How to play
A/D to move; J for punch; K for kick; space to block; shift to dodge. Combinations (punch-punch-kick) deal more damage than single hits. Stamina depletes with each action and recovers when idle; depleted stamina slows your actions.
Game features
- Eight unique karate opponents
- Punch-kick-block-dodge combat system
- Combination attacks for damage multipliers
- Stamina-management depth
- Local two-player versus mode
- Tournament career mode with belt progression
Editor review
Karate Master draws from the late-1980s arcade fighting game lineage where the matches were short, the techniques were limited, and the skill expression came from learning opponent-specific patterns. The game does not attempt Street Fighter complexity; it focuses on the core punch-kick-block-dodge vocabulary and tunes it carefully.
The eight opponents have distinct fighting styles. The first sensei favours straightforward punch combinations; the third uses powerful kicks but vulnerable defence; the fifth specialises in counter-attacks against committed offence; the championship opponent combines all styles unpredictably. Learning each opponent is the games central progression.
The stamina-management depth adds the resource-strategy dimension that pure-button-mashing fighters lack. Conservative play paces stamina; aggressive play burns stamina early and risks late-round exhaustion. Adequate for arcade-fighting fans.