The History Of Yie Ar Kung Fu - arcade console documentary

The history of konami's influential one-on-one fighter
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[@BillBinder]

Finally, a breakdown of one of the greatest arcade games of its day

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

I agree, hope you enjoyed it

[@dub2536]

I used to love playing this at arcades. I still like it on Emulation. I enjoy having save states as it was a game which I could never win against all bosses on one quarter.

[@dholmlund]

@@dub2536 FYI--You can buy it for Nintendo Switch! :D I've got it along with the Double Dragon arcade game! :) (you can make a save state on the Switch version, too!) :D

[@dub2536]

@@dholmlund TY for the info/411. I will look into that. I already own the switch, hence...much Appreciated! o7!

[@DEVILTAZ35]

Our local milk bar had the machine along with Bomb Jack . Great times growing up as it was a 2 minute walk from our house back then lol. It was also 5 cents for giant Python lollies :). I'm in Oz where we have dollars and cents :)

[@martianwoodpecker]

I have such fond memories of this game. It was a revolutionary game, and one of my holy grails that I would love to own the actual arcade cabinet of.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

You and me both my friend

[@Tigerlord4835]

I remember a few secrets to this game. If Buchu does a high kick and you punch low, you hit him in the family jewels, seeing a pained expression on his face, and you do 2 points of damage instead of 1.

[@MikeHL78]

He also shouts ‘hello’ in Mandarin. “Ni hao!”

[@jc3drums916]

I just noticed it in one of the playthrough videos. The facial expression was there, but he only took 1 point of damage.

[@evanhanley6437]

This game was truly ahead of its time. I played the game to bits. It felt great to play it on the Nintendo DS. One of my favourite games of all time.

[@nemopouncey3827]

like how some of the feedle guy's would run away like a coward.😂

[@nemopouncey3827]

noticed the bald guy does the raiden move?

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

It's a classic

[@TheTrueMariWho]

The swoop kick was badass.

[@upirons]

Love this game to this day and ever since I first saw it in arcades in 1985... Also love hearing you count out 12 seconds for clips... a little behind the scenes action.

[@ryan2t4]

Lee also appear in japanese exclusive arcade on rail shooter, "Action Deka". He's boss of Stage 6. The boss song during fight is remixed version of Yie Ar Kung fu theme.

[@Machtimus]

Yie ar was 1 of my favorite games as a kid. You always bring the pain Patman

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

LOL, glad I could help

[@apexone5502]

Man, I had completely forgotten about that game. I used to play it at the local burger spot around the very late ‘80s/early ‘90s. It was a great game. Thanks for reminding me via this video.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Absolutely, thank you for watching

[@Mintcar923]

When you wanna play Yie Ar you went to the convenience store 3 blocks away.. When you wanted to play Commando or Karate Champ you went to Glenn’s video.. Then you’d interact with like minded people.. Thats what was great about the 80’s

[@kevron9664]

Absolutely LOVED this game... Back then, it was a source of pride to actually have a game that you had "down cold"... One that you knew all the sequences to, and that other players would actually stop to watch YOU play/finish... This one was MINE....!!!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

This game was so much fun to play, I especially loved the music

[@MrTikbik2000]

Thanks PatManQC! I dropped so many quarters on this arcade game! I got an emulator now at home and my 5 yr old son loves this game. So glad I could share the enjoyment with my son. Thanks for sharing!

[@NP-ip3nj]

*Home country of Hong Kong. BIG BIG difference. I had the C64 version and played the hell out of it. Loved it.

[@ManahManah77]

I took a trip with my 6th grade class to DC when I was in school. The hotel we stayed at had this game down in the pool area off to the side in a little room. I played this game every minute we were at the hotel at night as it was right down the hall from my room. Still one of my favorites, top 15 of all time if not top 10.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

It is in my top 10 as well :-)

[@TheLostSquadron]

I played this game a lot and love it, but it was also my introduction to conversions. One day I went to play my beloved Stargate, and discovered it had undergone Reassignment Surgery to Yie Ar. The Stargate at a different arcade was converted to Rush N Attack.

[@Induna123]

I just want to say this is a great channel. Only discovered it a couple of months ago but it has become one of my favourites. Love the narrator and the hard work he's put into these videos.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Wow, thank you!

