Difference between revisions of "Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu"

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[[Image:Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American NES box art.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu
 +
| Image           = Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = NES - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Now Production}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Hudson Soft}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1990
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 12
 +
| PublishedDay    = ??
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|NES}}, {{Platform|TurboGrafx-16}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Beat 'em up|Beat 'em up}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Licensed video game|Licensed}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Action}}, {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Martial Arts}}
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu''''', known in Japan as '''''ジャッキー チェン [Jakki Chen] "Jackie Chan"''''', is a platform beat-em-up developed by [[Now Production]] and published by [[Hudson Soft Company]] for the [[NES]] in 1990 and the [[TurboGrafx-16]] in 1991. In the game, you play Jackie Chan who is trying to rescue his sister (or girlfriend in the TG16 game) who has been kidnapped by a Sorcerer. Although the NES port was released first, it seems pretty clear that the game was first made on the TG16 and then ported to the NES.
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'''''Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu''''' is a platform [[beat 'em up]] developed by [[Now Production]] and published by [[Hudson Soft]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] in December 1990 and the [[TurboGrafx-16]] on 1991-01-18. Although the NES port was released first, it seems pretty clear that the game was first made on the TG16 and then ported to the NES.
  
I first heard about this game because it was a prize on a children's game show, I think [[Masters of the Maze]], but I never saw it played until years later using an emulator. While the game looked good and seemed interesting, I first dismissed it as just another NES platformer. Years later, while looking for video game music to record, I played the game's [[NSF]] file and was impressed by the music. Wanting to know where in the game a particular song was played, I took to playing the game through and got to the third level. This was more than enough to impress upon me how enjoyable the game is, so I decided to play the game for real. I beat it on my second attempt on 2018-01-02.
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In the game, you play Jackie Chan who is trying to rescue his sister (or girlfriend in the TG16 game) who has been kidnapped by a Sorcerer.
  
==Status==
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==Personal==
I do not own the game, but I have beaten the NES version.
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{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. NES port.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2018-01-02.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
I first heard about this game because it was a prize on a children's game show, I think ''[[Masters of the Maze]]'', but I never saw it played until years later using an emulator. While the game looked good and seemed interesting, I first dismissed it as just another generic NES platformer. Years later, while looking for video game music to record, I played the game's [[NSF]] file and was impressed by the music. Wanting to know where in the game a particular song was played, I took to playing the game through and got to the third level. This was more than enough to impress upon me how enjoyable the game is, so I decided to play the game for real. I beat it on my second attempt.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 6/10
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{{Video Game Review|6|6|7|6|6|TurboGrafx-16}}
* '''Best Version:''' TurboGrafx-16
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 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* The game has really attractive graphics. The characters are well animated and feature some of the best cartoon drawings on the NES. Many of the sprites are also hilarious.
 
* The game has really attractive graphics. The characters are well animated and feature some of the best cartoon drawings on the NES. Many of the sprites are also hilarious.
* The music is also very impressive. It uses a coherent timbre throughout the game and several songs have a wonderful traditional Japanese sound which fits the game. The NES audio makes especially good use of the hardware.  
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* [[Masakatsu Maekawa]]'s music is quite impressive. It uses a coherent timbre throughout the game and several songs have a wonderful traditional Asian sound which fits the theme. The NES audio makes especially good use of the hardware.  
 
* The controls are very responsive and fluid.
 
* The controls are very responsive and fluid.
 
* Each stage has a unique set of backgrounds, enemies, music, and a boss.
 
* Each stage has a unique set of backgrounds, enemies, music, and a boss.
 
* I like how there are multiple secret stages, each which requires a new set of skills to master.
 
* I like how there are multiple secret stages, each which requires a new set of skills to master.
* Unlike many NES titles, the game isn't too difficult, which is a nice change of pace. Rather than kill you, areas with tricky jumps punish you by setting you back or merely injuring you. However, the TG16 game is considerably harder.
+
* Unlike many NES titles, the game isn't that difficult, which is a nice change of pace. Pitfalls, rather than killing you outright, punish you by setting you back or injuring you. However, the TG16 game is considerably harder.
 
