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The Way of the Exploding Fist
The Way of the Exploding Fist
The Way of the Exploding Fist
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The Way of the Exploding Fist
DeveloperBeam Software
PublisherMelbourne House[3]
DesignersGregg Barnett
Bruce Bayley
David Johnston
Neil Brennan
ComposerNeil Brennan
PlatformsCommodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Commodore 16
Release
[2]
GenreFighting game
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

The Way of the Exploding Fist is a 1985 fighting game developed by Beam Software and published by Melbourne House for the Commodore 64. It was later ported to Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron and Commodore 16. It is based on Japanese martial arts. The development team consisted of Gregg Barnett, Bruce Bayley, Neil Brennan and David Johnston.

Gameplay

[edit]
Commodore 64 gameplay

The game has various backgrounds that change as the player progresses through the levels: inside a dojo, an outdoor field with snowy mountains and volcanoes, a Buddha statue, or some pagodas.

The player takes part in a series of one-on-one karate matches, all overseen by a wise old expert who appears in the background. Once the player defeats an opponent they move up to the next stage and a more difficult adversary. Fights are not won using the energy-bar style found in modern fighting games; instead, the player needed to get two complete yin-yangs. Any move that connected with the opponent would end the round; a loosely timed or borderline kick or punch would obtain half a yin-yang icon, while a well-executed move would obtain a full icon. Two complete icons ended the bout and progressed to the next level.

This system of scoring, known as shobu nihon kumite, is used in real life in many traditional styles of karate. A half yin-yang represents a waza-ari (a committed but not decisive technique) and a full yin-yang represents an ippon score (full point, decisive finishing blow).

The game control is via joystick or direction keys and a "fire" key. 18 different movements can be made, including jumping kick, roundhouse kick and a variety of punches and kicks, high and low. The game features a variety of backgrounds against which the fighting takes place. After completing a number of progressively harder stages, the player is charged at by a bull in a bonus round. The player must knock the bull out with a single hit. The bonus round mirrors the feats of Mas Oyama, a karate expert who purportedly killed bulls with a single strike. This bonus round was not present in the ZX Spectrum version and some of the early Commodore 64 versions.

Production

[edit]

Before creating The Way of the Exploding Fist, designer Gregg Barnett converted The Hobbit and Sherlock, two adventures from Beam Software, to the Commodore 64.[4] It was one of the first games to borrow heavily from the Data East arcade game Karate Champ, which was released the previous year. The Commodore 64 version uses over 600 sprite images to animate the player's movements.[5] Karate champion Jeoffrey Thompson was signed[6] to promote the game but was not sufficiently well known to have the game named after him.[7] A Nintendo Entertainment System version was developed by Beam Software but it was never released.

The game's soundtrack was written by Neil Brennan and it is based on the 1952 orchestral piece Dance of the Yao People. It has been praised for the excellent atmosphere it provided and was one reason behind the popularity of the game.

Reception

[edit]

The Way of the Exploding Fist topped the UK software sales charts for two months, in September[16] and October 1985,[17][18] until it was replaced by Monty on the Run.[19]

The Way of the Exploding Fist became the best-selling computer game of 1985 in the UK.[20][21] It sold 150,000 copies for the ZX Spectrum by 1987,[22] and a total of 500,000 copies across all platforms in Europe.[23][24]

The Commodore 64 version received a positive review in Zzap!64 magazine, which called it a "Sizzler" and praised the game's sound and graphics, scoring it 93% overall.[5] Ahoy! said that the Commodore 64 version was "an excellent start for a new software label", with a "good balance of action and strategy" and some of the best graphics of the year.[25] Your Sinclair reviewers praised the visceral sound effects.[26]

Accolades

[edit]

The game was voted Game of the Year at the third Golden Joystick Awards, with Melbourne House picking up Best Software House.[13] It also received the "Voted Best Game" award at the Saturday Superstore Viewer Awards.[14] The ZX Spectrum version was placed at number 67 on the "Your Sinclair official top 100" list in 1991.[27] In 1996, GamesMaster ranked the game 76th on their "Top 100 Games of All Time" list.[28]

Sequels

[edit]