[@oddcreatureX]

Loved this game back in the day, love it now! Glad it’s available on the Switch!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

It is definitely a lot of fun

[@MrHiggibaby]

One of my fav games growing up!

[@NYKgjl10]

I took a picture next to Bruce Lee's statue in Hong Kong back in 2019, 8 months prior to Covid. Its an amazing site and will cherish it forever. I remember the arcade game when I use to go to the local arcades in the late 80's and you know when Konami is presenting us all this game, you know you're in for a jolly good time.

[@TheWarmotor]

Awesome video, as per usual my dude! Thank you :)

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

My pleasure!Thanks

[@Clownboy15]

They had this at the bowling alley where I bowled on a team as a kid. I’d get in trouble sometimes because I would wander off to play this while waiting my turn and my turn would be up and here I am playing this game! Never saw it again until last year at the barcade where I now hang out.

[@OMGILOVEBANANAS]

Thanks for another great video, Pat!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Glad you enjoyed it!Thank you

[@Jaspa42]

Many many hours spent perfecting this. Nice one PatMan.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks a ton!

[@Carlos.Rodriguez]

The amount of work you put to make these videos is great, thank you! I remember playing this game at a little shop 3 blocks from home, I was like 12/13 and remember this one, Circus Charlie and Galaga were so popular, sometimes you have to get in line to be able to play them, I still love Yie Ar, it plays great, thank you again for your hard work 🙏

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

That is so nice of you to say, glad you enjoy it and appreciate the time it takes to make these. Thanks

[@msintal1308]

I got chills. This one for me is a nostalgia bomb.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks, glad I could scratch that nostalgic itch

[@scarpasqualo970]

Thanks for uploading one of my alltime favourite fighting game. I played this so hard on the C64. I overdrive the hi-score about 3 times and bear Blues and his other cronies with perfect. The title music is stellar!

[@NYHeeb]

It's crazy to see how far tech had come in just 30 years. Remembering playing all of these and loving it.

[@HecmarJayam]

Another great video Patman!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Glad you enjoyed it!Thanks

[@chaoslab]

Nice work Pat. Always a good day when you post a video.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thank you kindly!

[@Dorelaxen]

I only have a vague memory of this from when it was out in the arcades. I was maybe 11-12 and played it once in a gas station. It stuck with me, though, and led to a real love of games like Street Fighter 2 and whatnot later on.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

It was definitely influential. Thanks

[@kevlarvest7375]

Man, love your intro, first 3 seconds gives me thrills. That sound will always belong to one game for me, instantly triggers it in my mind. I love it.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@inphanta]

I’m SO glad you did this. I used to like this a lot back in the day. I played it in the arcade a few times but also had it on the C64, where I was able to beat it. I’d love to play a remake on the Switch! :) Thanks once again for another great video. 👍

[@iankempster7007]

Played this one a lot too. Great video as always.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks a lot

[@Jamie-nx2cg]

As usual good to see a new video from you buddy

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks 👍

[@4fingas69]

Always thought it was Yi like "yikes".. good to know I was wrong for decades.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

I'm glad my silly little channel could help out :-)

[@dacatindahat8275]

I love this game. In the mid 80s this was the only arcade machine aside from donkey Kong in my home town of about 400 people.

[@atrain818]

That's a pretty good distribution. Donkey Kong for 200 ppl & yie ar kung fu for the other 200. At least u got 2 great games.

[@moscaxXx21]

i just subbed because of your enthusiasm, keep it up

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Excellent, Thanks for the sub And hope you enjoyed the rest of the content

[@chrissiano82]

Awesome video, as always 💪🏻

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Glad you liked it! Thanks

[@Oldiesyoungies]

1988: my brother's cubscout troupe would meet at this certain pizzaria, this was my favorite arcade game, pretty much of all time

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

It's definitely in my top 10

[@CharlesKhan]

"and his triple D bosom" got me howling dude, Paqman videos are always a delight

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

LOL, such nice complements. Thanks :-)

[@BlackArroToons]

Great documentary on Yie Ar Kung Fu, PatmanQC, thanks! As a small kid on vacation in 1987, there was a hotel laundry room. I walked in, and there was Yie Ar Kung Fu, the first fighting 1vs1 game I ever played and was amazed by it as a big Kung Fu Cinema Fan. On my first try, I beat like 5 bad guys on 1 quarter. Awesome to have the arcade versions these days. Thanks!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks. It was so great back in the 80s with arcade games were everywhere like laundromats and restaurants :-)

[@socialistprofessor3206]

I'm genuinely impressed with how you find good footage of these ports played on ancient machines. (I'm old enough to have played said machines so I'm allowed to say that. :)

[@bleirdo_dude]

Emulation rocks.

