Bruce Lee
Description official descriptions
The late martial arts hero features in this platform game, with the aim of reaching a wizard in an underground lair, defeat of whom can offer him untold wealth.
In each area you must collect the many strategically-placed lanterns before exiting through the newly-revealed passageway. Some rooms also have escalator-type sections to run along, and the standard (although slightly illogical in this context) ladders. There are 20 areas to be completed.
On the way, you'll fight two enemies - a ninja and a green sumo warrior named Yamo. You can defeat them by punching, kicking, dropping on their heads or luring them into hazardous terrain, or even by making them accidentally hit each other. Even after they are killed, however, they keep coming back for more after a few seconds. The game also allows a second player to take control of Yamo.
There are lots of hazards to avoid by either walking round or jumping - walls of electrical charge and exploding bushes for example.
Spellings
- ブルース・リー - Japanese spelling
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (Commodore 64 version)
4 People
| Programming by | |
| Graphics by | |
| Music by | |
| Concept by | |
| Documentation by |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 83% (based on 20 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 121 ratings with 5 reviews)
Not so good on PC as it was on 8-bits
The Good
It's still solid fighting arcade game for the time, especially on PC (where good action games were scarce). Interconnected screens, pick up lanterns, there's action and challenge and you're happy when on your new run you reached one more screen further compared to your previous run.
The Bad
I didn't like gfx. It was not state-of-the-art even on other platforms, but PC was really ugly. Taking into account that Tandy was already available, using just smeary CGA-composite mode put the game to lower gfx quality compared to 8-bit platforms. Other options (CGA RGB, or monochrome) were even more ugly.
Edit: I found in the end, that it's possible to setup 16-color gfx by setting machine as PCjr in DOSBox/DOSBox-x, so plus point for Bruce Lee.
Sound was also PC beeper only.
Controller was really hard to setup. Bruce lot of times made different action than I desired, and I was not able to calibrate it (but maybe my argument is not valid as maybe it's controller dependent). Or in opposite, different attempts to calibrate joystick made sometime controller being insensitive in some directions. In the end, controls were always a bit clunky even after lot of attempts.
The Bottom Line
Not a bad game, but can't give it higher review score as I knew this game from 8-bit computers where it was way better in every aspect (gfx, sound, controls). PC port is IMO weak (to see what does mean good PC port of those times, check e.g. Pitfall II which I reviewed as well).
PC Booter · by Vladimir Dienes · 2023
Pretty fun kung-fu action game
The Good
What I probably remember most about this game was the music at the title screen, I really enjoyed this game as a kid growing up. Even when I finished the level and opened the gate to the next level, I'd still sit around and pound on that big fat green guy that chases you..
This game's atmosphere will surely bring you back to the 80's, I played the emulation of it recently and found myself playing it over and over again just like back in the day.... the game control was exceptionally good for its time. You could make him run real fast and do a flying kick and knock guys down :)
This game is a classic in my opinion....
The Bad
I remember in the game that you fall really slow for some reason, it was just an odd factor in the game, other than that, it was perfect for it's time!
The Bottom Line
Just an all around fun game, definitely was fun back then and surprisingly still fun today!
Commodore 64 · by OlSkool_Gamer (88) · 2004
A challenge for platform die-hards.
The Good
Bruce Lee is a decent platform game with a lot of action thrown in. Reflexes are needed to pass certain sections, as is a lot of timing to jump past obstacles. You're pursued by two enemies, who unrelentlessly come after you, snapping at your heels.
It's very fun for anyone who likes platform games.
The Bad
There is no "easy" mode to help novice gamers get used to the game. Also, fighting the enemies is relatively easy and just gets irritating after a while. Finally, Bruce Lee only runs at the correct speed on a 4.77MHz PC.
Well, one more gripe, actually--you're Bruce Lee, yet you only have two moves, punching and a flying kick. A little disappointing from a master of martial arts.
The Bottom Line
If you love platform games that require good reflexes and timing, Bruce Lee fits the bill. I mean, come on--you're Bruce Lee!
PC Booter · by Trixter (8962) · 2000
Trivia
Awards
- Commodore Format
- January 1991 (Issue 4) - Listed in the 'A to Z of Classic Games' article (Great)
- Retro Gamer
- issue 37 – #18 in the "Top 25 Platformers of All Time" poll
- Zzap!
