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Karateka app for iPhone and iPad


4.8 ( 7538 ratings )
Games Entertainment Action Family
Developer: DotEmu
1.99 USD
Current version: 1.02, last update: 7 years ago
First release : 20 Dec 2012
App size: 643.99 Mb

*IMPORTANT* Karateka requires iPhone 4S or newer, iPad 2 or newer, or 5th-gen iPod Touch. "Instantly, addictively fun" -MacLife

Karateka will charm you with its classic love story set in feudal Japan. Fight to save the lovely Mariko from the evil warlord Akuma and reunite her with her True Love!

"For those who remember the original, the new Karateka must not be missed. And to those with no prior knowledge: you have an excellent, new experience in store." -Touch Arcade (4.5 stars)

"With a stunning makeover and simplistic but compelling action, this terrific update brings Karateka into the 21st century in style." -Cnet

****

BREATHTAKINGLY CINEMATIC

From PRINCE OF PERSIA creator Jordan Mechner, the original side-scrolling karate classic comes to new life on iPad and iPhone with art by Jeff Matsuda (The Batman) and music by Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin (Civilization IV).

FANTASTIC FIGHTING

Easy to grasp yet challenging to master, the rhythm-based karate combat tells a simple human story. Three suitors vie to save Mariko: A fearsome Brute, a noble Monk, and her brave True Love.

HIGHLY REPLAYABLE

"A brilliant life system that delivers variety in the gameplay as well as incredible replay value; you wont want to stop playing until you rescue Mariko as her True Love and see the storybook ending." - Touch Arcade

PUNCH THE HAWK!

"Fun for those of us who played the original on an Apple II, Commodore 64, or even an NES, but younger gamers will still appreciate the unique style and easy-to-learn gameplay." -ArsTechnica

"Karateka is widely considered to be one of the greatest 8-bit home computer games ever created. It wasnt a game so much as a living story that you, the player, were a part of... The new Karateka legitimately feels like it might be what Mechners original idea would have been, if then were now." - Touch Arcade

*IMPORTANT* Karateka requires iPhone 4S or newer, iPad 2 or newer, or iPod Touch (5th generation). Karateka does NOT support earlier devices such as iPad 1, iPhone 4, and iPhone 3GS.

Pros and cons of Karateka app for iPhone and iPad

Karateka app good for

Needs some playability improvements, a little more detailed tutorial. For nostalgics, would also be nice to have another Karateka looking exactly as the genuine one (with the improved graphics of course)
I couldnt be happier then to get a little nostalgia feeling plying this classic game from the Apple II.
Exactly what I need to unwind at the end of the day. Thanks, Jordan!
This is an absolutely wonderful game from design to gameplay to sound. It stands on its own, and as I was a fan of the original, is a terrific tribute.
Wow I had been thinking no less than 3 days ago how I should fire up Karateka on the Apple ][ and write a port of it I could play on my iPad. Then yesterday I read that it had been done and no less by Jordan Mechner (apologize for misspelling if I have) and it is way cool. Totally revamped and yet has the same "feel" as the original. What a great Christmas gift this was!
I had to restart my ipad at one point, and I am stuck in a. Infinite loop right now, but simple and short is what I was looking for Nd this game delivered. Its fun.

Some bad moments

At the end, the last fight, the game crashes, Im disapointed and feeling aggrieved.
The game is very lag. I wish I can do more than just tapping.
App description says it will run on 3rd generation iPod. It crashes during first intro.
Says its compatible in game description but its not. Crashes so much I cant even get into gameplay
Took an hour to download on iPad. Fails to open on most attempts. No gameplay!
The difficulty inflation tactics are cheap and unwieldy. It is a timing game without any well developed mechanics. The gap between hit markers for the delays is a very weak way of trying to deepen the simple "tap now" mechanics the game is base on. Its a shame because the idea of the three "lives" being the three suitors is a fantastic one. Just wish the game was more of a game. Expected much more from a reimagined Karateka. Promptly deleted this one.