There were three sequels: Fist II: The Legend Continues (1986) and Fist II: The Tournament (1987) and Exploding Fist +. Of these three, Fist II: The Legend Continues is not a fighting game involving player-versus-player, but a scrolling adventure game with one-on-one fighting elements. Exploding Fist +, on the other hand, returns to the style of the first game. It features combat with three characters, an idea followed from International Karate +, though in this case it is possible for players to control the three characters simultaneously.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Way of the Exploding Fist

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Way of the Exploding Fist is a fighting video game released in 1985, developed by and published by Melbourne House for 8-bit home computers such as the , Commodore 64, , and . In the game, players control fighters in one- or two-player modes, executing 16 distinct moves—including punches, kicks, jumps, and somersaults—via or keyboard controls to score Yin-Yang points against opponents in a tournament format. A bout is won by accumulating two full Yin-Yangs, with higher points awarded for moves executed with proper form and timing, emphasizing strategy and realism inspired by actual techniques. The game's single-player mode challenges players to progress through 10 Dan ranks, from Novice to Grand Master, by winning two consecutive bouts per opponent while avoiding losses that end the game. Two-player mode consists of four rounds judged on points, allowing competitive head-to-head matches. Designed primarily by Gregg Barnett at , with additional programming by Bruce Bayley and David Johnston, graphics by Greg Holland, and music by Neil Brennan, it introduced innovative multi-move controls for single-button input systems that became a standard in subsequent titles. Upon release, The Way of the Exploding Fist received widespread critical acclaim for its fluid animations, realistic sound effects, and depth, earning the Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year and ranking as the top game in Europe. It was hailed as the "best sports combat simulation" by Crash magazine and achieved high scores, such as 100% from Amstrad Computer User. As Beam Software's best-selling title, it sold over 182,000 copies through Mastertronic and influenced the fighting game genre with its emphasis on precise combat.

Development

Concept and Design

The concept for The Way of the Exploding Fist originated from developer Gregg Barnett's fascination with martial arts, particularly inspired by Bruce Lee films and the fighting style Jeet Kune Do, whose name translates in English to "The Way of the Exploding Fist." Barnett, working at Beam Software in Melbourne, Australia, aimed to create a realistic karate simulation for home computers, drawing from arcade titles like Karate Champ (1984) but emphasizing strategic depth over simple button-mashing. The game was designed as a one-on-one fighting title where players progress through martial arts ranks (dans), earning points through precise strikes in timed bouts, mimicking the scoring of real karate tournaments to reward technique and timing. In terms of design, Barnett programmed the game from scratch in 6502 for the Commodore 64, completing the core two-player combat in about two months of isolated development before revealing a fully functional to his team. To ensure fluid and authentic movement, he personally practiced the techniques and mapped them to a single with a fire button, using eight directional inputs for 16 distinct moves—such as punches, kicks, and blocks—each with realistic execution times and animations to promote skillful play over rapid inputs. The visual style featured side-view by artist , depicting stereotypically Japanese backdrops like dojos and mountains, while sound design incorporated grunt samples from (1973) and a public-domain tune, "Dance of the Yao People," arranged by Neil Brennan to heighten the dramatic atmosphere. These elements combined to make the game a pioneering , prioritizing form, balance, and immersion in combat.

