Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu (1990-)

• Developer: Now Production

• Publisher: Hudson Soft

• Genre: Platform

• Composer: Masakatsu Maekawa

Jackie Chan’s Action Kung Fu for the NES was developed by Now Production and released in 1990. The game was published by Hudson Soft and was designed to capitalize on the growing popularity of martial arts films, particularly those starring Jackie Chan. The NES version remained exclusive to the console, with no other ports to home computers or alternate systems at the time. The title represented one of the earliest instances of a licensed martial arts character appearing in a side-scrolling action game, blending cinematic inspiration with classic platforming mechanics.

The game’s story follows Jackie Chan as he attempts to rescue a kidnapped family member and recover stolen family heirlooms from a nefarious gang. Drawing inspiration from Chan’s filmography, the game emphasizes martial arts combat, agility, and acrobatics. The narrative is straightforward but provides enough context to justify the action, with each level representing different locations filled with enemies, obstacles, and environmental hazards. Its design clearly mirrored the action-comedy tone of Jackie Chan’s movies, focusing on fast-paced combat interspersed with platforming challenges.

Gameplay consists of side-scrolling action where players control Jackie through various levels, using punches, kicks, and jumps to defeat enemies. The game also allows for chained attacks and special moves to dispatch foes efficiently, giving players a sense of martial arts skill progression as they advance. Boss battles punctuate each stage, requiring pattern recognition and timing to succeed. Health is limited, making careful navigation and mastery of the combat system essential. Additionally, collectible items scattered throughout the stages provide extra points and limited power-ups, adding a layer of strategy to the platforming and combat.

The soundtrack features energetic, action-oriented melodies that underscore the game’s fast-paced martial arts combat and adventurous levels. Promotion for the NES release focused heavily on Jackie Chan’s involvement, emphasizing both his fame as a martial artist and the game’s faithful recreation of cinematic action. Reception was mixed to positive; players appreciated the challenging gameplay and the novelty of controlling a recognizable action star, though some criticized the high difficulty and repetitive level design. The game did not have a prequel, and no direct sequels were produced, but it remains a notable example of early martial arts-themed games on the NES and an interesting crossover between film and interactive entertainment.

Images from MobyGames