International Karate +
1987
- fighting
- hack and slash/beat 'em up
- action
- single player
- multiplayer
The story
Call it a sequel... And you'll land up flat on your back. They called International Karate "the greatest Karate beat' em up yet" (Commodore User). And who are we to argue? But Archer Maclean has come up with a stunner: A third fighter. An amazing animated background. New moves (including double head-kick and a spectacular backflip). Re-mixed music by Rob Hubbard. And Balls!
What it’s like
Flat, chunky sprites on a bright, flat-coloured stage, with a lot of a single sunny backdrop filling the screen and little in the way of camera motion, since the view never moves and the action plays out side on. The look is pure 8-bit and early-16-bit home computer: blocky figures in white, red and blue gis that flicker and snap between poses, a faintly animated background behind the fighters, and that crisp, slightly jittery movement of a game built for a Commodore 64 or Amiga. Sound is a bouncy chiptune score with brisk, percussive effects for every kick and thud, the kind of tune that loops in the background while you keep pressing the joystick. The vibe is brisk, retro and cheerful, a comic kind of sport rather than grim brawling, and the pace is quick and rhythmic: short bouts, rapid rounds, and the satisfaction of pulling off a new move. Intensity is low: cartoonish martial-arts contact, no gore, no blood, and the tone stays playful even when the fighters are knocked flat. It suits a quick session with a friend on the sofa, a nostalgic evening with old-school games, or a short burst of competitive fun. It is for players who enjoy arcade fighting with a light, goofy edge and who like the feel of classic home-computer games.
More games like International Karate +
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved International Karate +and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