Technical Implementation

The Way of the Exploding Fist was primarily developed for the Commodore 64 by Gregg Barnett at , using for its core programming. Barnett employed an incremental development approach, designing each component—such as movement mechanics, animations, and combat logic—before integrating them into a full build. This process involved handwriting the entire codebase line by line over approximately two months, supported by tree diagrams and blending English descriptions with Pascal-like structures, prior to entering it into the computer. The first complete compilation, achieved in a single day, resulted in a functional two-player prototype, demonstrating the efficiency of this meticulous preparation. A key technical innovation was the use of sprite meshes on the Commodore 64, which allowed for more fluid and detailed character animations by combining multiple sprites in a networked structure rather than relying on single sprites or simple overlays. This technique enabled the game's 16 distinct moves, including punches, kicks, and blocks, to be mapped intuitively to the directions and fire button without requiring a manual, ensuring natural-feeling controls that Barnett refined through personal practice of the movements. Graphics artist further enhanced this by dividing character models into two separate grids, facilitating complex, frame-by-frame animations that captured dynamic sequences against minimalist Japanese-inspired backgrounds. Additional programming support came from Bayley and David Johnston, who handled optimizations and expansions. Collision detection was implemented with pixel-perfect precision, a standout feature that Barnett highlighted as particularly innovative, avoiding crude bounding-box methods common in contemporary games. To achieve this, a custom editor was used to align hit impacts exactly with frames, ensuring every strike registered accurately based on the combatants' positions and trajectories. This system contributed to the game's responsive combat feel, where moves like roundhouse kicks or flying knees could connect or be blocked with high fidelity. The for computer opponents was developed over two weeks, incorporating behavioral variables such as aggression levels, speed, and tactical preferences derived from observing human player patterns, allowing for varied and adaptive AI without overwhelming the hardware's limitations. Audio implementation featured digitized sound effects, including realistic screams, pre-attack wind-ups, bone-crunching impacts, and cries of exertion, sampled and integrated to heighten immersion during fights. Composer Neil Brennan provided an atmospheric that complemented the action, while the game's incorporated a distinctive "kai-ai" shout via the Pav-Loada fast-loader utility, which expedited cassette loading times on the Commodore 64. These elements were optimized to fit within the platform's 64 KB RAM and VIC-II graphics chip constraints, resulting in smooth 50 Hz that pushed the boundaries of 1985 home computer fighting simulations. Ports to other platforms, such as the and , adapted these techniques to different hardware, often simplifying sprites and due to lesser capabilities, but retained the core collision and control logic.

Release and Platforms

Initial Release

The Way of the Exploding Fist was first released in May 1985 for the Commodore 64, marking its debut as a pioneering on home computers. Developed by Australian studio under the direction of Gregg Barnett, the title was published by Melbourne House, a prominent UK-based software house known for and action games. The game launched on , the standard distribution format for 8-bit systems at the time, with a version also available, and was priced affordably to appeal to the growing home computing market. Melbourne House promoted the game through gaming magazines and trade shows, capitalizing on the mid-1980s surge in interest for action titles. Upon launch, the game achieved rapid commercial traction, topping sales charts in and 1985. This success prompted immediate ports to other systems later that year, but the Commodore 64 edition remained the foundational release that established the game's reputation.

Ports and Versions

The Way of the Exploding Fist was first released for the Commodore 64 in May 1985 by Melbourne House, marking its debut on home computers. This version featured smooth animations and digitized sound effects, setting the standard for subsequent ports. Ports quickly followed for other popular 8-bit platforms in 1985 and 1986, adapting the game's combat to varying hardware capabilities. The version launched in August 1985, while the and editions appeared later that year; these adaptations often compromised on color depth and audio fidelity compared to the Commodore 64 original but retained the core fighting system. The port arrived in 1986, closely mirroring the version due to hardware similarities, and the Commodore 16/Plus/4 edition also debuted that year, optimized for the system's limited RAM and graphics. In 1988, reissued the game under its Ricochet budget label for the , , Commodore 16/Plus/4, Commodore 64, and , making it more accessible at a lower without significant changes to or content. A notable modern development is the 2019 release of a previously unfinished NES port titled Exploding Fist by , which was completed from a 1980s prototype developed by . Additionally, emulated versions of the Commodore 64, , , and NES editions have been made available on the Antstream retro gaming platform since 2019, with the version added in May 2024.
PlatformInitial Release DatePublisherNotes
Commodore 64May 1985Melbourne HouseOriginal version; cassette and floppy formats
August 1985Melbourne HouseAdapted graphics and sound
1985Melbourne House1988 budget re-release by
1985Melbourne House1988 budget re-release by
1986Melbourne HouseShares assets with
Commodore 16/Plus/41986Melbourne House1988 budget re-release by
NESApril 15, 2019Completed from 1980s prototype
Antstream (various)2019–2024Antstream ArcadeEmulations of C64, , CPC, NES versions

