Kung Fu Kid

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Master Wang has a problem. After his master was murdered by the evil Madanda, a demon who just woke up from a thousand year nap in a terrible mood, Wang needs to kick some serious ass.

At first glance, it looks like any other platformer from that era. There's just one tiny issue: Wang can jump so high that he basically breaks his own game. Forget fighting enemies, just leap over them like you've got springs in your shoes.

This is Kung Fu Kid for the Sega Master System, a 1987 beat-em-up that looks fantastic but plays like someone forgot to finish playtesting. Seven colorful stages await, filled with hopping vampires, gun-toting soldiers who never fire, and bosses including a giant frog that croaks with just five kicks.

This was one of the first games I ever owned and it’s probably the one Master System game I got back to the most. It's weird, it's flawed, and it’s still a game I enjoy today.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

Kung Fu Kid is a side-scrolling beat-em-up where you control Master Wang through seven stages of martial arts action. The game drops you into a world inspired by Chinese folklore, facing off against zombie monks, hopping vampires, soldiers, and even lobsters that fall from the ceiling. Your goal is simple: reach the end of each stage, defeat the boss, and keep moving until Madanda himself falls.

The controls are straightforward. You have a kick attack, a jump kick, and the ability to throw power talismans that plow through multiple enemies at once. Wang can also perform wall jumps, which was actually an innovative feature for 1987, predating more famous examples in games like Ninja Gaiden and Strider. The gameplay borrows heavily from Irem's 1984 arcade hit Kung Fu Master, with enemies swarming from both sides of the screen in endless waves.

Here's where things get interesting, and not in a good way. Wang's jump is absurdly powerful. Hold the button down and he launches into the stratosphere like he's been shot from a cannon. Since four of the seven stages are wide open environments and enemies have no aerial attacks, you can essentially skip most of the combat by bouncing over everything. The game's difficulty collapses when you realize the intended challenge can be bypassed with aggressive hopping. It feels less like a feature and more like a cheat code that accidentally shipped with the final product.

The stages themselves alternate between open areas and maze-like corridors. The maze stages have lower ceilings that somewhat limit your jumping exploits, and they introduce projectile-firing enemies that add challenge.

Boss battles break up the action with memorable designs including an evil priest, a giant frog, a floating wizard, and acrobatic ninja brothers. Most bosses follow simple patterns and fall quickly once you figure out their rhythm. The frog boss is particularly notorious for being defeated with just five rapid low kicks.

Graphically, Kung Fu Kid shines. The Master System hardware delivers vibrant colors and fluid multi-directional scrolling. Each stage bursts with personality, from bamboo forests to psychedelic patterned walls. The sprite work is clean and detailed, and the game maintains smooth performance throughout. The music, particularly the Stage 4 theme, stands out as genuinely enjoyable.

The two-player mode disappoints by offering only alternating turns rather than simultaneous co-op play. Dying during a boss fight sends you back to the stage's beginning with no checkpoints, which can frustrate in the later levels. The entire game can be completed in under 30 minutes by skilled players, making it a brief experience even by 1987 standards.

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WHERE TO PLAY

• The original copy or emulation will be your best bet in playing this.

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $14

  • Complete: $24

  • New/Sealed: $92

GAME INFORMATION

Cover Art

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RETRO HARDWARE

Reading about retro games is great, but playing them is the real goal. This new Retro Hardware section is about easy, affordable ways to get those classics running without the headache.

Say hi to the Miyoo Mini Flip V2. This little beauty has taken so much of my free time since I picked it up last year. Slightly bigger than the original GameBoy Advance SP, this has become my favorite device to take with me when I brave the outdoors and leave my protective man cave. (Scary!)

It comes pre-installed with thousands of games, easily playing everything up to the PS1, with some N64, DS, Dreamcast and PSP thrown in. Everything that came out before those, it plays perfectly, including a massive Arcade library.

I’m now an affiliate of MECHDIY, who excel in bringing childhood memories back through high quality retro devices. Click the picture below to receive a discount for the Miyoo Mini Flip V2.

GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

Should you play Kung Fu Kid today? If you're curious about Master System history or want to see an early example of wall jumping in action, absolutely. The game offers a quick, colorful distraction that showcases what Sega's 8-bit hardware could do. Those gorgeous graphics and that infectious soundtrack still hold up.

Just don't expect a balanced challenge. The broken jumping mechanic transforms what could have been a solid beat-em-up into an unintentional comedy of aerial acrobatics. You'll bounce through stages like a caffeinated kangaroo, occasionally landing to kick a boss before launching skyward again. It's the gaming equivalent of bringing a rocket launcher to a fistfight.

Kung Fu Kid represents Sega's attempt to compete with Nintendo's kung fu titles, and while it improves on their earlier disaster Dragon Wang, it never quite nails the landing. The game is worth experiencing for its presentation and historical curiosity, but those design flaws keep it from greatness. Master Wang deserved better, but at least his journey is pretty to look at.

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