[@bleirdo_dude]

This game was, and still is fun. As always a top notch video. 👍

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks

[@jacobwebb2623]

YES!!!!!!! I love this game. There was a local arcade near my Grandmother's house I use to go to, and this was the only time I ever found this game in the wild. Fantastic job!!!!!!

[@deegeegeeretrogaming6684]

Thank you for the Video great work! 👍

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

You bet, thank you so much for watching :-)

[@jyesucevitz]

I loved this in arcades. I recall it both figuratively and literally kicking my ass though.

[@wadefaulkner73]

The memories this game brings..

[@BIadesMan]

OMG loved this game when I was young,probably the one I played the most at the arcades.good video mate 👍

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Excellent, thanks for watching

[@MrConcord75]

Thanks Pat. This was one of my favs on C64. And the only fighting game I ever finished.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Absolutely thanks for watching

[@ThunderFist1978]

I was all about this game as a kid! I was 7 when it came out, and it felt so good the first time I took down Buchu! Of course, I had a lot to learn about just how much strategy is involved with this game.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Yes each boss takes a different approach to defeat them

[@michaelmurray1717]

Took years to finally beat it, then when you do you get about a quarter second of relief and then it just starts again, ruthless

[@piratesephiroth]

12:12 "and in particular, the fantastic music" *earrape begins*

[@bsdetector6908]

I had the honour of playing this in the arcade back in the day. The graphics and sound were amazing for the time, especially the noise you made when hit between the legs! I bought the C64 conversion and was really saddened that half the moves didn't work. The Amstrad CPC version was beautiful, so got that too. (I had both machines)

[@jamiegwhite30]

Another awesome doc!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks again!

[@moroccanlooser6305]

nice and detailed doc as usual thanks

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Glad you liked it! Thanks

[@simonbelmontxxx]

6:58 THE FINAL COUNTDOWN 😂. Awesome review! Thank you Patrick ☺️👍.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

I leave my mic on by accident one time……

[@simonbelmontxxx]

@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries 😂 Nothing passes your fans. 👍

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

@@simonbelmontxxx LOL

[@stormshadow2k]

LOVED this game on my C64 growing up. I listen to the Ocean Loader music to this day. Nice one brother.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Oh yeah, that music is fantastic. Thanks

[@NesrocksGamingVideos]

Haven't started watching the video yet but... a 25 minutes video about Yie Ar Kung Fu?? This is what I subscribe to the internet for!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Lol thanks, hope you enjoy the rest of the contact

[@thebigchimpanski4783]

I forgot all about this game. This game was badass

[@Schush]

I remember playing this at a Aladdin's Castle arcade. I recall it being in Defender cab - Yie Ar Kungfu was just a kit-only game.

[@atrain818]

Yep. It was only a conversion kit game. One of my top 10 favorites. Amazing that some of the best arcade games were only conversion kits and didn't come in dedicated cabinets. Gun.smoke, wonderboy, mat mania.

[@Schush]

@@atrain818 Unfortunately just a product of that era

[@atrain818]

@@Schush yeah. That was a time when kit games were the trend. It duznt make them any less of a game. 3 of the 4 games I own are kit games. The 3 I mentioned above plus a donkey kong. I luv playing all of them .

[@atrain818]

@@Schush I am actually looking for a yie ar kung fu PCB to add to the wonderboy cabinet with a jamma switcher. It's a device that allows you to have 2 games in 1 cabinet and switch between them

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

Yie Ar, as I was told, means "One Two".