Gameplay

Combat Mechanics

The combat system in The Way of the Exploding Fist simulates one-on-one bouts, emphasizing precise execution over rapid button-mashing, with players controlling a single fighter against either a computer opponent or another player. Matches occur in a side-view arena, where combatants maintain distance through movement, attacks, and defenses, aiming to score points via successful strikes while avoiding counters. The system draws from real principles, rewarding clean, accurate moves that land at optimal range—typically when characters are a few pixels apart, measured from hand to hand—rather than chaotic aggression. Bouts conclude when one fighter reaches two full points, or after a , with a ( sprite) awarding victory in ties based on overall performance. Controls are handled via (Sinclair or compatible) or keyboard, with directions mapped to a 3x3 grid (north, northeast, east, etc.) plus a fire button for kicks. Movement uses left/right for positioning, up for jumping or leaping, and down for crouching. Punches activate without the fire button using directional inputs (e.g., northeast for high punch), while kicks require holding fire plus direction (e.g., fire + up for ). Blocks occur by pulling back (west direction) during an opponent's attack, automatically defending high or mid strikes but vulnerable to low sweeps unless evaded with a jump or . Moves can be canceled mid-execution by neutralizing the , allowing for tactical retreats. In two-player mode, one side typically uses keyboard due to single-joystick limitations, with customizable key layouts. The game features 16 distinct moves, categorized into punches, kicks, and evasive maneuvers, each with varying speed, range, and scoring potential to encourage strategic variety. Punches include three options: high punch (northeast, targets head), jab punch (southeast, mid-level), and low punch (crouch + east, leg strike). Kicks comprise eight techniques: flying kick (fire + north, aerial attack), high kick (fire + northeast), mid kick (fire + east), short jab kick (fire + southeast), forward sweep (fire + south, low leg takedown), backward sweep (fire + southwest), roundhouse kick (fire + west, spinning mid-strike), and high back kick (fire + northwest). Evasive actions add two somersaults—forward (northwest) and backward (southwest)—plus a leap (north without fire) for dodging sweeps. Blocks are passive, with high and low variants triggered by opponent proximity. More complex moves like roundhouse kicks score higher but leave the user briefly open, promoting rhythmic alternation between offense and defense. Scoring uses a yin-yang point system, where successful hits earn half or full points based on execution quality—full points for perfect form (clean contact without overextension) and half for glancing blows. Point values double for full executions and scale by move difficulty: for example, a roundhouse kick yields more than a basic jab, establishing tactical depth in single-player progression through 11 ranks (Novice to 10th Dan), where each level requires two bout wins (two points per bout). In two-player matches, the best of four bouts determines the winner, with ties resolved by judge or replay. This mechanic fosters practice in form over spam, as imperfect moves reduce scoring efficiency and increase vulnerability.

