Who knew that The Karate Kid would continue to be such a hot franchise after 30 years? Cobra Kai is in the midst of its final season (after five others). And there’s a movie coming with both Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan. That’s wild. Now throw The Karate Kid: Street Rumble into the mix.
This 2D sprite-based brawler follows a trend that’s been ongoing now. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and Streets of Rage 4 kicked it off a while back. And it’s seen continuation with River City Girls 2, Double Dragon and others. Now Mr. Miyagi and company want a turn, courtesy of GameMill Entertainment.
And it’s not bad. There are questions with its hefty price tag, as well as some of its lacking boss battles. (It’s Johnny Lawrence! It’s Johnny Lawrence again!) But the devs at Odaclick Game Studio did a fine job with the game’s controls. Building up combos is a breeze, and fighting alongside a friend (in local co-op) is a good time. Plus fans of the films and shows will see plenty of nods to the Karate Kid universe.
It’s hardly up to the heights of greats like Shredder’s Revenge. But Street Rumble qualifies as the best Karate Kid game yet. If you’re a fan of brawlers like this or just feel the urge to “sweep the leg,” indulge.
The Karate Kid: Street Rumble Is Ready To Fight
The game lets you select from four characters – Mr. Miyagi, Daniel LaRusso, Ali and Kimiko. They’re all from the first two movies, and though it’s odd that Ali is a karate master now, it works. You’ll head out and get into fights with members of Cobra Kai and others, defending the streets of your city. You’ll do this with combos, super moves, and more. While throwing is a bit of a chore, the rest of the moves execute very well.
Odaclick loads the game with a pretty good combo system. You unlock new moves as the game goes on, mainly by completing side objectives in each stage. The more you complete, the better you get. (So work, rookie!) It does build into something pretty neat, particularly with finishers that send enemies flying. And working alongside three friends in co-op is a blast, though, sadly, it’s local play only. Something like this deserved an online community.
The boss battles do get a little tepid. While some baddies obviously appear, most of these battles consist of…Johnny. And Johnny again. And Johnny again. Get the picture? He’s the main villain here, despite his Cobra Kai status. And while some variances are cool, a little more variety would’ve gone a long way. Still, it is fun wiping him to the curb, especially with a well-timed crane kick. Boom!
With twelve stages and some fun bonus mini-games, The Karate Kid: Street Rumble has a good deal to offer. It’s a fun brawler for die-hard fans and kids alike, with adjustable difficulty. The harder you make it, the more you’ll get out of it. (Plus score-based completions!) But a breezy beat-em-up is never a bad thing to have. We had fun with this one.
That said…GameMill could’ve sold this one for $19.99 easily. Its pricing at $39.99 could shut out a lot of its core audience. Fans probably won’t mind digging in, but some may feel it’s safer waiting for a sale.
Wax On, Wax Off That Presentation
Odaclick shows great inspiration with its visuals and sound…for the most part.
The sprite-based animation are leagues better than GameMill’s previous Cobra Kai 3D affairs. They look more authentic to the characters, and the special attacks – particularly Miyagi’s – look absolutely groovy. Plus some of the backdrops are a sight to see, as they’re straight from the first two films. I would’ve liked more Cobra Kainods, but this seems before that time. No biggie.
Likewise, the retro-style music is a treat to listen to. However, the sound effects sound a bit too bungled for their own good. It would’ve been nice to hear a few voice samples (particularly from Miyagi) to inspire certain characters. But adjust that in the settings and you should be fine.
A Budding Champion
I do wish The Karate Kid: Street Rumble made key improvements in places. Boss battles, throwing system, online multiplayer, and, good grief, a far better price point. But it still remains a delight for fans of the genre, particularly with its battle system. Plus watching Daniel and Mr. Miyagi kick butt together again is a real treat, particularly for fans.
It doesn’t set a new standard for the genre, but Karate Kid still fits comfortably into the genre. That’s more than we can say for some of its entries in the past. It certainly has its moments of truth. (Excuse me while I go listen to some Survivor.)
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to GameMill Entertainment for providing a review code! You can get the game now for consoles and PC.
Oh, you want more retro goodness from Gamerhub UK? We got you. Check out our coverage on Aero the Acro-Bat 2, Iron Meat and Castlevania Dominus Collection!