* The game includes a lot of interesting Chinese and Japanese mythology.
 
* The game includes a lot of interesting Chinese and Japanese mythology.
  
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* There isn't much to explore in the game. Once you discover the hidden bells, you've found everything the game has to offer, and it's just a matter of honing your skills.
 
* There isn't much to explore in the game. Once you discover the hidden bells, you've found everything the game has to offer, and it's just a matter of honing your skills.
 
* The NES port eliminates large sections of the levels, and, with only five total, the game is too short. I would have loved to see another two or three levels or at least the rest of the TG16 levels.
 
* The NES port eliminates large sections of the levels, and, with only five total, the game is too short. I would have loved to see another two or three levels or at least the rest of the TG16 levels.
* The NES port also eliminates a lot of the enemies and eliminates complexity for the rest.
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* The NES port also eliminates a lot of the enemies and eliminates complexity for the rest, especially the bosses.
* The NES port gives you too many lives for the game to be a real challenge, the TG16 is more appropriate as it is harder and gives fewer lives. In fact, the NES manual even gives you a cheat code to get 99 lives.
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* The TG16 port is ttoo hard.
* Although the NES manual doesn't make Josephine a boring damsel in distress and suggests that she is a Kung Fu master with abilities comparable to Jackie, she shows no skills whatsoever, so it's just window dressing.
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* Josephine is described in the manual as being a kung fu master with abilities comparable to Jackie Chan, which is progressive, but, in the game, she shows no skills whatsoever, so her title is just window dressing.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
 
* Nothing.
 
* Nothing.
  
==Box Art==
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==Media==
 +
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA.jpg|The American NES release has a nice colored-pencil drawing of a young Jackie Chan with kung fu silhouettes in the background. It certainly gets the point of the game across, but it doesn't quite address the silliness of the game. I don't care much for the gray backdrop or the inappropriate lettering, but it's still my favorite box.
 
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA.jpg|The American NES release has a nice colored-pencil drawing of a young Jackie Chan with kung fu silhouettes in the background. It certainly gets the point of the game across, but it doesn't quite address the silliness of the game. I don't care much for the gray backdrop or the inappropriate lettering, but it's still my favorite box.
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Documentation==
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===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA - Manual.pdf|North American NES manual.
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Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - Japan - Manual.pdf|Manual - Famicom - Japan
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - TG16 - USA - Manual.pdf|North American TG16 manual.
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Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - NES - USA.
 +
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - TG16 - Japan - Manual.pdf|Manual - PC Engine - Japan.
 +
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - TG16 - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - TurboGrafx-16 - USA.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Maps==
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===Maps===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - Map - 1.png|NES - Stage 1.
 
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - Map - 1.png|NES - Stage 1.
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Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - Map - 5-2.png|NES - Stage 5-2.
 
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - Map - 5-2.png|NES - Stage 5-2.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{YouTube|2vK9C5nQcGU|Longplay, NES.}}
 +
{{YouTube|KtKUeSeXIOA|Longplay, TurboGrafx-16.}}
 +
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/jackie-chan-japan.html|Famicom}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/jackie-chan-s-action-kung-fu-europe.html|NES (Europe)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/jackie-chan-s-action-kung-fu-usa.html|NES (USA)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/turbografx16-games/jackie-chan-japan.html|PC Engine}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/turbografx16-games/jackie-chan-s-action-kung-fu-usa.html|TurboGrafx-16}}
 +
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = Josephine, the only female in the game, is merely a damsel in distress.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = The game has no dialogue.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Pass
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = Jackie Chan is Hongkonger.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Titles==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 +
|-
 +
| English || Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu || ||
 +
|-
 +
| Japanese || ジャッキー チェン || Jakki Chen || Jackie Chan
 +
|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/jackie-chans-action-kung-fu mobygames.com/game/jackie-chans-action-kung-fu] - MobyGames.
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{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/jackie-chans-action-kung-fu}}
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Chan%27s_Action_Kung_Fu en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Chan%27s_Action_Kung_Fu] - Wikipedia.
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{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Chan%27s_Action_Kung_Fu}}
* [https://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/563426-jackie-chans-action-kung-fu gamefaqs.com/nes/563426-jackie-chans-action-kung-fu] - GameFAQs (NES).
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{{Link|ROMDetectives|2=http://www.romdetectives.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Jackie_Chan%27s_Action_Kung_Fu_(TG16)}}
 +
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Jackie_Chan%27s_Action_Kung_Fu}}
  