Visuals and Sound

The visuals of The Way of the Exploding Fist feature a side-view, one-on-one arena with oriental-themed backdrops, such as gardens and temple settings, rendered in a colorful yet attribute-clash-prone style typical of the ZX Spectrum's limitations. The fighters are depicted as large, monochromatic sprites to avoid color bleeding, allowing for smooth and dynamic animations across 16 moves, including punches, kicks, and blocks, drawn from over 700 individual frames per character for realistic motion. These animations were praised for their fluidity and detail, creating a "televisual" that enhanced the game's immersive quality despite the hardware constraints. On the Commodore 64 port, the graphics expand to more vibrant, multi-colored environments with detailed backgrounds like cherry blossoms and mats, utilizing over 600 sprite images for even larger, lifelike characters and fluid animations that emphasize anatomical accuracy in strikes. This version's use of color and scale was noted for its atmospheric oriental vibe, though some animations appeared slightly blocky by modern standards. The sound design on the relies on the system's single-channel beeper for simple yet effective effects, including bashing impacts, squeals of pain, and a brief introductory , which add punch to combat without overwhelming the action. Reviewers highlighted these audio cues as "terrific" for their role in conveying impact, though the overall sound remains limited compared to more advanced hardware. An opening tune and tolerable speech samples further set an oriental tone. In contrast, the Commodore 64 version employs the SID chip for a more robust audio experience, featuring authentic oriental melodies like "Dance of the Yao Tribe" during menus and high-score screens, alongside toggleable digitized effects such as bone-crunching thuds, moans, and screams that realistically amplify the of fights. These elements were lauded for their haunting and immersive quality, making the port's sound one of the standout aspects of 1985 home computer gaming.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Upon its release in 1985, The Way of the Exploding Fist received widespread critical acclaim from contemporary video game magazines, particularly for its innovative martial arts combat simulation, fluid animations, and addictive two-player mode. The Commodore 64 version, reviewed in Zzap!64 issue 4 (August 1985), earned a 93% overall score, with reviewers Paul Sumner, Gary Penn, and Julian Rignall praising its "dazzling graphic animation" utilizing over 600 sprite images per character, realistic sound effects like "bone-crunching noises," and challenging progression through ranks that demanded strategic precision over button-mashing. They highlighted the game's originality as a "startlingly spectacular epic," awarding it "Sizzler" status and naming it Game of the Month for its high hookability (9/10) and lasting appeal (9/10), though noting minor drawbacks like the absence of blood for added realism. The port, evaluated in Crash magazine issue 21 (October 1985), achieved a 92% rating and the prestigious "Crash Smash" award, with the review lauding it as "by far and away the best sports combat simulation available yet" due to its 18 smoothly animated moves executed with "astonishing speed and accuracy," vibrant backdrops, and exceptional addictiveness (96%). scored 92% for their "terrific" quality, while playability (87%) benefited from logical controls supporting joysticks, though the piece critiqued the limited sound effects and initial learning curve for mastering complex maneuvers like flying kicks and leg sweeps. Value for money was rated 85%, positioning it as an essential title at £8.95. Sinclair User issue 43 (October 1985) bestowed a perfect 5/5 stars on the Spectrum version, describing it as "one of the finest and most realistic" sports simulations with "technically brilliant and visually absorbing" fighter movements featuring over 700 sprites, fast and smooth animations that captured karate's elegance, and a variety of 16 strategic moves including blocks and roundhouse kicks. Reviewer Chris Bourne emphasized its addictive pace in both single-player dan advancement and versus modes, set against Japanese-themed scenes, though acknowledged that computer opponents grew "extremely tough" at higher levels, requiring cunning tactics. The magazine noted its strong arcade appeal despite not matching the Commodore 64's chart dominance. Additional coverage in Your Spectrum issue 19 (October 1985) reinforced the positive consensus without a numerical score, commending the Spectrum implementation's engaging two-player competition and realistic physics, while Computer & Video Games (C&VG) issue 48 (October 1985) rated it 10/10 as Game of the Month, calling the animations "just wonderful" and the overall experience a benchmark for the genre. These reviews collectively established the game as a pioneering , influencing perceptions of titles on 8-bit platforms.

Commercial Success

The Way of the Exploding Fist achieved immediate commercial success following its 1985 release, becoming one of the top-selling video games in the UK home computer market. Published by Melbourne House, the game quickly rose to the number one position on the Gallup all-formats sales chart in September 1985 and maintained that spot through October, reflecting strong initial demand across platforms like the , Commodore 64, and . This performance underscored the growing popularity of martial arts-themed fighting games during the mid-1980s. The title was recognized as the best-selling computer game of 1985 in the UK, topping the annual Gallup charts and contributing to the dominance of fighting games in software sales that year. According to its , Gregg Barnett, The Way of the Exploding Fist sold over 500,000 copies in alone, marking it as a major hit for developer and publisher Melbourne House. Contemporary reviews in magazines like CRASH highlighted its status as the biggest success on the ZX Spectrum that year, attributing this to its innovative gameplay and visual appeal. The game's strong market performance extended beyond the UK, reaching number one in European sales rankings and establishing it as one of Beam Software's best-selling titles overall. This success helped solidify Melbourne House's reputation for high-quality action titles and influenced subsequent ports and sequels, demonstrating the viability of the one-on-one fighting genre in the home computer space.

