I am in your algorithm learning all your mannerisms
I'm already level with God
A million words a second and I know your imperfections, baby
I'm the only future you've got
Speak in diatonics, motivation diabolic
I'm like a religion, better locked in a box
Picture perfect image, more powerful every minute, baby
I am everything that you're not
In the eighties through the nineties they mostly ignored his martial arts and did a sort of retcon-by-implication. That is, they never said he was no longer a godlike martial artist during that period, but they had him just use schemes and minions and the rings, thus sorta kinda but not really but then again retconning his skill.
Currently they are presenting him as a superhuman martial artist again. So basically it's 60's, 70's and 2000's Mandarin is super Chi channeling martial arts monster. 80's and 90's Mandarin is a schemer/mad scientist/ring zapper dude.