KARATEKA

by Jordan Mechner

• Suspenseful, movie-like story

• Smoothly animated characters

• Scrolling backgrounds

• Realistic karate fighting

Returning home after years of study under a Master of Karate, you find your village burned to the ground. Your friends and family are scattered, your bride-to-be stolen by Akuma, the warlord whose oppressive shadow has darkened your village since before you were born.

Your grief and rage turn to cold determination. You vow never again to submit to the evil warlord. You know you must avenge your village and rescue your beloved Princess Mariko from Akuma’s mountain fortress.

Alone, armed only with your knowledge of Karate, you must outfight Akuma’s vicious warriors, each one more powerful than the last. Fight on, deep into the heart of the palace, where to rescue Mariko you must confront the cruel Akuma himself in hand-to-hand combat.

Put fear and self-concern behind you. Focus your will on your objective, accepting death as a possibility, and do what you have chosen to do. This is the Way of the Karateka.

Source:

Back of Box - Atari 8-bit/Commodore 64 (US)

The Japanese have a word for it... (EEEE-YAHHH!!!) You are the star of a Martial Arts movie so real, you'll feel it like a kick in the ribs.

KARATEKA, you have learned well the disciplines of karate... but now it is time to put your skills to the test. Your village has been ransacked, your friends and family scattered to the winds, your bride-to-be, Princess Mariko, kidnapped and cruelly imprisoned by the evil warlord Akuma. If you ever hope to see her again, Karateka, you know what you must do.

Scale the mighty cliffs that lead to Akuma's fortress. There, you will encounter the first of many palace guards. Kick! Thrust! Parry! At every turn you will face yet another warrior, each stronger than the last.

Finally, Karateka, you will come face-to-face with Akuma himself. Here your fate will be decided. Either eternal happiness or instant death.

THE MAKING OF KARATEKA.

*"Karateka" designer Jordan Mechner is a karate enthusiast and a stickler for realism. He used clips of karate masters as a guide for the moves used in the game.

The carefully detailed, animated figures perform all the moves of real martial arts combat with stunning realism.

Beautiful scrolling, hi-res backgrounds, an intricate story line and fast-paced karate action make "Karateka" a great way to get your kicks.*

Source:

Advertisement in Family Computing, December 1985

Become a martial arts hero without leaving your chair.

For years you've been studying karate with the master. Now you return home to find your village burned to the ground. Even worse, your bride-to-be is a prisoner of the evil warlord Akuma. You cannot rest until you rescue her from his fortress.

As you fight Akuma and his vicious warriors in hand-to-hand combat (using your keyboard or joystick), you'll need skill and discipline to win. If you succeed, eternal happiness is yours. If not, certain death awaits!

Source:

From the Brøderbund Software Catalog 1987-1988

SUPER GAME CARTRIDGE

KARATE COMBAT!

The evil warlord Akuma destroyed your village and kidnapped Princess Mariko. You alone can rescue the innocent Princess from the tyrant's terrible dungeon.
Armed only with your courage and your karate skills, you punch and kick your way past one deadly Guard after another into Akuma's stronghold . . . to save your Princess!

• Single-player action.
• 6 mighty Palace Guards to overcome.
• Use your skill and will to win.
• For use with the ATARI 7800™ Series Systems.
• For use with 7800 controller.

Source:

Back of Box - Atari 7800 (US)