  
[[Category: Games]]
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[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
[[Category: Action]]
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[[Category: Game mechanic - Playable person of color]]
[[Category: Beat-Em-Up]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:57, 7 March 2024

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - NES - USA.jpg

NES - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Now Production
Publisher Hudson Soft
Published 1990-12-??
Platforms NES, TurboGrafx-16
Genres Beat 'em up, Licensed, Platformer
Themes Action, Cartoon, Martial Arts
Distribution Commercial

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu is a platform beat 'em up developed by Now Production and published by Hudson Soft for the NES in December 1990 and the TurboGrafx-16 on 1991-01-18. Although the NES port was released first, it seems pretty clear that the game was first made on the TG16 and then ported to the NES.

In the game, you play Jackie Chan who is trying to rescue his sister (or girlfriend in the TG16 game) who has been kidnapped by a Sorcerer.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes. NES port.
Finished2018-01-02.

I first heard about this game because it was a prize on a children's game show, I think Masters of the Maze, but I never saw it played until years later using an emulator. While the game looked good and seemed interesting, I first dismissed it as just another generic NES platformer. Years later, while looking for video game music to record, I played the game's NSF file and was impressed by the music. Wanting to know where in the game a particular song was played, I took to playing the game through and got to the third level. This was more than enough to impress upon me how enjoyable the game is, so I decided to play the game for real. I beat it on my second attempt.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
6 6 7 6 6

Best Version: TurboGrafx-16

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The game has really attractive graphics. The characters are well animated and feature some of the best cartoon drawings on the NES. Many of the sprites are also hilarious.
  • Masakatsu Maekawa's music is quite impressive. It uses a coherent timbre throughout the game and several songs have a wonderful traditional Asian sound which fits the theme. The NES audio makes especially good use of the hardware.
  • The controls are very responsive and fluid.
  • Each stage has a unique set of backgrounds, enemies, music, and a boss.
  • I like how there are multiple secret stages, each which requires a new set of skills to master.
  • Unlike many NES titles, the game isn't that difficult, which is a nice change of pace. Pitfalls, rather than killing you outright, punish you by setting you back or injuring you. However, the TG16 game is considerably harder.
  • The game includes a lot of interesting Chinese and Japanese mythology.

Bad

  • There isn't much to explore in the game. Once you discover the hidden bells, you've found everything the game has to offer, and it's just a matter of honing your skills.
  • The NES port eliminates large sections of the levels, and, with only five total, the game is too short. I would have loved to see another two or three levels or at least the rest of the TG16 levels.
  • The NES port also eliminates a lot of the enemies and eliminates complexity for the rest, especially the bosses.
  • The TG16 port is ttoo hard.
  • Josephine is described in the manual as being a kung fu master with abilities comparable to Jackie Chan, which is progressive, but, in the game, she shows no skills whatsoever, so her title is just window dressing.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Videos

Longplay, NES.
Longplay, TurboGrafx-16.

Play Online

Famicom, NES (Europe), NES (USA), PC Engine, TurboGrafx-16

Representation

Strong female character?FailJosephine, the only female in the game, is merely a damsel in distress.
Bechdel test?FailThe game has no dialogue.
Strong person of color character?PassJackie Chan is Hongkonger.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu
Japanese ジャッキー チェン Jakki Chen Jackie Chan

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-ROMDetectives.png  Link-TCRF.png