Accolades

The Way of the Exploding Fist received widespread recognition upon its 1985 release, most notably winning the for Game of the Year, as voted by readers of Computer & Video Games magazine. This prestigious honor, presented at the third annual ceremony, highlighted the game's innovative martial arts combat and fluid animations, with developer Melbourne House also earning the Best Software House accolade. In the Computer Gamer magazine's Game of the Year Awards for 1985, the title claimed first place in the Best Sports Game category and second place in the Best Spectrum Game category, reflecting its strong appeal among ZX Spectrum owners and its categorization as a sports simulation despite its fighting game roots. The game also ranked third in the Best Game of 1985 according to readers' votes in Happy Computer magazine (issue 02/1986), underscoring its international impact in the German market. Later retrospectives further cemented its legacy, with ACE magazine inducting it into its Greatest Games of All Time list for sports simulations in March 1991 (issue #42), and Computer Gamer including it in its Spectrum Collection of top ZX games since 1985 in February 1986 (issue #17).

Legacy

Influence on Genre

The Way of the Exploding Fist played a pivotal role in establishing one-on-one fighting games on home computers during the mid-1980s, introducing sophisticated mechanics to 8-bit platforms like the Commodore 64 and . Released in 1985 by , it featured 18 distinct moves drawn from Bruce Lee's style, emphasizing precise timing, blocking, and counterattacks in a versus mode that allowed for competitive two-player battles. This marked a significant advancement over earlier arcade ports, bringing fluid animations and strategic depth to consoles and computers, where previous titles often relied on simpler side-scrolling beat 'em ups. The game's innovative use of digitized sound effects, including bloodcurdling screams sampled from Lee's , added visceral immersion that heightened the intensity of combat, setting a new standard for audio in the genre on limited hardware. Its cross-platform consistency and addictive gameplay contributed to widespread acclaim, pushing the genre to greater respect and recognition among developers and players by the end of 1985. This success helped transition simulations from arcade novelties to staple home entertainment, influencing the evolution of beat 'em ups into more tactical fighters. Notably, The Way of the Exploding Fist directly inspired key successors, such as Archer MacLean's (1985), which built upon its foundation by refining speed and animations while retaining the core one-on-one tournament structure. MacLean explicitly picked up where the game left off, accelerating the genre's maturation on home systems and paving the way for enhanced titles like (1987). By demonstrating the commercial and critical viability of detailed versus fighting on 8-bit machines, it encouraged broader adoption of the format, contributing to the proliferation of martial arts-themed games throughout the late . Fist II: The Legend Continues, released in 1986 by Melbourne House and developed by , serves as the direct sequel to The Way of the Exploding Fist. It shifted the formula by combining one-on-one combat with side-scrolling adventure gameplay, where players navigate levels, solve puzzles, and engage enemies in sequences. The game was ported to platforms including the Commodore 64, , , and , featuring enhanced graphics and 18 moves compared to the original's 18 maneuvers. A follow-up, Fist II: The Tournament, was released in 1987. The series concluded with Exploding Fist + (also titled Fist +), published in 1988 by Firebird Software and credited to Australian developer Bill McIntosh under Melbourne House's influence. This installment returned to versus-style fighting but innovated with three-player battles, pitting two human-controlled fighters against each other and an AI opponent, or variations thereof, in a progressing through 10 Dans. Released for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and , it emphasized scoring points via strikes and blocks, drawing direct inspiration from the original while adapting elements like multi-fighter modes. Beyond official sequels, The Way of the Exploding Fist influenced and was paralleled by contemporary titles in the proto-fighting genre. , developed by System 3 and released in 1985 for similar 8-bit platforms, emerged as a key competitor with its fluid animations and two-player focus, often compared for pioneering realistic simulation. Its 1987 follow-up, , introduced three-simultaneous-player combat, a feature echoed in Exploding Fist + and solidifying the genre's evolution toward multiplayer dynamics. Other related games include (1985) by , which added power-ups and varied enemy types to one-on-one bouts across arcade and home ports. In recent years, fan-driven projects have revived the series' legacy. The Exploding Fist Remake, an independent effort by developer Coyney74 for PC and Linux, recreates the original's one-on-one fights with updated controls while preserving the 18-move system and scoring mechanics. Similarly, Masters of the Exploding Fist by Fusion-Forged Games is an ongoing project paying homage through modernized 8-bit-style combat on , emphasizing the title's impact on early design.

References

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  34. https://www.indieretronews.com/2022/12/exploding-fist-remake-remake-of-c64.html
  35. https://fusion-forged-games.itch.io/masters-of-the-exploding-fist
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