Game:

International Karate (1985)

Category:

Review

Duration: 19:15

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Huge playlist archive with AY / GFX improved games: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxOanVBhqd3t74YnYAJA9p4vMQYZYCJWX
INTRODUCTION (From the manual):
International Karate is a simulation of a Karate Tournament where two people can play against each other, or one can compete against the computer. During the game, you will fly around the world to various locations, and in a two-player game there is also a special bonus round.

Each round consists of three 30 seconds bouts. The first player to score two full points wins the bout, and the first to achieve victory in two bouts wins the round. In a two-player game, the victor in each bout then goes on to the special bonus stage which involves dodging a flying weapon. Success in this part of the game will earn you 500 bonus points. The winner of each round scores an extra 2000 points, and the next destination is then automatically on screen. When competing against the computer, you must win in each round in order to carry on to the next destination.

REVIEW:

Part 1: 0:00
Part 2: 9:57

Well, I suppose most people know the game IK+ which is the sequel to this game – While the characters in the C64 version of International Karate looks and controls very similar to the ones in IK+, the ones in the Spectrum version does not. This is a completely different game compared to IK+.

The characters in this game moves slow, they are lacking animation, and they are flickering. The collision detection is quite odd, and there is no grades, you always have red belt and the computer has white belt. The Spectrum could do International Karate just as well as the C64, which we saw in the IK+ port, and compared to The Way of the Exploding Fist that was also from 1985 and played very well, the Spectrum port of International Karate is a disappointment.

It is quite a shame with the animation and gameplay, because the game could have been totally ace. The background graphics is really nice, and so are the beeper samples, and Omega Software has added Sauron's fantastic AY conversion of Rob Hubbard's Atari 800XL International Karate music in this version. This conversion rocks and is much better than the original version - Check out 12:43 and turn up the volume!

The game was published by System 3 Software Ltd in 1985.

Rating:
Original 48k version: 70%
Unofficial 128k version: 75%

48k tape: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games/i/InternationalKarate.tzx.zip
(Select 0 - DMA MODE OFF if you do not own the MB-02+ disk )system.
128k tape (pt 1): http://xagon.webz.cz/software/download/International-Karate-A-128K+.zip
128k tape (pt 2): http://xagon.webz.cz/software/download/International-Karate-B-128K+.zip
128k Beta Disk / TR-dos (pt 1): https://vtrd.in/gamez/i/IK1_O.zip
128k Beta Disk / TR-dos (pt 2): https://vtrd.in/gamez/i/IK2_O.zip