on-one fighting game genre. While the original 1984 arcade version featured a sprawling roster of eleven opponents, the NES conversion streamlined the experience into a fierce gauntlet of five distinct martial arts masters. Controlling the heroic Oolong, players embark on a quest to avenge his father's honor and defeat the evil warlord Chin. Rather than offering a complex narrative, the game focuses entirely on the relentless purity of martial combat, staged before the emperor's palace. Its historical significance cannot be overstated; it established the blueprint for health bars, diverse enemy attack patterns, and specialized movesets that would later define iconic franchises like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Yie Ar Kung-Fu operates on a remarkably diverse two-button control scheme utilizing the D-pad for directional input, allowing Oolong to execute an impressive sixteen distinct moves depending on whether he is standing, crouching, or jumping. Players face a sequence of five uniquely specialized bosses: Buchu the hefty sumo brawler, Star the nimble female ninja throwing shurikens, Nuncha wielding deadly twin nunchakus, Pole wielding a long staff, and the master assassin Fan, who hurls heavy metal boomerangs. Combat rewards precision and timing over button-mashing. Each enemy possesses a distinct weakness and attack rhythm, requiring Oolong to duck projectiles, leap over charging foes, and counter-attack with flying kicks, sweeping leg maneuvers, and rapid-fire punches. The physics are stiff yet predictable, forcing players to master the exact arc of Oolong's jumps and the narrow recovery windows after every strike. Triumphing over all five masters loops the difficulty, ramping up enemy speed and aggression in a true test of retro arcade endurance.