Kung Fu Flash for Commodore 64, review

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In this video I try the Kung Fu Flash, a'interface that connects to the Commodore 64 expansion port and… can emulate different types of cartridges.

The project is by Kim Jorgensen and is open source: on GitHub, you can easily find both the hardware and software projects. It is also possible to purchase the interface already assembled and with the 3D printed container.

At the rear, the Kung Fu Flash is equipped with a micro SD memory card slot. Using a PC, we can copy different types of files to the micro SD.

In fact, Kung Fu Flash supports CRT files, which are then the copies of the ROMs of the cartridges that we insert in the Commodore's expansion port.

It also supports other file types, including i PRG, which can be programs made in Basic, games or utilities and also disk image files, therefore D64, D71 and D81.

Up to version 1.14, the Kung Fu Flash presents some limitations: funziona solo con la versione PAL del Commodore 64 o Commodore 128. L'emulazione del disk drive non funziona con i fastloaders. I file REL non sono supportati. Inoltre, l'interfaccia lavora solo in lettura: non è possibile salvare i file dal Commodore.

From version 1.15 è anche possibile salvare e cancellare dei file dalle immagini dei dischi (D64/D71/D81), nonché selezionare l'address del drive virtuale.

In the version 1.30 you can also upload files in T64 format (normal tape files only), and there is support for NTSC computers.

Don't know how to update the firmware of your Kung Fu Flash? You can find out by reading this article.

Loading a PRG file with the Kung Fu Flash

Immediately after turning on the Commodore 64 you have to press the button Menu on the Kung Fu Flash. The list of files on the microSD opens.

The first file I tried to load is a program I made in Basic: if you follow my videos, you've already seen it. It is the program to manage the coffee machine.

Una caratteristica interessante della Kung Fu Flash è che si comporta come una vera cartuccia. Memorizza l'ultimo programma caricato e, ogni volta che si spegne e riaccende il Commodore, il programma parte in automatico.

However, the microSD memory card must remain inserted in the interface when it is turned on, otherwise the program will not be loaded.

Apertura di un'immagine disco D64

As a further experiment, I tried opening a D64 file, which is a disk image. To choose the file to upload, press the button Menu on the cartridge.

All’interno dell’immagine D64 di un disco, possono trovarsi anche più file. Per l'esperimento, ho caricato il gioco Kick Off 2.

Also in this case, it is possible to turn the Commodore off and on again and the Kung Fu Flash always restarts from the last game loaded, obviously provided that the microSD has not been removed in the meantime.

Cartridge emulation: CRT file

Finally, I tried to load some CRT files - these files are ROM copies of real cartridges.

E' possibile, ad esempio, caricare il FastLoad Epyx, to speed up the loading of files from the floppy disk drive. In this case, when the Commodore 64 is turned on, the Kung Fu Flash behaves just like a FastLoad interface.

E' possibile anche caricare una cartuccia di diagnostica per il Commodore 64 ed effettuare i test di funzionamento del computer. Ho provato ad emulare la ROM della cartuccia di diagnostics Rev. 586220.

Again, you can upload one Action Replay: the Commodore 64 behaves just as if it had a real Action Replay connected.

I had made a Datel Action Replay video, in which I explained how to load a game from tape and then save it to disk or microSD with an SD2IEC floppy disk emulator.

The Action replay has a button that is used to freeze the game, after loading it. Here, on the Kung Fu Flash the button to press is called Special.

Of course, it is also possible to load games in CRT format.

If you liked this review, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where you can find more videos of experiments and reviews.

Credits: in the video review, SID music is Super Hang-On by Steve Barrett.