World Karate Championship (1985) - MobyGames (original) (raw)
aka:International Karate
Moby ID: 580
- Overview
- Credits
- Reviews
- Covers
- Screenshots
- Videos
- Promos
- Trivia
- Specs
- Releases
- Patches
- Prices
- Forum
- Contribute
Moby Score
7.1
#13,024 of 25.6K
Critics
70%(19)
Players
(63)
Review Ranking
Collected By
42 players
Description official descriptions
The objective of World Karate Championship is to get the highest possible dan (karate grade, determined by belt colour) and become the world champion - and of course, to get the highest score. Karate fighters compete against each other on side-view screens, the scenery representing real world locations (New York, Egypt, Japan, etc.). In between the fighting stages, there are short action sequences, during which the player can gather bonus points. These include deflecting bouncing balls, breaking wooden planks, and others.
Groups +
- Games involved in legal disputes
- International Karate series
- Setting: City - London
- Setting: City - New York
- Setting: City - Sydney
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (Atari ST version)
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 70% (based on 19 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.6 out of 5(based on 63 ratings with 2 reviews)
The Good
A lot! Indeed it is a lot like International Karate - even the music is pretty much the same (although, as Jim noted, IK never came out for the PC). I used to play this one for hours on my XT... The graphics are spectacular (especially when considering the time period), the controls are decent, the music is very well done for PC speaker and is very catchy. Most importantly, the game itself is extremely fun to play!
The Bad
It's very repetitive, but then it's from 1986 - what did you expect?
The Bottom Line
A real classic for the XT. I like this game and so should you!
PC Booter · by Tomer Gabel (4534) · 1999
One of the best fighting games ever to grace the PC.
The Good
When people see a fighting game today, they usually think they are based on Street Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat, and in severe cases - Tekken. But the fighting game tradition started years before these fireball flinging, special move totting, and combo throwing monstrosities. Games such as Death Sword, Bushido, Karateka and of course, WKC.
WKC doesn't feature any special moves, 10 feet jumps or fireballs. What it does feature are some very accurate karate moves, correct fighting tactics and much more realistic gameplay in general. Knocking down you opponent in one accurate blow, beating your rival in three well-timed blows, without him ever lay a hand (or foot) on you. It's a lot more satisfying than slowly lowering you opponent's health bar (what is this health bar anyway? It's ridiculous!), with enough blows and fireballs to crush a medium-sized tank.
Like I said, the graphics and animations are of top-notch quality for CGA in 1986, featuring smooth, flowing kicks and fast punches. They are almost as good as Prince of Persia's animation, which came out 3 years later!
WKC also has cool oriental music, coming from the PC-speaker with no special tweaks, which is constantly played in the background - and NEVER gets on your nerves! The only other game I can think which has good background music is the legendary Digger, and even Digger's music gets on your nerves after 20 minutes of playing.
The Bad
The interface is a bit strange - arrow keys and Caps Lock?!
Also, in higher levels, the computer AI responds with inhuman reflexes and speed. I have played this game quite a lot, and never got to black belt. Yet I still try now and then.
The Bottom Line
Meditative and serene, then fast and furious, and back again - World Karate Championship will take you to places you have never seen in any other fighting game.
PC Booter · by Mickey Gabel (332) · 2000
Discussion
| Subject | By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Merge with International Karate | Luchsen (21) | Mar 31, 2010 |
Trivia
Bug
The C16 version has a bug which prevents finishing the game in one player mode.
Lawsuit
System 3 faced a lengthy court battle with arcade publishers Data East, who claimed System 3 had ripped off their game Karate Champ with International Karate. It also used the same forward kicking (street) karate style. The game also looked a lot like The Way of the Exploding Fist, but they weren't sued for that.
Awards
- GameStar (Germany)
- Issue 03/2013 – One of the "Ten Best C64 Games“
- Happy Computer
- 1986 - Runner-up as Sports Game of the Year
- Issue 04/1987 - #15 Best Game in 1986 (Readers' Vote)
Analytics
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
- Ad Blurb (+1 point)
- Alternate Title (+1 point)
- Correction (+1 point)
- Critic Review (+½ point)
- Group (+¼ point)
- Product Code (+¼ point)
- Related Site (+1 point)
- Release info (+1 point)
- Relation (+½ point)
- Tech Spec (+1 point)
- Trivia (+1 point)
- Video (+1 point)
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by faceless.
Commodore 64 added by Kabushi. ZX Spectrum, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC added by Martin Smith. Wii added by gamewarrior. Antstream added by lights out party. Atari ST, DOS added by Servo. MSX added by koffiepad. Apple II added by RodeoInTheGreatWhiteNorth. Commodore 16, Plus/4 added by Yearman.
Additional contributors: Sciere, Kabushi, Patrick Bregger, FatherJack.
Game added December 16, 1999. Last modified August 17, 2023.