Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Budokan: The Martial Spirit for Genesis


Image: MobyGames

Budokan: The Martial Spirit

Everybody is zen fu fighting


Genre: fighting - 1v1

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Year: 1990

System: Genesis


Gameplay Score: 0

Gameplay Notes:

Ok this is released in the year 2 BSF2 (before Street Fighter 2) but even so, this game is straight up awful. It has the laggiest controls ever. The most convuluted control scheme ever. The smallest move set ever. You can't even walk forward or backward. Seriously. I get that they were going for a realistic karate simulator, but count me out. No thanks.


Level Design Score: 1

Level Design Notes:

There's a little overhead sequence where you move between the four events (karate, bo, swords, and nunchucks) plus the actual fighting mode. They all feature the same unbelievably bad controls so I didn't stick around long enough to try to fight my way to the top of whatever.


Theme Score: 1

Theme Notes:

Realistic karate. I initally got Matrix "I know kung fu" vibes but the experience turned out to be pure zen. Your opponent rarely attacks so you can just sit there and ponder the dojo for as long as you'd like. It's certainly unique having a dojo master critique your abilities at the end of the fight, but that doesn't mean it's a good time.


Art Style Score: 2

Art Style Notes:

Very simple graphics with good animation of the sprites. You'd be forgiven for assuming this was a mid-80's PC game or a Master System title.


Audio Score: 1

Audio Notes:

No music. I suppose this is inline with the zen atmosphere. Just lots of karate grunts


Overall Score: 12

Review ID: 804



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