I got to bump this. i really do.
This game is the ultimate and for Arkhan and esteban further cementing this fact proves that it is a game worth owning. i haven't beaten this game but i can tell you i've gotten to the drunken master ONCE and got my ass handed to me.
stacking that life is really where it is at. if it wasn't for that incredible music, excellent graphics, and control it would never leave the shelf forever in the bindings of the case.
I must immediately hug you and welcome you to the small cadre of folks who Understand the Truth.
Personally, I get my a$$ handed to me 70% of the time with Drunken Master. I really don't have a great strategy (It's a war or attrition, where I can win as long as I have enough life in reserve).
30% of the time, I just get lucky where I get a few hits in before Drunken Master chops away an entire bar of life (or two) before I can successfully land a hit or two.
I am pretty sure Old_Rover has a real strategy for dealing with DM, but I am happy with my reckless, ridiculous method. IT MAKES FOR A NAIL-BITING, SUPER-STRESSFUL FINAL BOSS ENCOUNTER. It is a primal ALL-OR-NOTHING, high-stakes moment that is missing from so many games (to work through an entire game, simply to lose to the final boss, is classic formula for TRAGEDY, which I'm a sucker for).
Maybe, one day, I'll actually figure it out...but I've been playing this game for a long time and I just revert to "auto-pilot" PANIC MODE...