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Karate Champ |
Copyright/Publisher: American/Berkeley Softworks, Licensed from: Data East,
Programming By: Simon Pick, Music By: Mini Spock, Graphics By:
Robert
Whittaker, Release Year: 1985, Genre: Fighting Sports,
No. Of Players: 1 or 2
Listen up all you karate fans! If you want to become a true Karate Champ all you
have to do is travel to nine locations around the world and challenge the karate
master who lives at each. Battles are fought over three bouts, with the winner
being the first to score two points.
There are 16 available moves, accessed by use of the joystick and fire button.
A successful hit or punch scores either a half or a full point, depending on the
effectiveness of its execution. Points are automatically added to the relevant
player's total.
A 30 second timer ticks down throughout, and when one of the battling pair
finally scores two points the time remaining is converted to points. If the timer
reaches zero before either player scores two points, the one with the highest score
wins.
In the case of a draw the judge gives his verdict. Having won a bout, the player
progresses to the next level, however the game ends if the computer wins two bouts.
Every third screen contains a bonus game where bonus points can be earned. The first
requires the player to dodge or break tiles which are thrown towards him, the second
is a brick smashing contest and the third involves punching a charging bull.
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P.S. |
Karate Champ is yet another mediocre addition to the beat'em up scene. The graphics
are small and ineffective, and though the music is similar to that in the arcade
version, it's till not up to much.
If you want a straightforward oriental beat'em up, try International Karate -
it's superior to this tepid conversion in all aspects... especially playability.
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S.J. |
I thought we'd seen the last of the beat'em ups months agon - but obviously not!
Previously releaed in America, Karate Champ is two years old now, and looks every
day of it. It's still moderately entertaining - for a while at least, but with so
many similar games on the market, this seems to be a bit on the late side.
Comparisons to International Karate are inevitable, and in this case Karate Champ
ain't so hot. If you do insist on buying this, don't bother with the two-game
pack with Tag-Team Wrestling, as this is the better purchase by far, and it's only
three quid.
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Julian Rignall |
This 'official' conversion of an arcade game inspired a complete new genre of
computer software - however, it looks a bit dated these days. The simplistic graphics
and sound aren't anything to write home about, and the gameplay has been seen many
time before.
The multi-load is a bit of a detraction, but if you're prepared to bear with it,
and still enjoy this type of computer game there's plenty of cheap action to be
had. If not, forget it.
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