Bruce Lee (video game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bruce Lee | |
|---|---|
 The ZX Spectrum port of Bruce Lee. Bruce and The Ninja are fighting at the bottom centre; Yamo is preparing to fall from the left-hand platform. |
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| Developer(s) | Datasoft Inc |
| Publisher(s) | Datasoft Inc, U.S. Gold, Comptiq |
| Designer(s) | John A. Fitzpatrick |
| Platform(s) | Atari 8-bit family, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, C64, MS-DOS |
| Release date | 1984 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer, beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | N/A |
Bruce Lee is a video game designed by Ron J. Fortier, with graphics by Kelly Day and music by John A. Fitzpatrick. It was originally published for the Atari 8-bit[1] and Commodore 64[2] by Datasoft Inc in 1984.
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[edit] Gameplay
Bruce Lee is a platform/beat 'em up hybrid, in which the player controls Bruce Lee. The plot involves the eponymous martial artist advancing from chamber to chamber in a wizards tower, seeking to claim infinite wealth and the secret of immortality. There are twenty chambers, each represented by a single screen with platforms and ladders. To progress, the player must collect a number of lanterns suspended from various points in the chamber.
Each chamber is guarded by two mobile enemies; The Ninja, who attacks with a bokken stick and The Green Yamo, who attacks with punches and kicks. A multiplayer modes allows a second player to control Yamo, or to allow two players to alternately control Bruce. The Ninja and the Yamo are also vulnerable to the screen's dangers, but have infinite lives so they always return. If the player playing the Green Yamo is inactive for a certain time, the computer takes over.
Later chambers include more hazards such as mines and moving walls, as well as a "comb-like" surface that has an electric spark racing along it. Skillful walking, climbing, ducking and jumping are required to negotiate them. On the twentieth screen, Lee finally faces the evil wizard.
[edit] Other versions
Bruce Lee was converted to the ZX Spectrum[3] and Amstrad CPC[4] and published by U.S. Gold in the same year. An MSX version was published in 1985 by Comptiq.[5]
[edit] Critical reaction
On its original release, the ZX Spectrum version of Bruce Lee received good reviews. CRASH magazine awarded 91%, highlighting zesty graphics, enjoyable fighting action and addictivity.[6] Sinclair User also found the game enjoyable, awarding 4 out of 5 stars, but felt that sound was underused and a larger variety of tasks could have been included.[7] Your Spectrum were more critical, pointing out that it only takes a few games to complete all 20 chambers.[8] In a 1990 retrospective, Your Sinclair found that Bruce Lee was still too easy to complete and the graphics had not aged well. In addition, it was felt that the fighting moves available to the player lacked impact and were too limited for a beat 'em up. However, it was described as a historically important game, being the first to combine the platform/collection and beat 'em 'up genres.[9]
[edit] Videos
- Complete Video from the C64 Version on archive.org
[edit] References
- ^ Bruce Lee. Atarimania. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ Bruce Lee. Lemon 64. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ Bruce Lee at World of Spectrum
- ^ Bruce Lee by US Gold. CPCZone. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ Bruce Lee (1985, Comptiq). Generation-MSX. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ "Bruce Lee review" (May 1985). CRASH (16).
- ^ Edgely, Clare (May 1985). "Spectrum Software Scene 2". Sinclair User (38).
- ^ "Joystick Jury" (May 1985). Your Spectrum (14).
- ^ "The YS Complete Guide To Beat-'em-ups" (May 1990). Your Spectrum (53).
