Nintendo Entertainment System · 1984
Kung-Fu Master
A side-scrolling martial arts game where Thomas fights through five floors of the Devil's Temple to rescue Sylvia.
- Publisher
- Irem
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- beat 'em up
- Released
- 1984
01
Overview
You play as Thomas, a kung-fu master who must climb a five-story tower guarded by waves of enemies and a boss on each floor. The NES version uses punch, kick, jump, and crouch controls to clear each level before the timer expires. Boss fights shift the pace into one-on-one combat as you drain their health meters to advance.
02
Why it matters
Kung-Fu Master helped define the solo combat beat 'em up format that later games followed. Its floor-based progression and boss energy system set patterns still visible in modern brawlers.
03
The physical edition
A complete copy typically includes the cartridge, box, and instruction manual, though box art and publisher markings vary by region. Verify the exact edition, label, and package contents against the listing you are considering.
04
Playing it today
The game runs on original NES hardware and on many emulators and modern systems that support NES cartridges. It is a straightforward, fast-paced experience that is easy to pick up but still demanding on higher difficulty settings.