Karate Master 2 Knock Down Blow

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 388 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Karate Master 2 Knock Down Blow Game Cover
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"Karate Master 2: Knock Down Blow" is a fighting game set in the 80s, where you play as Ken, a karateka striving to become a master and open his own dojo. The game features RPG and simulation elements, with a mix of arcade-style fighting and brutal no-holds-barred battles. Its deliberately retro graphics and specific 90s-style soundtrack celebrate the genre and the art of karate. Your journey will involve hard work, intense training, and numerous fights to earn money and reputation.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 388 reviews
gameplay18 positive mentions
story8 negative mentions
  • The game features a nostalgic hand-drawn art style that captures the essence of classic martial arts films and games.
  • Combat mechanics are satisfying and realistic, allowing players to learn about karate sparring dynamics while enjoying the gameplay.
  • The game offers a unique blend of RPG elements and mini-games that keep the experience engaging and fun.
  • The game can become repetitive quickly, with grinding required to progress and unlock new content.
  • Controls can be frustrating, especially when trying to execute specific moves or combos, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
  • The lack of a proper tutorial and poor translation can make it difficult for players to understand the mechanics and story.
  • gameplay62 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of nostalgic martial arts mechanics reminiscent of 90s fighting games, offering a satisfying combat experience with a focus on timing and strategy rather than button mashing. While the core fighting mechanics are solid and engaging, players have noted issues such as a frustrating bone-break mechanic, grindy progression, and occasional bugs that detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many players appreciate the game's retro aesthetic and the realistic portrayal of martial arts sparring.

    • “I've always enjoyed combative sports in real life and find the martial arts sparring gameplay to be satisfying and more or less reflecting the dynamics in martial arts sparring back in the 90s and 2000s.”
    • “The actual gameplay and fight mechanics are done well, for a game of this tier at least.”
    • “The gameplay for a 2D fighting game is awesome - good timing and distance will get you the wins, not button mashing or insane combos. This also captures the atmosphere of the 80's good fighting games; still on the karate side: the moves are realistic, the damage, the training sessions, everything is exactly what it was like to be a karate fighter in the 80's.”
    • “The only actual downside about the game, I'd say, is the bone-break mechanic, which seems like any opponent has a random chance to break your bone and end the fight immediately regardless of the health of the limb (green, yellow, orange, red).”
    • “The mechanics are janky as hell, the progression is a grind, and the apparent RNG of bones breaking due to well-timed strikes affects you at least as much, if not more than the computer.”
    • “A broken, poorly written, improperly balanced game otherwise sullies deep, well-thought-out core fighting mechanics.”
  • graphics57 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming hand-drawn art style that evokes nostalgia for 80s and 90s arcade games, reminiscent of titles like Neo Geo and SNES. While the visuals are generally well-received for their retro aesthetic and detailed pixel art, some critiques highlight inconsistencies, particularly in character portraits and certain backgrounds. Overall, the graphics successfully capture the game's martial arts theme and enhance the engaging gameplay experience.

    • “The hand-drawn art style is timeless, because hand drawings will never look dated in the way that old sprites or 3D models will.”
    • “The graphics are large, detailed, very nice looking and overall just make the game very fun to watch.”
    • “The graphics really capture the feel of the transitional period between the 16-bit and 32-bit console eras (think Neo-Geo), and they are of much higher quality than your average indie fare.”
    • “The graphics aren't superb sadly, the sprite work, while effective, does look very rough, especially on some of the fighters, and some of the backgrounds are poorly rendered polygon work, though it has some of the better audiences I've seen in a game.”
    • “In addition to that, there seem to be two different art styles clashing in the game.”
    • “Long loading times, terrible graphics, but a blank canvas where game creativity was about pushing boundaries and exploring what games could be.”
  • story45 mentions

    The game's story is generally criticized for being weak, simplistic, and poorly translated, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and engaging narrative elements. While some appreciate the retro charm and the basic premise of a karate fighter's journey, the execution is often described as dull and filled with clunky dialogue. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling aspect of the experience.

    • “Like any good story that blends fantasy and reality, things start low-key and relatively realistic, and become more and more fantastical and superpowered slowly and over time, as you become more invested.”
    • “Starting out as a nobody karate fighter and working your way up the ranks to eventually be the best is always a great story, even if there isn't too much in the way of dialogue. What matters is busting faces and bones in great karate matches.”
    • “In Karate Master 2: Knock Down Blow, you take up the quest of a visionary man on his journey to open up his own karate school.”
    • “First thing first, the story is non-existent.”
    • “The story is simple and straightforward, not much there.”
    • “The story bits are painful to read because of the poor translation, and not in an 'all your base are belong to us' kind of way either, it's just hard to follow what's going on.”
  • music39 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its nostalgic 80s and 90s arcade vibe, which enhances the gameplay experience, especially during combat. While some tracks are described as excellent and fitting, others feel out of place or forgettable, leading to a desire for more customization options regarding volume and track selection. Overall, the soundtrack is a significant draw for many players, contributing to the game's retro charm despite some criticisms.

