We used to have this game on PC back in ’87, give or take a year, and it was on a 5″ floppy disc, drive A. And the version we played only had a few colors: Purple, white, and black (yes, just like the infamous licorice candy Good & Plenty), but we didn’t care at the time.

The gate of death used to scare the crap out of me. Purple blood would spill out of the fallen hero.

I always thought I’d get through the original game just by doing high kicks. I couldn’t help it, I was just a kid at the time who thought Crane Kicks were the answer to everything (thanks, Daniel San!).

Then I saw how the graphics were more colorful on other computers and even the NES, haha. Can’t believe how amazed I was (and jealous, too!).

My older brother was the only one among us three who ever reached the end of the game, only to face defeat by Princess Mariko. We were utterly shocked. I never realized that you had to run to her until right about now.

So when I first heard about this remake. I knew I had to purchase this one. And I’m thoroughly enjoying it–I can’t wait to show this to my brothers!

Hopefully it has the five Key Points of Karateka:
* A cliff to fall off at the beginning (bonus points if you get a Bronze Trophy for it)
* The ability to break combat stance and bow (and often get kicked in the head and instantly killed)
* A gate to fall on you and silently raise back up after killing you
* The hawk (which, given the screenshot and the video seems a safe bet!)
* A princess that can one-hit kill you if you approach her wrong at the end

But at the same time, since I’d EXPECT all those things now, they might not have the same impact as they did all those years ago …