Knuckle Joe Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]

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AL82 Retrogaming Longplays

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Published on January 1, 2025 10:21:00 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmOkOBuchYc

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Game Info
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Developer: Seibu Kaihatsu
Publisher: Taito
Year of Release: 1985

Game Review & Impressions
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Set in some kind of post nuclear-fallout future, Knuckle Joe is an early beat 'em up where the titular hero fights gangs of thugs and undesirables in a series of dilapidated back alleys and truck-stops. It feels like a derivation of Kung-Fu Master, although the main levels are arena-based, rather than scrolling continuously.

In any case, the objective of each round is simple. All enemies must be defeated before access to the next level is granted, and taking these punks down often involves more than mindless button mashing. Bad guys can often block or counter your attacks, so you'll need to figure out strategies for dealing with this mechanic. Some enemies can drop guns, which you can use to great effect against any opponent, but they have limited ammunition and can't be relied upon for long. The final stage of each location culminates with a fight against a particularly nasty boss, and you'll need to be quick on your feet as you take them on.

Each level is followed by a section which sees Joe riding atop a motorcycle to the next location. Armed with a bazooka, Joe can shoot other gang members zooming alongside him for bonus points, but the strict time limit in which these sections must be completed are exceptionally tight, so it's better to focus on not colliding with anything.

For a game of this age, I thought Knuckle Joe looked and sounded pretty good. The scrolling and animation, such as it is, is quite slick, and the speed at which Joe and the other characters move around the screen is frightening. This makes for what is an incredibly challenging game, but one that still plays well, despite its age.

Chapters
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TBC