Karateka Review

David Brown

 Do you like games where you can save a princess? Do you like games with kung fu? Do you like games of precision?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should check out Karateka, released by D3 Publisher on the Xbox 360.   Karateka is a remake of the Apple II classic created by Jordan Mechner, the creator of Prince of Persia. You quest is to save Mariko from the evil warlord Akuma and reunite her with True Love.

The premise is simple, you are True Love and you must fight your way up the mountain to the stronghold of Akuma and defeat him to save Mariko.  To do this you must fight each and every one of Akuma's men (and one falcon) in hand-to-hand combat.  The controls are simple and allow for moving, blocking, a regular attack, a ki move and healing at certain locations along the way.  Fights consist of sparring with your opponent.  They attack, you block, you attack, they block...this is the rhythm that you will get in to.

Speaking of rhythm, much of the fights themselves take place to the rhythm of the soundtrack for the game.  My first time through I didn't realize this and played the game with the sound off, making things harder than they should have been.  The controls are responsive enough where you have a fair chance, although that doesn't mean everything is fair. There are moments when you think you have the enemy's pattern figured out, only to have them use a cheap attack and hit you off rhythm, ultimately knocking off your rhythm and leaving you wide open. 

The game is graphically pleasing with artwork by Jeff Matsuda, known for his work on The Batman, providing very colorful visuals.  There is however one double edged sword for the game, the length.  As I said, the first time through, I played without the sound on, making it harder on myself.  Even with this handicap, I was able to complete the game in less than 30 minutes.  While this is perfect for those of us who are busy, it does beg the question whether 800 points is too much? 

Length aside, this is a fun game.  If you are looking for a fun game with good controls, then I am sure you will find more than enough reasons to justify the price with three different endings.  While this game won't redefine gaming, it is a fun diversion for those who wish to pick it up.  If you would like to try it out, it is available on Xbox LIVE now.