Data East Games

Karate Champ (original title: 空手道 Karate Dou, The Way of The Karate) is a 1984 arcade game developed by Technos Japan Corporation for Data East. It is one of the first fighting games and has been believed to be the first to use today’s common side-perspective.

In this game, the player assumes the role of Karate Competitor and fights against another player or the computer. Gameplay consists of a two dimensional fight between Karate characters wearing white and red karate uniforms, followed by various bonus rounds for the player that wins. The pattern repeats itself in the next, more challenging round sets with a different background in place. Unlike most fighting games where a player has a health bar in this game, a hit successfully landed ends the round and earns the player or his opponent a half point or point, much like Karate system itself. The first to two points is the winner. In the same year a versus mode of Karate Champ called Karate Champ Player vs Player was also released, game play remained the same with option to play your friends. G-mode currently obtains the intellectual rights to the Karate Champ.