Karate Survivor

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In "Karate Survivor: , become a martial arts master and engage in fast-paced, intense combat against relentless foes. Improvise with environmental objects and weapons, create dynamic combos, and progress through levels to unlock new abilities. Use your creativity and strategic thinking to outsmart bandits and thrive in a roguelite survival experience inspired by '80s action movies.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 251 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features excellent graphics and animations that evoke nostalgia for 80s and 90s martial arts films, particularly those starring Jackie Chan.
The combat system is engaging, allowing players to create combos by chaining different martial arts moves and utilizing environmental objects as weapons.
The game offers a satisfying progression system with a variety of unlockable moves and upgrades, making each run feel rewarding and unique.

The game's balance is problematic, as environmental weapons often deal significantly less damage than martial arts moves, making them less useful in later stages.
There are issues with hit detection and enemy interactions, leading to frustrating moments where players can take damage unexpectedly.
The unlock system can feel overly reliant on RNG, making it difficult for players to obtain the moves they want, which can hinder gameplay enjoyment.

gameplay
62 mentions
34 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Karate Survivor" is characterized by its addictive roguelite mechanics and martial arts action, appealing particularly to casual gamers and fans of 80s nostalgia. While the game features smooth animations and a variety of combat mechanics, some players note issues with difficulty balance, UI design, and a lack of depth in certain mechanics. Overall, it offers a fun and visually appealing experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay typical of the genre.
- “I don't know why I enjoy this gameplay loop as much as I do, but I do, and others do too, it would seem.”
- “The gameplay is simple, making it a very easy pick-up-and-play game.”
- “Karate Survivor has really cool combat mechanics and a progression system that eases you into becoming a total badass with upgrades that allow for powerful combos and access to new areas or extra mobility, delivering all of the action you would expect from a Jackie Chan movie.”
- “Bad mechanics.”
- “The UI is trash and the aiming in the core gameplay just sucks.”
- “It crashes in the tutorial and has horrendous lag/slowdown during normal gameplay whenever you interact with the terrain.”
graphics
30 mentions
43 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a generally positive reception, with many praising the smooth textures, charming pixel art style, and nostalgic 16-bit aesthetics that evoke classic arcade games and 80s kung-fu movies. While some users noted that certain environments, like supermarkets, appear dull, the overall art design and animations are considered stylish and well-executed, enhancing the gameplay experience. The attention to detail and homage to retro influences contribute to a visually appealing and engaging atmosphere.
- “The game's pixel art style is both nostalgic and modern, capturing the essence of classic arcade games while incorporating contemporary design elements.”
- “Not only does the game look incredibly stylish with its pixel art style reminiscent of the retro beat-em-ups, but the animations flow together really well.”
- “The sprite work and art style is great with a lot of love and care put into it.”
- “But right now it looks like quality art assets and graphic design rushed to market without gameplay.”
- “-personally I think a different art style would have been better.”
- “Otherwise, it's a pretty charming art style.”
music
25 mentions
64 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its nostalgic synthwave and electronic beats that complement the 1980s-inspired aesthetic. While the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience and fits well with the visuals, some users noted that it can become repetitive during longer sessions. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable and fitting for the game's theme, contributing to its fun and immersive atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is a pulsating mix of synthwave and electronic beats, perfectly complementing the game's 1980s-inspired aesthetic.”
- “The music finds a nice balance of keeping the energy without becoming grating over 15+ minute missions.”
- “Great pixel art and music, really has an excellent charm to it overall.”
- “The music can get annoying during long stretches, as it loops.”
- “My only complaint is that the music is pretty bland and uninspiring.”
- “The music rules, but can get repetitive while grinding.”
story
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's story pays homage to classic martial arts tales, featuring a karate survivor who battles through waves of enemies to uncover a nefarious plot threatening the city. While the narrative may lack depth and clarity, it captures the essence of Jackie Chan's action films with diverse bosses and engaging combat. Players express a desire for more customizable story elements, but the fun and variety in gameplay keep the experience enjoyable.
- “The game's story is a homage to the classic martial arts tales of the past.”
- “The bosses themselves are a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique fighting style and backstory.”
- “Why are you here, who are these enemies... we don't need a plot where we're going!”
- “It doesn't really compare to other games of its genre when it comes to builds though unfortunately but it's still a lot of fun due to what it does best which is variety in animations and random things you can do during the mission.”
- “As the titular karate survivor, they must fight through waves of enemies, uncovering the nefarious plot that threatens the city.”
replayability
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, "Karate Survivor" offers solid replayability, particularly due to its variety of unlockable martial arts moves and the fun of experimenting with different combos. While it may not reach the depth of similar titles like "Vampire Survivors," players are encouraged to return for the engaging gameplay and community interaction. The game is enjoyable at a low price, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking replay value.
- “There are a lot of upgrades and moves to unlock, which gives the game a lot of replay value.”
- “Replayability is extremely high since after the runs you'll unlock different martial arts moves. It's pretty fun putting together the combos of different martial art styles with heavy Jackie Chan influence.”
- “The game is more playable on release than the demo, but that's not saying much.”
- “Replayability is a crucial aspect of any roguelite, and Karate Survivor excels in this regard.”
- “Replayability is extremely high since after the runs you'll unlock different martial arts moves; it's pretty fun putting together the combos of different martial art styles with heavy Jackie Chan influence.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive micro-management to succeed. While the music is praised, the overall experience can feel unfulfilling and frustrating, leading some to take breaks from the grind.
- “Attacking at the same pace the entire game is a little tedious.”
- “It just forces you to play in a much more tedious way that requires an insane level of microing (or geometry abuse) to avoid enemies while still hitting them with full combos.”
- “Your decisions aren't really rewarding, it's a little tedious, and there are mechanics that you are best off avoiding instead of engaging with.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is vividly enhanced by its dynamic color palette and lighting effects, evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of 80s and 90s video salons. Users appreciate the amusing b-movie vibe and stunning art design, which contribute to an immersive experience that feels surprisingly valuable for its low price. Overall, the atmosphere is a compelling blend of nostalgia and engaging gameplay.
- “The game's color palette and lighting effects further enhance the atmosphere, creating a world that feels alive and dynamic.”
- “Enjoyable gameplay, stunning art design and animation, atmosphere of old video salons.”
- “This is a pretty good game to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the 80s and 90s, something nostalgic.”
stability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates good performance on the Steam Deck, but users report frequent bugs and crashes, making it currently unworthy of purchase.
- “This game runs great on the Steam Deck as well.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't encountered any crashes.”
- “I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
- “The game is buggy and crashes too much to be worth buying at the moment.”
- “Frequent crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant stability issues that ruined the overall experience.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional impact of gameplay, noting that frequent, seemingly unfair damage from enemies detracts from their overall enjoyment and immersion in the game.
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised as hilarious, indicating that players find it highly entertaining and effective in eliciting laughter.
- “Hilarious!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create laugh-out-loud moments.”