More budget-priced high kicks from Firebird as they release yet another Kung Fu rip/take off.
The Kai Masters, famed for their gentle mind cultivating disciplines, have gone loopy and trapped you in their Tibetan temple. Defeat the Ninjas, Devas and flying swords and you stand an even chance, if lucky, of escaping this programming nightmare.
You can kick the Ninjas and Divas to death. Stand in exactly the right position and hammer the kick key. If you're too close or far away you lose one of your four lives, but if you are on target the unarmed assassin melts into the floor. Alternatively you can throw a knife which chugs unenthusiastically across the screen at the speed of a crab edging its way across the ocean floor. Again, if you're not on target it's bye bye Kai.
Flying swords are impossible to deal with so avoid them by leaping from one platform to another. Your adversaries are impervious to the cutting blades so don't try to trick them by jumping at the last moment.
If those weapons and wielders are not enough the programmer seems to have an Australian sense of humour. Despite your years of training in the Kai arts you still haven't got used to the Tibetan atmosphere, which makes you high. Without warning the world turns upside down and you're on your head facing an opponent. It's a neat trick but it doesn't lift the tedium.
Kai Temple is a simple, two colour, levels and ladders game which becomes hard when you've played it for more than 15 minutes. The bashing is done with two keys and is 8 one chance only. The game is a one-play wonder which would have been better if the programmer had put in more obstacles and better graphics - a joystick would have been a good idea too.
Label: Firebird Silver
Author: Ian Wright
Price: £1.99
Memory: 48K/128K
Reviewer: John Gilbert