This game is an honorable mention in favorite action platformers, it's also I feel another under the radar gem. It's kind of interesting they would have a video game with a famous martial arts/action star would be the main character, though that was a common thing at the time mainly with sports games and sports stars.
Though a strange fact is this game is how I heard about my favorite action/martial arts star Jackie Chan if you can believe that. I'm sure at the time this game came out a lot of people were puzzled as to who this guy is because at the time in the states, he wasn't that famous, he made a few films in the states but nothing that really make his carrier stick in the 80's in the US, unlike now in the US where it's cemented. Which as time went on made gain a cult following, though it was a cult classic from the get-go as it there was a remake for the "Turbo Graphix 16" which is cool.
The plotline is basic fantasy plotline as there is this evil sorcerer taking over the land and your sister and you must free here and the land from his rule. That's it in a nutshell, this almost feels like the kind of plotline for the "Dragon Ball" anime, so in a way you can say this game is the NES adaptation game we should've had. However, the plotline really isn't important, like with most of these action platforming games it's really by its nature a clothesline for the action which is what where here for hence the title.
The graphical presentation I think is great, it almost doesn't even look like an NES game, could easily have been a game for the "Turbo Graphix 16" (ironic I say that). Just the detail, color, and how big the characters and even backgrounds look, it all just looks just right. But I also like the design really giving the game that Asian fantasy feel to it. Though also like how some of them correlate to the elements of nature as well as spirituality as both those things are part of Asian culture.
However, part of what makes the game stand out is in the use of facial expressions. I thought it was cool which really made the characters feel lively and not constantly put on the poker face. From the expressions of Jackie as he delivers the action or when he gets hurt, just seeing his hurt expression hurt me too because it really looked like he was in awful pain when it occurred. But also seeing the expressions on the bosses, that was cool as it really felt like the damage you delivered was really making an impact and affecting them.
You have a solid variety of enemies all well designed but I really like the designs of the bosses that are all unique and aren't too easy to beat, from a giant that welds a giant double headed smasher stick, a statue with stretchable arms, and my favorite a cloud cyclops monster.
The gameplay is solid as you have your basic control from jumping and attack. You can also utilize a jump or ground kick when needed. However, what makes this gameplay unique is that you have two sets of abilities. There is one where you collect a power move and when you push up and attack you execute that move which can deliver a lot of damage most notably toward the bosses. Another is when you press the attack button you charge up and discharge a kamaimai like power blast toward you opponents which also delivers the damage.
However, with both abilities, you have a limited number in how many times you can use them and finding another power move and refills to your power blast gauge can be far between, so use your abilities wisely.
Difficulty is on the medium side, I really like the layout of the levels which are each layered into stages, this keeps the game fresh as each of the stages are always a different kind of challenge. Like one of them a cloud stage which is sort of like a trampoline stage as you are bouncing around on the clouds. Another is a lava stage, one part of it is where there is lava rising and you must jump to certain platforms on time before it reaches it, that one always made me tense at the time because you only have seconds to act and it's always a matter of the right place at the right time.
And of course, there is the music which is great as it another one of my favorite track. It just has that music that just sings Asian fantasy action and adventure, some of the tracks also could be good relaxation tracks to listen to if you can believe that.
This vintage platform action classic just like Jackie himself, packs a punch.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
