Play Spartan X Online

Summary

Spartan X, better known in the West as Kung‑Fu Master, earned its reputation as the very first beat ’em‑up arcade title. Designed by Takashi Nishiyama and built on the high‑octane energy of Hong Kong martial‑arts cinema – especially the Jackie Chan vehicle Wheels on Meals and the spirit of Bruce Lee’s Game of Death – the game set a template that later franchises like Street Fighter would follow. In North America Data East handled distribution, stripping the original movie licence but keeping the core kung‑fu feel.

The player guides Thomas, a lone kung‑fu master, through a five‑floor Devil’s Temple that scrolls horizontally. An eight‑way stick lets you punch, kick, crouch and jump, while two buttons differentiate a quick punch from a longer‑range kick. Enemies range from knife‑throwers and grippers to snake‑filled pots, fire‑breathing dragons and exploding confetti that rain down on higher floors. Each level ends with a distinct boss – stick‑fighter, boomerang‑thrower, giant, wizard and finally the gang‑leader Mr. X – and you must defeat them before the timer runs out, earning bonus points for any remaining time and energy.

Masato Ishizaki’s soundtrack, added after the designer initially rejected music, became a memorable hook. The arcade hit topped Japanese charts and became America’s second‑biggest earner in 1985, cementing its legacy as a commercial juggernaut and a direct influence on later side‑scrolling legends such as Super Mario Bros. A Famicom sequel later continued the saga, but the original arcade experience remains the benchmark for the genre.

Storyline

One day, kung‑fu master Thomas and his girlfriend Sylvia are ambushed by a mysterious gang. While Thomas fights the attackers, more men appear from behind, capture Sylvia and flee. Thomas discovers a note left by a man called Mr. X, demanding that he meet at the Devil’s Temple to rescue her. The letter warns that “5 sons of the devil will entertain you.” Determined, Thomas heads to the pagoda.

Inside the Devil’s Temple, Thomas must battle through five floors, each filled with enemies, traps and a floor‑guardian boss. After clearing the fifth level he reaches the sixth floor where the crime boss Mr. X awaits. Defeating Mr. X frees Sylvia and triggers the game to restart at a higher difficulty. The arcade classic Spartan X—known in the West as Kung‑Fu Master—delivers this straightforward rescue‑mission plot.