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Yes I read that as well. Good call

[@atrain818]

One two kung fu

[@dangrise6182]

I remember spending March Break of 1986 in Boyne Highlands, which is a ski resort in Michigan. Anyway, they had a Yie-Ar Kung Fu game there. Whenever I wasn't skiing I was sinking quarters into the game. Later I played Yie-Ar on the C64. That was a excellent port.

[@fornogoodreason551]

Trying to remember playing this around grade school or jr high. Loved it.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

It was definitely a lot of fun

[@MolotovFolktales]

This was my favorite game to play at the Godfather's Pizza by the laundromat so many weeks in my youth.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Oh yes, I can remember going to both places and playing arcade games

[@nickhurdstrom2221]

This game was and still is one of my all time favorites.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Mind as well :-)

[@kevinmalone4341]

You unlocked a memory for me. I've only seen a Kicker arcade cabinet once, on a school trip. That same location also had the only Flying Dragons cabinet I've ever seen.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Excellent

[@BoogieKnight1976]

Great variation for the time. You wasn’t fighting the same repetitive sprites but rather characters and the variety of moves was great along with the games art and animations. I feel it paved the way for modern fighting games and and deserves strong significance .

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

It sure did, it laid the template for all future fighting games

[@digitizer3627]

Thank you for such a great video. I believe Yie Ar Kung Fu 2 music and graphics were better on MSX than C64.

[@Herowebcomics]

WOW! This is one of the first fighting games EVER! And it's about Kung fu! That is awesome!

[@EvilStreaks]

I used to play it on the BBC Micro. There was no Sword character and Feedle was random objects flying at you from both sides that you have to smack to score hits. I never knew it was a popular game. It was the only fighting game I ever enjoyed and got the hang of. Still is, really.

[@takaforo]

When playing the Amstrad CPC version what you do to attack is you press the fire button and leave it pressed while moving the joystick in the direction of the attack so you can chain hits, no need to hit the fire button for each attack. I grew up with this version and I really don't see it unresponsive at all, it is a great conversion.

[@danmiller5869]

Very excited to check this out later. This was one of the first arcade machines I was obsessed with as a kid, because it was playable at our family's favorite pizzeria for what seemed like years. But I never really understood the mechanics of the game and "joystick mashed", never really getting past the first few stages... but I'm pretty confident I played it every time we went. I'm sure many fond memories will be brought back to me in your thorough review, and perhaps your insight will give me an even greater appreciation of the game though I doubt I'll ever see a cabinet version of this again, and the pizzeria has long since closed! Thanks so much for your uploads!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks for the great story. It's possible if you hit galloping ghost in Chicago or fun spots out on the East Coast you'll run across it. Thanks for watching the videos

[@NecroticFleshrot]

If we're lucky, Konami will grace us with a Yie Ar pachinko machine.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

LOL comment of the day

[@reynaldolunajr.6909]

This is my favorite arcade game. I loved playing it at the grocery store every time my mom went shopping there. Even then I wondered what it would be like if you could fight other players like Karate champ or pick other characters to play.

[@schroffgezockt]

What a great game to make a Video about...thanks alot! ❤️

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

Man thank you! I have anden fascinated by this game since I was a kid & saw it in a local arcade! When I first got a Game Boy Advance the Konami collection was the first game I bought specifically for this game! It certainly has been less well remembered than karate champ or the original street fighter but honestly it's a better game than either

[@insearthanamesaheera5712]

I bought a famiclone in poland as a kid on vacation in the 90s, and it had the famicon version of kung fu. I never knew about the other versions until i saw this vid :D I was just telling my friend last week about how the lifebar made this game pretty revolusionary (in my home gaming timeline). I was used to Exploding Fist and Pit Fighter on C64. Anyway, the kung fu game is fun. I love the feeling when you time the flying kicks just perfect :D

[@erikfldt390]

Loved that game back in the day. We had it at the local roller rink and it was a favorite until Final Fight came out and afterwards it was sitting there lonely next to the dusty unused cabinet of Rygar that had a messed up monitor. I remember that fact and have forgotten everything about trigonometry.

[@mr.pavone9719]

I love this channel. It's like a farmstand selling fresh vegetables, but the sign says "vegtables".

