They made the sprites so big that nothing else could fit — and called that a strength.
In 1987, when Hudson Soft needed to prove the PC Engine could do something other machines couldn't, they chose one thing and made it enormous: the fighter on screen fills nearly half the display. The animation suffered — big sprites demand more memory, so the movement had to be stiff. The gameplay suffered too. But the screenshots looked like nothing you could buy on a Famicom or a Master System, and that was the point. It became a launch title twice: once in Japan as The Kung Fu, again in North America as China Warrior. Not because it played well, but because it showed well. Sometimes a limitation you refuse to hide becomes the only thing people remember.
About this game
The Kung Fu, released by Hudson Soft in Japan on November 21, 1987, was renamed China Warrior for its 1989 North American TurboGrafx-16 launch lineup.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Released on November 21, 1987, The Kung Fu was Hudson Soft's showcase title for the newly launched PC Engine, co-created by Hudson and NEC. It was designed explicitly to demonstrate the system's graphical capabilities with character sprites far larger than anything on competing 8-bit consoles. When the system launched in North America in 1989 as the TurboGrafx-16, the game was renamed China Warrior and again used as a launch title. Reviews praised the unprecedented sprite size but criticized the repetitive gameplay and stiff animation — technical trade-offs necessary to display such large graphics on 8-bit hardware.
Tricks & Tales
The Kung Fu was Volume 1 in Hudson Soft's numbered HuCard series for the PC Engine. The enormous character sprites — an unprecedented technical achievement for 8-bit hardware in 1987 — came at the cost of animation fluidity; fewer frames were possible due to memory constraints. Despite mixed gameplay reviews, the game was later ported to mobile phones and the PlayStation 2's Hudson Channel in Japan with redesigned graphics, audio, and gameplay.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PC Engine (Japan) and TurboGrafx-16 (North America) share the same physical HuCard slot shape but are not compatible with each other's software. NEC deliberately reversed the data bus wiring between the two regions: data pin D0 on the PC Engine corresponds to D7 on the TurboGrafx-16, and so on through all eight lines. Beyond the hardware wiring difference, most North American HuCards contain region-checking code that detects a Japanese console and immediately crashes. Converters that electrically flip the data bus do exist and allow cross-region play. CD-ROM² discs themselves carry no region protection and play freely on both systems—however, the System Cards required to boot CD software are region-locked in the same way as HuCards, so a Japanese System Card cannot be used in a TurboGrafx-16 and vice versa.
Maintenance Tips
HuCard contacts are the most common maintenance point on the PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16. The card's edge connector oxidizes over decades of storage, causing failure-to-read and graphical glitches. Cleaning with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab—gently wiping the gold contacts on the card itself—resolves most contact issues; stubborn oxidation responds to dedicated contact cleaners such as DeoxIT. Never blow into the card slot with your mouth, as moisture accelerates the very corrosion you are trying to remove. On systems equipped with the CD-ROM² or Super CD-ROM² add-on, the optical drive is subject to the same age-related laser and sled degradation seen in any CD system of that era; the laser assembly uses a KSS-220a-type unit on the Super CD-ROM² and replacement parts remain available.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese The Kung Fu copies regularly.
Does The Kung Fu HuCard have battery backup for saving progress?
No, The Kung Fu does not use battery backup or save data. It's a straightforward action game where progress is made by advancing through levels in a single session. This means no concerns about dried-out batteries or lost saves — the cartridge doesn't have those components.
Will a Japanese PC Engine HuCard work on a North American TurboGrafx-16?
Not directly. Although PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 HuCards look identical, NEC intentionally swapped the data bits between regions, making them physically incompatible without an adapter. Japanese HuCards like The Kung Fu will work on US consoles with a region converter, but US cards won't work on Japanese hardware due to a region lockout check.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy The Kung Fu
A short checklist for buying used PC Engine software wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
Japanese PC Engine HuCards and CDs are not compatible with the North American TurboGrafx-16 — the formats differ. Use a Japanese PC Engine system.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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HuCard or CD-ROM² — know which you're buying
PC Engine games come on HuCard chips or on CD-ROM². CD titles also require the right CD system and a working System Card.
Confirm the format in the listing, and for CDs check the disc surface and that saves are supported.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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