Martial Masters
Arcade fighter inspired by Hong Kong martial arts films.
Martial Masters (Chinese: 形意拳 Xíngyìqúan) is a 1999 arcade fighting game from Taiwanese developer International Game System (IGS), built for their PolyGame Master hardware. It reached Japan in 2000 under the title Shin-Ī Ken (シンイーケン), and Andamiro brought it to the United States in 2001, keeping the name Martial Masters. Its world and fighters are rooted in Hong Kong martial arts cinema. As of 2023, the game has not been officially ported to any home console, including the Nintendo Switch, despite rumors of a collection appearance.
Gameplay pits 12 fighters against one another, each with unique special moves and fighting styles. Players can execute throws, aerial strikes, ground attacks, taunts, teleports, recovery moves, martial arts techniques, specials, and super specials. A combo counter tracks chains of hits. Pressure Moves require a directional input combined with a button. Roll Recovery lets a knocked-down character avoid hitting the ground by rolling back up. Flash Attack sends an opponent flying away. Shadow Attacks come in two forms: one juggles the enemy into the air, and the other is a ground-based strike that can land between 4 and 13 hits.
The plot unfolds near the end of the Qing dynasty. A corrupt, weakened government faces foreign incursions, leaving the people miserable and distrustful. They turn back to religion. The White Lotus sect seizes this chance, promising to expel foreigners and restore peace. Their ideology spreads quickly, leading to the destruction of anything Western and the execution of anyone who opposes them. Dragon of Martial Master and Master Huang of Po Chi Lam find these acts unacceptable and unite to stop the bloodshed.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Martial Masters
- Developer
- IGS
- Publisher
- IGSNA · Andamiro Entertainment
- Arcade System
- PolyGame Master
- Released
- TW · 1999JP · 2000NA · March 2001
- Genre
- Fighting
- Modes
- Up to 2 players simultaneously
- Platforms
- Arcade
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Martial Masters is set at the end of the Qing dynasty, where a weakened government is attacked by foreign influences. The people, unsatisfied, turn their faith back to religion. The White Lotus sect seizes the opportunity, claiming to help the government defeat foreigners and bring peace. Their ideology leads to the destruction of anything related to the Western world, and anyone against this principle is considered an enemy. Dragon of Martial Master and Master Huang of Po Chi Lam band together to prevent bloodshed.
The game features 12 fighters, each with their own special moves and fighting styles, including throws, air attacks, ground attacks, taunts, teleport, recovery, martial arts moves, special moves, and super special moves. Mechanics include a combo counter, Pressure Moves, Roll Recovery, Flash Attack, and Shadow Attacks. Characters are based on figures from Hong Kong martial arts films, such as Master Huang (heir to Hongjiaquan), Drunk Master (based on Beggar Su from Drunken Master), Ghost Kick (based on Club Foot from Once Upon a Time in China III), and Scorpion (based on Sunny from Operation Scorpio).
Development drew inspiration from Hong Kong martial arts films, specifically Once Upon a Time in China, Drunken Master, and Operation Scorpio. The game is highly reminiscent of Capcom's fighting games of the mid to late 1990s, with mechanics similar to those of Street Fighter III. Martial Masters is IGS's third arcade 2D fighting game, following Alien Challenge and The Killing Blade, and preceding Spectral vs. Generation. In April 2023, IGS released the IGS Classic Arcade Collection on Nintendo Switch, which includes Martial Masters.
Reader's Guide
Martial Masters holds significance as a late-1990s arcade fighting game that pays homage to Hong Kong martial arts cinema, a niche often underrepresented in the genre. Its release on the PolyGame Master arcade board, a platform primarily used in Asia, limited its initial reach, but the game gained a cult following for its fluid animation, varied character roster, and mechanics borrowed from Capcom's Street Fighter III. The 2023 inclusion in the IGS Classic Arcade Collection on Nintendo Switch introduced the game to a new audience, preserving a piece of arcade history. The game's plot, set during the Qing dynasty's decline and featuring the White Lotus sect, adds a historical martial arts film flavor. Its legacy is tied to IGS's series of 2D fighting games and its role in showcasing Taiwanese game development. The appearance of an arcade cabinet in the 2023 biopic film BlackBerry underscores its cultural footprint. While not a mainstream hit, Martial Masters is remembered for its faithful adaptation of film archetypes and its technical execution within the constraints of the PolyGame Master hardware.
Did You Know?
- Martial Masters was developed by International Game System (IGS) of Taiwan and originally released in 1999 on their PolyGame Master arcade board.
- The game was released in Japan in 2000 as Shin-Ī Ken and in the United States by Andamiro in 2001 as Martial Masters.
- An arcade cabinet of the game appears in the background of the BlackBerry office in the 2023 biopic film BlackBerry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Martial Masters and who made it?
Martial Masters is a 1999 one-on-one arcade fighting game created by Taiwan's International Game System (IGS) for their PolyGame Master cabinet. It fields a roster of 12 fighters whose designs and movesets are drawn straight from the world of Hong Kong kung-fu cinema.
Which films inspired Martial Masters's characters?
The roster and overall aesthetic nod directly to classics like Once Upon a Time in China, Drunken Master, and Operation Scorpio. Rather than leaning on pure fantasy, the game channels the exaggerated, cinematic choreography of those movies into its fighting mechanics.
Can I play Martial Masters on a home console or PC?
As of 2023 the title has never received an official home-console or PC port, and it is not on Nintendo Switch despite frequent rumors of a collection release. Your only legal avenue remains finding a working PolyGame Master arcade cabinet.
What is the release history of Martial Masters?
The game first hit arcades in 1999, crossed into Japan in 2000 under the localized name Shin-Ī Ken, and was brought to North American arcades by Andamiro in 2001 under its original English title.
How many fighters are in Martial Masters and what's the core loop?
You choose from 12 unique characters, each with a distinct move set, and face opponents in standard best-of-three rounds. There are no team battles, tag modes, or story campaigns—just straightforward arcade brawling.
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