Karate Master 2 Knock Down Blow

 PC
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 1 Critic Review

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Riot Pixels
    Aug 17, 2015
    50
    No Arcade mode, no Survival, and you can’t even fight with a friend on the same screen, like it was in the original Karate Master… All you can do here is learn all the special moves, complete your training, defeat all the masters and forget about this game forever.

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User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. leyaotang
    Jul 18, 2021
    6
    It is a dramatic/realistic karate game that I almost do not recommend these days. I love it versus I do not fully support it.

    This is not    It is a dramatic/realistic karate game that I almost do not recommend these days. I love it versus I do not fully support it.

    This is not an indie fighting game. In fact it is a game made by the Italian studio Crian Soft but embraced by the great Italian 90's publisher Milestone S.r.l (ex Leader Group/ nowadays part of the German-Austrian Koch Media).

    I have followed KARATE MASTER Knock Down Blow since its first version released on itch.io in 2013~2014.
    Upon the release of KARATE MASTER 2 Knock Down Blow for Steam, I soon rushed to buy it believing in a more complete game with an adventure - a karate experience beyond the fighting game itself. However the almost RPG experience in II was not so well explored, it was very focused on the grinding. A few things in the first one ( itch.io ) worked even better, including the plot and the dark atmosphere of a martial arts underworld, as well as the previous possibility of multiplayer.

    References/Legacy - from the legacy of digital games from the 80s and 90s - the game mixes game design concepts and aesthetics from Art of Fighting (we have camera zoom and huge pixel art!) by SNK; from Street Fighter (I and II) by Capcom (we can also include as a reference the anime of Street Fighter II); and for some mechanics like the positioning Gedan/Chuudan/Joudan: The Karate Tournament チャタンヤラクーシャンク by Mitchell Corporation, a crazy solid Japanese-central (non-Okinawan) proto-olympic karate game mixed with Kabuki (?).

    Karate - About the Karate in KARATE MASTER 2 Knock Down Blow is worth mentioning that it is a modern sports karate derived from an even more sporty and mixed modality of Kyoukushin. Ethical issues and links to Okinawan culture are almost nil.
    As I am a karateka linked to Okinawan Karate (Uechi Ryu), I have many criticisms on the plot and the application of this martial art such as the question of challenges to other martial arts but I understand that the type of Daido Juku Kuudou (or close and derivative styles) is very far from any Okinawan ryuu present in Okinawa and even Karate strands in Central Japan. For karate lovers, it can be a bit disappointing if taken too seriously - it is more interesting to see it as a fictional part of pop culture (Karate Kid/Cobra Kai for example).

    In the Steam version I was able to unlock all achievements, except 2, which involved defeating Oboro and a bear. As incredible as it may seem unlocking the money achievement was a lot of fun, making money and maneuvering forklifts was very exciting for me (I felt like a stevedore!) even though it was very repetitive. I also enjoyed unlocking some badges with the cards - I became 1st Kyu Level 5, 500 XP.

    Accessibility - The game has multiple sound feedbacks, which greatly helps a visually impaired person to play and lots of visual feedback with clear and very large symbols that would help a hearing impaired person to play. It has a manual with a lot of text that can also help.

    Optimization - It really runs satisfactorily on computers with 1GB of RAM, although the first game on itch.io runs even better. Optimization is very good indeed even with such big sprites.

    As this type of game is extremely difficult for the programmers and the game designers, I continue to recommend it, even after Crian Soft abandoned the game some time ago in favour of other projects. On the other hand KARATE MASTER 2 Knock Down Blow is in fact very weak in RPG, in plot and has no multiplayer and the last update was in June 2016.    … Full Review »
  2. tundaras
    Apr 1, 2015
    8
    Little Hidden Gem of a game! If you were a budokan affectionado on the amiga back in the day and enjoyed the early coin ops of kung fu master,Little Hidden Gem of a game! If you were a budokan affectionado on the amiga back in the day and enjoyed the early coin ops of kung fu master, karate champ, early street fighter to name but a few, this game will be right up your alley. We have all become so spoilt these days with a proven formulated recipe for AAA games it was refreshing to play something that took me back to the 80's / 90's. It had a beginning a middle and an end and could be finished quite easily in a weekend. Very easy to pick up and put back down again. Can be a little grindy at times, especially getting to the final elements of the game but the smaller training games as you level up keep enough interest going to get you there.

    Some opponents you can simply spam a certain routine or move - however i would recommend staying away from spamming if you want to experience this game in the way it was obviously meant to be played.

    The game wasn't without its issues, some of the training mini games make little sense to point scoring but because they are many and varied you can do what you need to by focusing on mini games that best suit you. I found the AI to be quite good and the variation of opponents quite good also. I mean considering there are no weapons here like budokan - it is solid karate kai, the makers did a reasonable job of padding it out to keep the player interested, for the length of time it takes to complete. I would certainly like to see more from this publishing house and will be keeping an eye out.

    This game wont appeal to you if you need amazing graphics and AAA standards, but if you are an Indie fan that appreciates these kind of titles and are always looking for a retro fix that hits the mark, this certainly will scratch that itch for a short time. I don't think there is much replay value to be had after finishing it though could be fun for a few bouts with friends.

    I feel a good review would not sign off without mentioning the fork lift truck. Wow. This thing! you can sit in it, move it left to right, you put the crates in the back of the truck and get paid after a hard days work. Then its off to the dojo for a gruelling work out and finish off with a dust up at one of the local dojos! Good times.    … Full Review »
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