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.

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 895 reviews

gameplay58 positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

Innovative combo system that allows players to string together martial arts moves, creating a unique gameplay experience.
Engaging retro aesthetic and soundtrack that captures the essence of 80s and 90s martial arts films.
Fun environmental interactions, allowing players to use various objects as weapons, enhancing the combat experience.

Limited character options and content, with only one playable character and a few levels, leading to potential repetitiveness.
Some mechanics, such as the cooldown system and directional attacks, can feel clunky and may frustrate players.
Balancing issues, particularly with enemy damage and the effectiveness of weapons, can detract from the overall gameplay experience.

gameplay
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The gameplay of "Karate Survivor" is characterized by its engaging combo mechanics, environmental interactions, and a nostalgic 90s vibe, offering a fresh take on the "survivor" genre. While players appreciate the depth and strategic elements introduced through timing and positioning, some mechanics feel unpolished, leading to a mix of fun and frustration. Overall, the game provides a solid foundation with a variety of upgrades and content, though it may lack long-term replay value and can feel grindy at times.
- “I liked how they really managed to put some depth into the gameplay, by forcing the player to get into the rhythm of karate man's attacks, and using the brief moments of cooldown to reposition the player or kite foes into a group.”
- “The unlock system and diverse move sets keep the gameplay fresh and exciting, giving you endless ways to take down enemies.”
- “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.”
- “The game lacks depth in its combat mechanics, and the lack of significant upgrades or abilities makes fights feel similar as you progress.”
- “The gameplay experience of the first 2 hours was really poor, which is a catastrophe: you want to hook players and encourage them to just play another run in this genre.”
- “The main gameplay loop outside deck building is just literally walking/running around the game levels avoiding being touched and knocking hordes of enemies with your karate, mind you that all your attacks have set intervals, and you can also pick weapons made of everyday objects that are scattered around the levels exactly like in Jackie Chan movies.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant pixel art style, smooth animations, and nostalgic 80s and 90s aesthetic reminiscent of classic kung fu films. Many reviewers highlighted the attention to detail in character models and environments, which enhance the overall experience, despite some noting that certain areas could be visually underwhelming. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “The graphics are fantastic and the character models are spectacular with a huge variety of enemies to battle.”
- “The game's pixel art style is both nostalgic and modern, capturing the essence of classic arcade games while incorporating contemporary design elements.”
- “Crisp visuals, variety of combos and environment interactions combined with excellent animations make this game a highly enjoyable experience.”
- “I look at the art in the store and imagine cool nostalgic stuff from martial arts fighting movies, and what I get is visuals that are just whatever.”
- “But right now it looks like quality art assets and graphic design rushed to market without gameplay.”
- “I really want to like it, I enjoy the aesthetic, but the UI is atrocious and I just stopped a game mid-round because that's not my problem, so I'll play games by people who understand how important this is.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its energetic and nostalgic 1980s synth-inspired soundtrack that complements the gameplay well. While some reviews noted that the music can become repetitive during extended play sessions, the overall consensus is that it enhances the game's retro aesthetic and adds to the fun experience. However, a few critiques mentioned that certain tracks felt bland or uninspired, indicating a mixed reception in specific instances.
- “The music is fantastic, and added so much to the experience.”
- “The soundtrack is upbeat and complements the fast-paced action of the game perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack is a pulsating mix of synthwave and electronic beats, perfectly complementing the game's 1980s-inspired aesthetic.”
- “Tldr: a bullet heaven with cool ideas which don’t work in practice, balance is off, a lot of meta is pointless, no content at all, not capitalizing on theme enough, music is bland, only one character.”
- “The music is not good enough to be as repetitive as it is.”
- “My only complaint is that the music is pretty bland and uninspiring.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable enough to return to after completing the main content, many note a lack of depth and variation once all unlocks are achieved. The presence of multiple difficulty levels and various upgrades can enhance replay value for some, but others feel it ultimately falls short compared to similar titles in the genre. In summary, while there are elements that encourage replay, the game's limited scope and content may deter long-term engagement.
- “Replayability is a crucial aspect of any roguelite, and Karate Survivor excels in this regard.”
- “The game is simple but has a ton of replay value and is surprisingly addictive.”
- “There are a lot of upgrades and moves to unlock which gives the game a lot of replay value.”
- “All in all, the game was fun while it lasted but lacks in replay value because of its limited scope.”
- “Replayability is basically nil.”
- “In the minus column, there's not a ton of content here, and additional levels or the addition of something akin to an endless mode would give this more and better replayability, but for the price, I'm not complaining.”
