Shao-lin’s Road is a great-looking and sounding platforming beat ’em up that is considered the sequel to Yie Ar Kung Fu. Players will jump and kick their way to glory in five unique levels, each consisting of two stages.
In the first, you will face a set number of enemies and in the second stage you will be confronted by even more enemies and a tougher boss character to contend with.
Each level has a number of platforms to do battle on, which are accessed by pressing up and down on the control stick or d-pad.
Your character can kick on the ground, perform jump kicks and kick while transitioning between platforms, which creates a surprisingly versatile combat arsenal. You can also grab power-ups like a spinning shield and a spiked projectile.
You can withstand a total of four hits before losing a life and a distinct flashing will warn you when you are low on health. You can also lose life by falling off the edges of platforms without jumping. Bonus points are awarded for completing stages unscathed. Should you complete all ten stages, Shao-lin’s Road will start over again at a higher difficulty.
Even by today’s standards, I consider Shao-lin’s Road a great-looking game. The sprite-based graphics are crisp and the rich colour palette pops off of the screen.
The game never slows down, even with a large number of enemies on-screen. The soundtrack features intricate arrangements and catchy tunes with a audible Chinese influence.
Shao-lin’s Road is challenging without feeling cheap and an excellent example of an early beat-em-up. It provides plenty of fast-paced action that rewards both precision and quick reflexes.
Positives:
+ Fast-Paced Fighting Action
+ Boss Characters have Distinct Personalities and Attacks
+ Excellent Graphics
+ Intricate and Catchy Music
+ Smooth Performance with no Slowdown
Negatives:
– Only Five Unique Levels