(Link to video)
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Table of contents

Introduction

Kung Fu is the classic 1-D fighting game for the NES. I've been working on this game intermittently for 3 years already. Back then, I failed to achieve any improvements because of a confluence of factors (not understanding the game fully, not enough computational power, focusing on the wrong part). But this week I had the patience to look deeper and was able to crack the code.
Turns out some of the boss fights allowed for sacrificing a few frames for the sake of losing even more HP than in the current TAS. With less HP, the bonus screen takes less time to complete, therefore saving time overal. I save 11 frames from the boss in level 1, and 22 frames from the boss in level 3.
Enjoy!

Comparison Movie

The following movie compares this submission to [1358] NES Kung Fu by Phil in 03:41.14

Software + Hardware

Rom Information

  • Name: Kung Fu
  • ROM: Kung Fu (U) [!].nes
  • SHA1: C054A885FB9B00D3F6797A35BA5579F2896A254A
  • MD5: 27E5C62C6C169896BF80BAFB6595CEB8

Routing Bot

  • Bot: JaffarPlus
  • Routing Core: QuickerNES
  • Platform:
    • AMD Epyc 9965 (192 cores, 384 threads) + 1536Gb RAM
    • Exploration Rate: ~4 Mstates/s
nymx: Claiming for judging.
nymx: I'm really impressed with the approach to these cuts. Honestly, I would have never thought that this game could have been improved. Congratulations!
Accepting over [1358] NES Kung Fu by Phil in 03:41.14.
EZGames69: Processing...

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Posted: 12/11/2025 6:13 AM
TASVideoAgent
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Posts: 17068
Location: 127.0.0.1
This topic is for the purpose of discussing #10077: eien86 & Phil's NES Kung Fu in 03:40.570
Posted: 12/11/2025 7:06 AM
McBobX
Encoder, Reviewer, Skilled player (1916)
🇲🇦 Morocco
Joined: 11/18/2011
Posts: 481
Location: 🇲🇦 Morocco
SNES TASer of 2024 SNES TAS of 2024
This game was not in my mind at all to guess xD. Yes vote!
I still learn more about English. https://www.youtube.com/user/McBobX100
I wrote:
Working is the best way to achieve goals in speedruning. Hardworking is a pain.
Posted: 12/11/2025 8:01 AM
Twisted_Eye
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Experienced player (701)
Location: Seattle, WA
Joined: 10/17/2005
Posts: 680
Location: Seattle, WA
daaaaang that's an old movie to update. Nice!
Posted: 12/11/2025 10:24 AM
Challenger
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Expert player (2080)
Joined: 2/23/2016
Posts: 1156
Sega TASer of 2017 TASer of 2017 NES TAS of 2017
I checked those 2009 NES movies yesterday and for coincidence Kung Fu is one of games I'd like to see an improvement :) Nice job beating this game, considering the fact Phil is a very skilled player that some of his recent works are really solid enough or close to the fullest potential. Yes vote.
My homepage --Currently not much motived for TASing as before...-- But I'm still working.
Posted: 12/11/2025 12:33 PM
juef
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Player (161)
Location: Québec, Canada
Joined: 1/29/2007
Posts: 211
Location: Québec, Canada
Holy cow, some of these inputs are completely bonkers (e.g. between the boss and the stairs around the 22 saved frames)! 😅 Yes vote, of course! Well done.
Posted: 12/11/2025 10:32 PM
SelflessVanity
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🇺🇸 United States
Joined: 5/5/2025
Posts: 157
Location: 🇺🇸 United States
Now, an update to an old movie that was already really solid! Yes vote for sure!
SMB2U is the best NES Mario game.
Posted: 12/25/2025 4:33 PM
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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Location: 127.0.0.1
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 17068
Location: 127.0.0.1
This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [6908] NES Kung Fu by eien86 & Phil in 03:40.570