Karateka

 PC
Karateka Image
Metascore
48

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

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  • Summary: Jordan Mechner returns to game development for the first time since Prince of Persia: Sands of Time with a downloadable remake of his Apple II action hit from 1984.

Trailer

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Karateka - Launch Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Games.cz
    Dec 16, 2012
    60
    A plain, but likable rescue of a princess that is not just counting on your nostalgia for an almost thirty years old original. Even though Mechner's sense of a clever design may be seen just here and there, the game is worth your little time (and money).
  2. Eurogamer Italy
    Jan 7, 2013
    50
    Karateka is a nice remake but it feels more like a mini-game than a full fledged product. The game lasts less than an hour and it is even less articulated than the original one.
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 4, 2013
    50
    Remake of an 80's classic arcade hit cannot prevail over modern competition. You can try to spend few moments in the fight but the results are unsatisfactory. [Jan 2013]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. CD-Action
    Feb 6, 2013
    30
    Karateka is just a series of painfully repetitive QTE. The idea of combining a brawler with a rhythm game is cool but in my opinion it’s not enough for anything more than a minigame in some bigger title.[CD-Action 02/2013, p.63]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 5 out of 7
  1. Bulldozer
    Jul 25, 2013
    10
    This is a shiny and great "little gem", it's completely playable with a controller and gives "that" good feeling, it's very short but hasThis is a shiny and great "little gem", it's completely playable with a controller and gives "that" good feeling, it's very short but has replayability value through the 3 characters you can use to play through it, varied outcomes and wish to improve "time" and "score".
    In sum the fact that's really short could be a plus since obtaining the highest scores is not so easy even if the game seems easy, is a "rhythm 'n fight" with enjoyable graphics and sound which comes in handy when you don't want to play something more complex and-or don't have a lot of time to play, something to have and to give a shot every now and then just to relax.

    As a side note I must say that forcing some kind of Anti Aliasing through drivers and-or using an external one like SMAA definitely improves the experience.

    Final words, is written nowhere that a game to be good must be "long", this is a real short but damn fun, engaging and relaxing game at once, as already said a true gem, not a load of things to do, but something you can beat up exactly in that little spare time you have which wont allow you to dedicate yourselves to more pretending games, is for this reason along with a decent price and a good polish that I'm gonna give this game a full 10.    … Expand
  2. ChoicestGames
    Aug 4, 2013
    6
    While I’ve never thoroughly played the original I get the feeling that this is a more or less faithful remake although probably with tonedWhile I’ve never thoroughly played the original I get the feeling that this is a more or less faithful remake although probably with toned down difficulty for today’s audience, thanks to the addition of audio cues during combat and several “lives” (instead of just one). The only thing I can fault with the new Karateka is that they’re asking $10 for a (literally) linear game that can be completed in just 30 minutes. If you can grab this game on sale or if you’re a die-hard Karateka fan then it may be worth a look.… Expand
  4. psydex
    May 18, 2013
    3
    I don't like it. It's boring simple (in a bad context) and it's not worth buying it. I personally deleted it after my 1st play-through tookI don't like it. It's boring simple (in a bad context) and it's not worth buying it. I personally deleted it after my 1st play-through took me a little more than 30 minutes and i wasn't impressed at all. I do not recommend.… Expand
  5. Nile3
    Dec 31, 2012
    2
    I wasn't happy with this remake. It's mostly built for mobile phone I think. You don't control the character. He move forward on his own.I wasn't happy with this remake. It's mostly built for mobile phone I think. You don't control the character. He move forward on his own. Got to the last boss on first play, and quit. Boring fights.… Expand
  6. blandthrax
    Dec 4, 2012
    2
    I used to play this on Commodore 64 routinely. That version, like it's Apple II counterpart had heart and soul and the ending felt utterlyI used to play this on Commodore 64 routinely. That version, like it's Apple II counterpart had heart and soul and the ending felt utterly satisfying. This new version ... meh, not so much. I would have like to have seen a little more to it than punch, kick, block (three buttons, that's it). In the original you could punch/kick high, middle, low. Also, for 2012, the graphics are woefully underwhelming. Add to that the fact that everything about the fighting is pretty much canned and it plays more like it wants to be Dragons Lair than the new Karateka. All that's all well and good except it costs $8.99 on Steam and while that seems like a paltry sum, for a game that only takes about a half an hour to play, you have to wonder if maybe they could have at least made it more challenging to say nothing of longer.… Expand
  7. EDGE
    Dec 4, 2012
    1
    I just played the game through... took me 34:33 minutes.
    While the comic style character design (the princess looks like MULAN) looks good, I    I just played the game through... took me 34:33 minutes.
    While the comic style character design (the princess looks like MULAN) looks good, I would have preferred something more "sincere" - as in the original.

    I must say, although Jordan Mechner himself was involved in its production, the game is utterly disappointing.
    While the 1984 original was won through tactics and using timed high mid and low punches / kicks, the 2012 version is a mere series of QTE (quick time events):
    First block the enemy's attacks - then attack.
    You just hit the punch/kick buttons - it does not really matter which.

    Funny how it seems advanced techniques hinder great game design & balance nowadays...    … Expand
  8. ATARI
    Jun 14, 2015
    0
    If you want to experience the true "KARATEKA", play the 1984 original by Jordan Mechner, which is still an amazing experience today.If you want to experience the true "KARATEKA", play the 1984 original by Jordan Mechner, which is still an amazing experience today.

    Although Mechner himself was involved in this remake (which consists in an endless series of QTE's - quick time events), the game does not live up to the original.

    I am still waiting for a true remake...    … Expand

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