- May 1985 (Issue 1) - #15 'It's the Zzap! 64 Top 64!'
Analytics
Related Games
Released 1989 on DOS
Released 2010 on iPad, iPhone, 2011 on Android
Released 1993 on SNES, 1994 on Genesis, Jaguar
Released 2008 on Windows
Released 2013 on Windows, Linux
Released 2015 on Commodore 64
Released 2014 on PlayStation 4
Released 2014 on PlayStation 4
Released 2014 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Related Sites +
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AtariMania (MCC, France, Atari 8-bit)
For Atari 8-bit: game entry database; downloadable release; game packaging; advertisement; manuals; magazine reviews; additional material. -
AtariMania (Rushware, Germany, Atari 8-bit)
For Atari 8-bit: game entry database; downloadable release; game packaging; advertisement; manuals; magazine reviews; additional material. -
AtariMania (US Gold, UK, Atari 8-bit)
For Atari 8-bit: game entry database; downloadable release; game packaging; advertisement; manuals; magazine reviews; additional material. -
Atarimania, an Atari database
for Atari world: dowloadable releases; artwork; additional material -
CPC-Power, an Amstrad CPC game database (in French)
for Amstrad CPC: dowloadable releases; artwork; additional material -
CPCRrulez (in French)
For Amstrad CPC: game database entry; advertisement; game packaging; downloadable releases; additional material. -
Cambridge Centre for Computing History (Americana, Amstrad CPC)
For Amstrad CPC464, cassette: exhibit reference ID CH19886; additional material. -
Cambridge Centre for Computing History (Code Masters/Ocean, ZX Spectrum)
For ZX Spectrum, Cassette: exhibit reference ID CH3762; additional material. -
Cambridge Centre for Computing History (DataSoft, C64)
For C64, Cassette: exhibit reference ID CH11741; additional material. -
Cambridge Centre for Computing History (Datasoft, BBC Micro)
For BBC Micro, Cassette: exhibit reference ID CH20691; additional material. -
Cambridge Centre for Computing History (US Gold, BBC Micro)
For BBC Micro, 5.25 floppy disc: exhibit reference ID CH36159; additional material. -
Cambridge Centre for Computing History (US Gold, C64)
For Commodore 64, 5.25" Floppy disk: exhibit reference ID CH31426; additional material. -
DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS
Compatibility information page about the original game and its DOSBox versions. -
Game Map
Direct access and downloadable archive -
Kio's home
For ZX Spectrum: additional material including – photographed cassette inlay; snapshots; downloadable releases. -
Lemon, a C64 game database
for C64: games, reviews and music -
MSX Generation
For MSX: game database entry; game packaging; manuals; additional material. -
Mark Rosten's Bruce Lee Remake
written in Blitz Basic for Windows. -
Program Bytes 48K (in Spanish)
Article in Spanish related to the combined versions of the game. By Neil Parsons. October, 18, 2008. -
The End Zone
Dedicated to end of game sequences with the objective of providing the most definitive and complete 'end of game' information ever assembled for the games featured. Includes video streaming of Bruce Lee from start to finish. -
The Tipshop
For ZX Spectrum: a central archive for all Spectrum and SAM games hints, tips, cheats, maps, hacks and pokes. -
Wikipedia
free Encyclopedia entry -
World of Spectrum
for ZX Spectrum: downloadable releases; additional material; remakes links; player reviews; magazine references; magazine adverts -
ZX Spectrum Reviews
For ZX Spectrum: magazine game reviews in HTML.
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Donny K..
Sharp X1 added by Trypticon. Commodore 64 added by Quapil. iPhone, iPad added by Sciere. Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum added by Martin Smith. Antstream added by lights out party. Apple II, FM-7, Atari 8-bit added by Terok Nor. DOS added by gamer p. MSX added by koffiepad. PC-88 added by j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】. BBC Micro added by sabreman.
Additional contributors: PCGamer77, Martin Smith, lights out party, Macs Black, c64fan, Patrick Bregger, Karsa Orlong, FatherJack, ZeTomes, robMSX.
Game added August 9th, 1999. Last modified January 23rd, 2024.