Spartan X is a classic beat ’em up released for the Game Boy in 1990, originally known as Kung-Fu Master outside of Japan. Players take control of Thomas, a martial artist who must battle his way through the five floors of the Devil’s Temple to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, Sylvia. The game is an influential early side-scroller where you constantly move forward, fighting off waves of enemies approaching from both sides of the screen using quick punches and kicks.
How to Play
Your objective is to reach the end of each of the five floors and defeat the boss waiting there within the time limit. The standard Game Boy controls map to the browser: use the Arrow Keys to walk, crouch, and jump (Up). Press Z and X to punch and kick. Pressing an attack button while jumping or crouching allows you to perform flying kicks or low sweeps to deal with different enemy types.
Tips
- Break grabs quickly: If a Gripper enemy manages to grab you, they will rapidly drain your health. Wiggle the D-pad left and right quickly to break free.
- Prioritize kicks for reach: Kicks have slightly more range than punches, making them safer against enemies like Knife Throwers. However, punches award more points.
- Watch out for Tom Toms: The small, fast-moving enemies (Tom Toms or Grippers) can duck under high attacks, so be ready to crouch and use low kicks to take them out.
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