Kung Food (1992-)

• Developer: Lore Games

• Publisher: Atari

• Genre: Beat 'Em up

Kung Food for the Atari Lynx was developed by Lore Games and released in 1992, with Atari serving as publisher. The game was a handheld-exclusive beat ’em up title and was not ported to other systems, making it a unique entry in the Lynx library. It combined martial arts action with a humorous and bizarre setting, aiming to offer fast-paced combat gameplay that stood out among other handheld fighting games of the era.

In Kung Food, players control a martial artist battling through waves of mutated, anthropomorphic food enemies in an effort to restore peace to a chaotic kitchen world. The game drew inspiration from arcade beat ’em ups and martial arts films, blending humor with action-oriented combat. Each level presented increasingly eccentric enemies and environmental hazards, challenging players to use both timing and strategy to progress. The unusual premise of fighting animated food items added a comedic twist to the traditional side-scrolling fighting formula.

Gameplay on the Lynx featured a side-scrolling perspective with responsive controls for jumping, punching, and kicking. Players could chain attacks to defeat enemies efficiently while avoiding hazards and projectiles, and the Lynx hardware allowed smooth animations and colorful sprite designs that highlighted the absurdity of the characters. Audio included sound effects for attacks and enemy defeats, along with short looping background music that reinforced the frantic pace of each stage. The combination of graphics and sound helped maintain engagement and provided a lighthearted yet challenging experience.

Kung Food did not have a prequel or direct sequel on the Lynx, remaining a standalone title. Promotion was limited, mainly appearing in Atari catalogues and magazine previews that highlighted its quirky premise and action gameplay. Reception was mixed to positive, with critics praising its humor, unique concept, and fast-paced combat, though some noted that the controls could feel awkward and the gameplay repetitive over longer sessions. Despite this, Kung Food has been remembered as a distinctive and memorable title in the Lynx library, notable for its unusual enemies and colorful martial arts action.

Images from MobyGames