I've only just found out that classic eighties proto-beat-'em-up Yie Ar Kung Fu is heading onto Xbox Live Arcade this wednesday, alongside Bomberman Live. Yie Ar Kung Fu is one of those games that gentlemen of a certain age fondly recall with an excited, 'that was amazing!' before going on to discuss the excellent soundtrack to Kung Fu Master and asking if anyone else remembers Karateka. None of these games holds up particularly well to modern scrutiny. Although the music in Kung Fu Master was good. Wasn't it?
Anyway, that probably won't stop me downloading Yie Ar Kung Fu. I played it a lot back in the day, before Way of the Exploding Fist and International Karate came along with lots of moves and actual depth. The Live release promises an original mode, plus an enhanced version featuring, "stunning hand painted models and backgrounds mimicking traditional Japanese art styles." I've seen the enhanced screenshots of Golden Axe - I'm certain someone has run the game through one of those Photoshop filters that make your photos look like they're a watercolour painting.
What vintage (pre-Street Fighter II) fighting games would you like to see on Xbox?
