Wheels on Meals
Kung-Fu Master, known as in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat 'em up game developed by Irem as an arcade game in 1984, and distributed by Data East in North America. Designed by Takashi Nishiyama, the game was based on Hong Kong martial arts films. It is loosely adapted from the Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung film "Wheels on Meals" (1984), called "Spartan X" in Japan, with the protagonist Thomas named after Jackie Chan's character in the film. However, the game is more heavily inspired by the Bruce Lee film "Game of Death" (1972), which was the basis for the game's concept. Nishiyama, who had previously designed the side-scrolling shooter "Moon Patrol" (1982), combined fighting elements with a shoot 'em up gameplay rhythm. Irem and Data East exported the game to the West without the "Spartan X" license.