Mechner created Karateka while he was still in college. Now I can remember doing some

things in college, and I can�t remember doing a lot of other things, but I can guarantee

that the things I did at university will not be seeing an HD remake few years later. Jordan

would develop one of my favorite games, Prince of Persia, after this and you can see many

similarities between the two games. Both games feature a nameless, nobody who must step up

when his love is taken away. A no-one who would become a hero, but instead of ancient

Persia and sword fights, now you do you best Neo impress and say you know kung-fu.

The gameplay is just like the original, with this just updating and not really changing

things. It is totally one on one, honorable karate combat. You move your character down

a very narrow path, and make your way to the next combat section. There, your opponent

challenges you and like a true man, you accept that challenge. The combat may take some time

to get use to because it is not your standard beat �em up. In those, you are the aggressor,

throwing punches and taking names. This is much more interested in strategy and tactics.

You will want to block and counter most of the time. That will open opportunities for

attacks and you can get your combos in and deplete your opponent's health. Don�t think

this is a mindless button masher, or you will get taken down, like if you approached the

princess in an attacking stance in the original. Young viewers might not understand.

But while the core gameplay remains intact, the art style is years apart. Instead of the

two or three colored pixelated figures of the original, this now has full on 3D characters

and backgrounds. Everything has a very stylized look, with cell-shading and fitting animations.

It may not be the best looking game out there, but the style surprisingly fits, even though

the original was realistic, well for the time it was.

But the biggest complaint is the length of the game. The game can be completed in under

an hour, easily. Once you get a feel for the combat, you can move through the game quickly.

The game wants you to try multiple times, and to practice and get better each time you

play. The combat becomes very rewarding, but the length of the game leaves you wanting

more.

The game is an updated relic from the past that still holds its place, but not with the

same awe the original inspired.