    • “The main appeal of the game is the music and gameplay.”
    • “The music on the other hand is quite excellent in my opinion - again with one exception, but it's a personal preference.”
    • “The music system is one of the reasons why I kept playing even if the game got grindy.”
    • “The sax music just doesn't fit in the game, because the rest of the game has a much different music style.”
    • “A really big issue is that you can only turn down the music yet the actual sound effects are ear-splitting unless you go back and turn down your volume.”
    • “The other songs are either forgettable or bland.”
  • grinding33 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, particularly in leveling up stats and earning money, which some players find tedious and repetitive. While the grind can detract from the overall experience, many still enjoy the gameplay and find moments of fun within the training and fighting mechanics. Overall, the grindy nature is a common criticism, but it is often balanced by engaging gameplay elements and a rewarding progression system.

    • “The game can be rather repetitive, as grinding is necessary to max out your stats and get enough money to get through the game.”
    • “Much like the path of a real karateka, the game is very grindy and repetitive, but you'll have some fun if you buy it on sale.”
    • “The campaign does become grindy after a while as you have to earn fame and money to complete the story.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its hilariously poor translations and B-grade action movie dialogue, which many players find endearing and entertaining. The quirky art style and amusing glitches add to the overall comedic experience, making it a fun and lighthearted game that doesn't take itself too seriously. Fans of retro games and martial arts culture will particularly appreciate the blend of genuine respect for karate with absurd humor.

    • “Now the game was obviously translated from Japanese and it isn't perfect, but this leads to some hilarious lines, one of my favorites being 'I'll break your idiot face, you sucker!' It's like one of those badly dubbed Japanese films; you can't help but smile at it.”
    • “However, the game is funny and doesn't take itself seriously at any point.”
    • “That being said, the dialogue (in English, at least) is hilariously inconsistent - whether or not the developers intended to give the game that 'B-grade action movie' dialogue - and is entertaining at many times, to say the least.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent glitches, freezes, and buggy mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Users report problems such as slowdowns during fights, unresponsive menus, and erratic physics, leading to a perception of the game as unfinished and lacking quality control. Despite these frustrations, some players still find enjoyment in the core gameplay, suggesting potential if stability issues are addressed.

    • “Training glitches and freezes the game, fights suddenly becoming slow, invisible black holes constantly pulling you in.”
    • “It's a poorly translated, buggy mess.”
    • “The game is super buggy and doesn't even have Xbox 360 controller support.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally satisfactory, running well on lower-end systems with 1GB of RAM and handling large sprites effectively. However, some users have experienced significant stuttering issues that hinder gameplay, leading to recommendations against purchasing until further updates or optimizations are made.

    • “You learn actual karate techniques from your master and then apply them in the kumite section in order to improve your performance.”
    • “Optimization is very good indeed even with such big sprites.”
    • “Unless the game gets patched, updated, reworked, and optimized to keep up with modern games, or at least to make it enjoyable, I wouldn't recommend getting this.”
    • “Had to refund this game since I got stuttering problems which made it completely unplayable.”
    • “Optimization - it really runs satisfactorily on computers with 1GB of RAM, although the first game on itch.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting that once players have upgraded their stats, the gameplay becomes too easy and repetitive. Additionally, the absence of challenging tasks or engaging content further diminishes any incentive to replay. While some users find value in the low price, the consensus is that the game offers little in terms of replay value.

    • “Heavily flawed, no replay value. You may have to search for how to do things. The devs have abandoned the game, but for $4, I can recommend this game.”
    • “I can't really complain at getting the game 40% off, but there's an SNES taekwondo game you can download the ROM for that's a lot more replayable than this.”
    • “After training up your stats, fights become too easy, only requiring several punches to end. The story doesn't introduce more challenging tasks or complex events, making the replay value effectively zero.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its engaging training music and a nostalgic nod to 80s fighting games, effectively capturing the essence of martial arts culture. Reviewers appreciate the dark undertones of the plot and the immersive experience of training and combat, reminiscent of the karate fighter lifestyle from that era. Overall, the combination of realistic moves and a well-crafted environment contributes to a compelling and authentic atmosphere.

    • “The training music is good and it creates a nice atmosphere for training the character.”
    • “A few things in the first one (itch.io) worked even better, including the plot and the dark atmosphere of a martial arts underworld, as well as the previous possibility of multiplayer.”
    • “The gameplay for a 2D fighting game is awesome - good timing and distance will get you the wins, not button mashing or insane combos. This also captures the atmosphere of the 80s good fighting games; the moves are realistic, the damage, the training sessions, everything is exactly what it was like to be a karate fighter in the 80s.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the potential for a rich setting, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
    • “The game tries to create a tense atmosphere, but it often falls short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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