Prince of Persia creator remaking his first game, Karateka

by Randy Nelson { Jul 28th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Before turning his attention (and game design skills) to platforming persian princes, Jordan Mechner was all about asian martial arts and a game called Karateka. It was his first game, in fact, and according to comments he made during a Comic-Con 2008 panel, will also be his next.

Gamasutra reports that, when asked about his freshman effort, Mechner replied: "There actually is a plan to bring back Karateka. It's a project I'm going to be involved in." Just to make things mysterious, he added: "I can safely say it's not going to be in the way you expect."

We'd expect a 3D reimagining of the side-scroller, which is best remembered for its (at the time) stunning animation. We wouldn't expect an RPG, FPS, RTS, or MMO. Hey, maybe it will be a Karateka FPSRTSMMORPG? Actually, lose everything but the "RPG" (think Jade Empire) and we may have a winner.

Tags: httpwww.gamasutra.comphp-binnews_index.phpstory19585, jordan-mechner, karateka, prince-of-persia

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

LordKelvin @ Jul 28th 2008 5:08PM

Can't touch this.

*does the MC Hammer dance*

johnsson @ Jul 28th 2008 5:09PM

this brought back DOS memories of playing EA's Budokan... now that's a game i wouldn't mind playing as a remake..

nakedgremlin @ Jul 28th 2008 5:52PM

Amen to Budokan. I loved that game!

TWIMTBP @ Jul 29th 2008 12:57AM

"You must study your Ki before you can Kimite" is what i remember most about Budokan..of course i didn't have the manual so it was all trial-and-error.

SoulBlade @ Jul 28th 2008 5:08PM

Woohoo!

Mike @ Jul 28th 2008 5:09PM

Nice. I loved this game as a kid.

copa @ Jul 28th 2008 5:31PM

Me, too. But I think it's going to be difficult to recapture what made that game so breathtaking and fun in 1984.

The fighting genre has been mined pretty hard over the last 22 years.

Noshino @ Jul 28th 2008 5:52PM

well copa, if you take in mind that he was part of the time that worked on PoP The Sands of Time, well, imagine what he could do with Karateka....

Marty @ Jul 28th 2008 5:58PM

Sands of Time was the best of the three new games, in my opinion.

Noshino @ Jul 28th 2008 6:19PM

haha, yah Marty I agree, and surprisingly, that's the only one Mechner worked on

Ayrkain @ Jul 28th 2008 6:45PM

I'll admit it. I was an Apple ][e fanboy.

umm....hello??? @ Jul 28th 2008 8:48PM

yeah....back when the Apple ][E computer was still being used in schools...ahh, the memories...

Chicago Mafia @ Jul 29th 2008 2:45AM

Whoa. Blast from the past! I TOTALLY forgot about this game until I read this. I loved this game when I was a kid. One of the reasons I actually looked forward to going to school was that it was the only chance I had to play this game. I hope they include the original so we can play it for sh*ts and giggles.

Bloo @ Jul 28th 2008 5:13PM

I used to play this on my 130XE. It was the first game I ever got so angry at that I took it out of the disk drive and threw it across the room as hard as I could.

samfish @ Jul 28th 2008 5:15PM

C'MOOOOOOON 2.5D beat 'em up!

aMac @ Jul 28th 2008 5:18PM

Obligatory

http://www.pown.it/42

Altairio @ Jul 28th 2008 5:20PM

Hell ya! I can't believe it's taken this long.

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 28th 2008 5:30PM

Wellllll, I seem to be in the minority here, but this seems remarkably stupid.

Draco Basileus @ Jul 28th 2008 5:34PM

SCHWEEET!

Kids today have no idea hard easy games are. This game had the difficulty turned up to 11.

But I swear to God that if the motherf*&(ing, cheap ass eagle is in the game that I will rip it's wings off and stomp it to death. You know the one (flying at your head just before the last boss).

Draco Basileus @ Jul 28th 2008 5:35PM

no idea "how" easy games are.

Man I feel dumb.

I'm still gonna get you, stupid eagle.

Mr.ESC @ Jul 28th 2008 5:43PM

Owwwwww YEEEEEAAAAAAHHHH.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8uywXDhdRQM

whiny bitch @ Jul 28th 2008 6:28PM

Fighting game? No, it's a rhythm game for the iPhone, duh. They couldn't get the Parappa license. Punch! Kick! It's all in the mind!

Chase @ Jul 28th 2008 6:29PM

I am interested to see where Mechner takes this title. Here's hoping it doesn't involve space marines.

alxfbn @ Jul 28th 2008 9:44PM

or giant enemy crabs...

my guess...either a Prince of persia-esque game with more battle elements.
God of war's visceral action and prince of persia's plattforming...

or at least a tictactoe based fighter.

zwarrior @ Jul 28th 2008 10:42PM

It'll be a fighting game

Lard @ Jul 28th 2008 11:30PM

Loved this game.

C64 rules!

Misfit Toy @ Jul 29th 2008 1:24AM

All I remember is getting kicked in the crotch over and over again because I didn't do what??? I didn't bow, then run into her arms...

Oh my gosh...do I really have to fight this boss again who has like 5 times more health than me to kicked again by the very princess I'm trying to save? Yes.