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks, mentally I feel like a vegetable

[@AceAcabras]

When you profiled the enemies of the game you omitted Star. Great episode overall

[@RockyFluffyWhiskas]

I remember playing this with my elder brother on a Commodore plus/4 in the 80s From 🇬🇧

[@reinhard3209]

Great game, great video! Thanks a lot. 🙏👍😉

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thank you 👍

[@theaccountcreated8962]

I only saw this game a few times when I was a kid but loved playing it each time I found it.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

I always enjoyed it as well

[@damnthisusername]

Omg! I loved this on my Amstrad CPC6128k. Back in the day!

[@dumpnchase]

Was always a fun time playing this game.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

100%

[@balls2balls]

My dad, who VERY rarely was into gaming would spend a lot of quarters on this game at a local pizza shop when I was very young. Just a couple years ago I ran it in MAME for him and he got had a blast.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

That is fantastic, thank you for sharing

[@eDDyL666]

I had an older cousin in NY that had a bunch of games on his porch and this was one of them and I would play this

[@Denathorn]

I loved the original in the arcades, and the ports to the micro's were sound[shock horror], especially on the Amstrad CPC which is what I had, that couldn't of been more perfect when it comes to an arcade port. One thing is I could never get away with the sequel, it felt just, well, not as fluid, if you know what I mean. All in all, a really good game which I still enjoy now, and defo a trend setter!

[@Choralone422]

I remember playing this in the arcade way back when and thinking it was pretty cool. I always wondered why it was never ported to the NES. I guess it was too "eastern" to bring it to the US console.

[@nemopouncey3827]

he forgot the apple 2 version.

[@dtester]

Considering "Kung Fu" was a launch title for the NES, I don't think it was too eastern. ^_^

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

There was no Apple II version

[@nemopouncey3827]

@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries oh thought there was.

[@nemopouncey3827]

@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries I must be thinking about karateka.

[@RememberTheGreatsSports]

16:17 Wow I thought I was the only person who knew about this plug and play. I still own it to this day and remember picking it up at a flea market for like $2 and much to my delight Yie Ar was on there. It is a pretty solid port of the game in my opinion.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

I tend to do good research my friend :-)

[@Polycomical]

We had an Amstrad and this is one of the first games I remember playing. Great fun back in the day.

[@Polycomical]

"I wasn't aware the game took place on the moon" LOL true.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

LOL thank you

[@billybats4745]

Loved this game sooooo much as a kid! Even as an adult it's pretty damn cool. So many characters. Way ahead of its time!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

I couldn't agree more

[@RobsRetroGaming]

Played the crap out of this on my C-64 in the 80s. One of my favorite games of all time!

[@TheRealJPhillips]

Classic game. I cant stress enough how awesome KICKER is. Very underrated.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Couldn't agree more!

[@jamesragsdale3069]

You just keep laying out the hits! I love the enhanced GBA version the best. VS mode is oddly fun.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thank you sir. Yes the Game Boy version is probably my favorite next to the arcade game

[@dylan.t180]

Wow how have I not heard of this

[@marcar365]

Nice! I played this a lot in the arcades. Can you make a video of Way of the exploding fist? Or IK+? Thank you

[@bransonbenson9520]

I definitely am like water.. and I enjoy your video 👍🏼

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thank you my friend :-)

[@bransonbenson9520]

@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries you're very welcome buddy 💯

[@miguelleandri2435]

Grand Father of Street Fighter,is amazing,how they Started. Cool Video 👍🎮👍

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thanks a lot

[@miguelleandri2435]

@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries thanks for the Video👍🎮👍

[@mrf19741]

This game was a mainstay at the convenience store down the street from my house when I was a kid. I never quite got the hang of, but I always enjoyed watching skilled players breezing through it. BTW, why didn't you mention Star as one of the opponents in the Hot Fighting History? She appears right after Buchu.

[@cherokeefit4248]

I remember the small comic shop in my hometown had the smallest cabaret arcade of this game.it was unique to see such an old game way back in the day. They also had Silk Worm too.

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Yes, those cabinets were pretty cool

[@EugenioAngueira]

Another excellent video! I actually was not familiar with all the versions of this game!

[@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries]

Thank you so much, glad I could help :-)