1980s
Yie Ar Kung-Fu
1984 · Fighting · Arcade
Overview
Yie Ar Kung-Fu is a classic 1980s fighting game developed by Konami for Arcade.
Deep Dive
Yie Ar Kung-Fu is a classic 1980s fighting game developed by Konami for Arcade.
Developer Story
Yie Ar Kung-Fu was developed by Konami in 1984. It was a one-on-one fighting game where players faced a series of opponents each with a distinct fighting style, weapon, or special ability. The variety of opponents — including a female fighter, a nunchaku user, and a bo staff expert — was greater than any fighting game before it. It directly influenced Street Fighter and established the "unique opponent roster" format.
Did You Know?
- Yie Ar Kung-Fu featured opponents of different genders, body types, and fighting styles — diversity in game characters unprecedented for 1984.
- Each opponent had a unique special move or weapon, requiring the player to adapt strategy for every fight.
- The game's name means "one two Kung-Fu" in a loose transliteration, suggesting the one-two punch rhythm of fighting.
- Street Fighter's designers specifically cited Yie Ar Kung-Fu as the game they set out to improve upon.
