I heard it was based on a novel, but I didn't know that the game was based on a movie! Look at this:

http://arcadeflyers.com/?page=thumbs&id=4334

And then look at this!:

http://imdb.com/title/tt0087578/

And in case you don't know, Spartan X is the japanese version of Kung-Fu Master, which is known on the NES as simply "Kung-Fu".

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I knew it was based on a novel too for a few years now, but I didn't know that the game was actually based on a movie made about the novel. And it looks like Jackie Chan plays Thomas. I'll have rent this or buy it if I see it for like $5 or something somewhere.

I knew about this also, funny to see it again though.