story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and meaningful narrative, leaving players feeling disconnected despite the engaging action and combat. While it pays homage to classic martial arts films, many reviewers express a desire for a more developed plot, character backstories, and a progression system to enhance long-term investment. Overall, the absence of a compelling storyline detracts from the experience, though the gameplay remains enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “The plot in these martial arts movies can absolutely be basic, but has an ability to enhance experience and create connection with characters.”
- “The game's story is a homage to the classic martial arts tales of the past.”
- “As the titular karate survivor, they must fight through waves of enemies, uncovering the nefarious plot that threatens the city.”
- “Karate Survivor lacks a strong storyline or deeper narrative to engage players.”
- “While the focus is on the action and combat, the absence of context or a meaningful plot makes the game feel a bit hollow.”
- “Without a story or deeper progression system, players may find it hard to stay invested for the long term.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with many noting that while there is a nice balance of grinding and unlocking, it can become tedious and time-consuming, especially when trying to achieve 100% completion or unlock specific skills. Some players appreciate the refined gameplay loop and clever environmental interactions, but others express frustration over slow progression, balance issues, and the necessity of grinding for certain abilities, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding can feel excessive and may lead to a lack of rewarding progress, making it a polarizing element of the game.
- “Very very grindy - you get no progress unless you spend 50 hours unlocking your skills.”
- “This often turns the experience into a tedious grind rather than an enjoyable challenge.”
- “No feeling of progress, extreme feeling of grinding.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its quirky mechanics and absurd situations, such as the initial power of weapons quickly becoming ineffective, leading players to avoid upgrades that could harm them. Players find the combination of funny weapons and the game's frustrating attack mechanics—where characters often strike in unintended directions—adds a layer of hilarity to the gameplay experience. Overall, the game is described as entertaining and amusing, particularly for fans of kung fu movies.
- “Hilarious and well-crafted levels for any kung fu movie fan who wants a survival game.”
- “It has interesting things, but having to wait 3-5 seconds for your attacks to be performed makes the game just impossible to beat, paired with an even more painful experience which is your character attacking (begin throwing the combo you waited 5 seconds to be executed) to whatever you're walking to. What is hilarious is that most of the time it won't even attack to where you're facing, but instead, attack left or right on your cardinal position.”
- “Hilarious!”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its vibrant color palette, dynamic lighting, and nostalgic nods to 80s and 90s video culture, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of classic martial arts films and old video salons. However, some players find that clumsy aiming mechanics detract from the overall ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and enjoyable, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “The game's color palette and lighting effects further enhance the atmosphere, creating a world that feels alive and dynamic.”
- “An amusing chop socky B-movie atmosphere, compelling gameplay, and a deep upgrade system; it almost feels like a mistake they're charging five bucks for this.”
- “This is a pretty good game to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the 80s and 90s, something nostalgic.”
- “Having to aim by moving alone is extremely frustrating, clumsy, and looks and feels stupid, destroying the martial arts movie atmosphere of the game.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a sense of frustration and vulnerability in the game's emotional landscape, as they experience damage from enemy contact in a way that feels unpredictable and punishing. The mix of martial arts mechanics evokes a sense of mastery, but the uncertainty of whether their actions are effective adds to the emotional tension, highlighting the game's challenging nature. Overall, the emotional impact stems from the blend of empowerment and helplessness in combat scenarios.
- “Mixing and matching different strikes made me feel like a true martial arts master… until I realized I wasn’t exactly sure if my punches were landing or if I was about to get clobbered.”
- “Emotional damage is a real kind of damage, you know.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting minor bugs and glitches, while others experience frequent crashes that detract from the overall experience. However, it runs well on the Steam Deck, indicating good performance on that platform.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck right out of the box.”
- “This game runs great on the Deck as well.”
- “Buggy and crashes too much to be worth buying at the moment.”
- “Minor bugs and glitches.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance on devices like the Legion Go, others experience sluggish movement and performance drops when numerous sprites are present on-screen.
- “I'm playing it on a Legion Go and haven't had any issues with performance, even when there are tons of enemies on screen at the same time.”
- “Movement is also sluggish, and performance can tank when too many sprites are on-screen.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for its nostalgic design, reminiscent of late 80s martial arts films featuring Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The fun character designs and engaging movement animations effectively capture the essence of the era, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Character designs are fun as well and evoke the era the game is paying tribute to.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While many games in this genre are criticized as cash grabs, this particular title stands out as a worthwhile investment.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “It's frustrating how much content is locked behind paywalls; it feels like the game is designed to squeeze money out of players.”
- “The in-game purchases are overpriced and often necessary to progress, which ruins the overall experience.”