Karateka: Gameplay, Platforms and Key Facts

Karateka (1984) is a fighting, hack and slash/beat 'em up video game developed by Jordan Mechner, available on Atari7800, Atari8bit, C64, ZXS, Android, Atari-ST, iOS, DOS. It holds an aggregated critic and player score of 68/100 on IGDB.

What is Karateka about?

Karateka is a 1984 beat'em up video game by Jordan Mechner, and was his first game created while attending Yale University. It was originally programmed for the Apple II, and was later ported to several other home computers and early gaming consoles. The game was published in North America by Brøderbund, and in Europe by Ariolasoft.

The player controls an unnamed protagonist who is attempting to rescue his love interest, the Princess Mariko, from Akuma's castle fortress. The game exhibits a combination of a side-scrolling platform and fighting game elements. The player uses punches and kicks to defeat Akuma and his guards and make his way deeper into the fortress. The game, as with most at the time of development, lacked checkpoints or the ability to save the game, making it a challenge to complete in a single sitting.

Karateka has been well-received, particularly for its realistic ani

Key details

Karateka was released in 1984 and supports single player. Platforms: Atari7800, Atari8bit, C64, ZXS, Android, Atari-ST, iOS, DOS. Developer: Jordan Mechner.

Should you play Karateka?

Reviews are mixed, but Karateka retains a dedicated player base among fighting, hack and slash/beat 'em up fans.