Jordan Mechner's new version Karateka has been available on Xbox Live Arcade since last month. PlayStation 3 owners had to wait, but now the wait is over as the classic martial arts sidescroller is now available for download on the PlayStation Network.
The classic 8-bit video game has received crisp new graphics and innovative gameplay. According to the PlayStation blog, "You fight using a cool rhythm based combat. The musical score by Christopher Tin, using authentic Japanese instruments, reacts to your actions and reflects the progress of the battle. The number of musical chimes gives you cues for how many hits an enemy will make, letting you block and counterattack. The music reactively tells the story in a way the Apple II wished it could have."
The game also features a scenario that features three protagonists fighting to save a princess. If a player dies as one character, they must continue as the second, then the third, allowing players an opportunity to continue the game. But there is a catch; players will only see the best ending by beating the game with only one life and not by using the other two protagonists.
This new mechanic was introduced for modern players that may have not played the original and aren't used to having to start a game over after dying. The first character is the "True Love" of princess Mariko.
You can pick up the game on the PlayStation Network for $9.99 or on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points.
On review aggregating website Metacritic, the Xbox version of the game currently has a 61-out-of-100 rating based on 15 reviews. Here is what view reviewers had to say about the game:
Game Informer gave the game an 8-out-of-10 and said, "Karateka steps beyond its simplistic gameplay with exceptional production values. A vibrant art style recalls classic Disney animation, and the evocative music melds traditional orchestral scoring with more exotic themes to great effect. Karateka also offers something of a rarity in today's market; it's an accessible experience that can be played to completion in less than an hour."
Joystiq gives the game 2.5-out-of-5 stars and says, "The people who'll enjoy Karateka the most, and maybe a lot, are those who revere the 1984 classic. There are plenty of references to savor, from victory chimes to the very way the game begins. As a remake, it's hard to fault the creative choices made to keep the game true while still modernizing it. Maybe the issue here is whether or not a remake was a good idea, because the new Karateka has too many issues and too little substance to compete against current peers."
Gaming Age was not very fond of the remake. The reviewer says, "Overall, Karateka is not a fun experience. The whole game feels more like a mini game and less like an action title. Clunky controls and limited gameplay hurt this one badly. Before you know it, the game is over almost before it began. Even if you enjoyed the original, I can't recommend this one." Gaming Age gives the game a letter grade of D.
Check out the game's official trailer below and tell us what you think of it in our comment section.
