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.
Reader Comments (31)
Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:09PM (Unverified) said
this brought back DOS memories of playing EA's Budokan... now that's a game i wouldn't mind playing as a remake..
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Posted: Jul 29th 2008 12:57AM (Unverified) said
"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.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:52PM (Unverified) said
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....
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Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:58PM FredFredrickson said
Sands of Time was the best of the three new games, in my opinion.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2008 6:19PM (Unverified) said
haha, yah Marty I agree, and surprisingly, that's the only one Mechner worked on
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Posted: Jul 29th 2008 2:45AM chicago mafia said
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.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:13PM (Unverified) said
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.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:34PM (Unverified) said
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).
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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).
Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:35PM (Unverified) said
no idea "how" easy games are.
Man I feel dumb.
I'm still gonna get you, stupid eagle.
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Man I feel dumb.
I'm still gonna get you, stupid eagle.
Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:43PM (Unverified) said
Posted: Jul 28th 2008 6:28PM (Unverified) said
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!
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Posted: Jul 28th 2008 6:29PM (Unverified) said
I am interested to see where Mechner takes this title. Here's hoping it doesn't involve space marines.
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Posted: Jul 28th 2008 9:44PM (Unverified) said
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.
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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.
Posted: Jul 29th 2008 1:24AM Misfit Toy said
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.
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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.
Posted: Aug 12th 2008 3:32PM (Unverified) said
Does anybody have Jordan Machner's email id. If you have please reply as soon as possible
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