 |
| OVERALL RATING |
4.0 |
| Presentation |
 |
4.0 |
| Control |
|
4.0 |
| Gameplay |
|
4.0 |
| Fun factor |
|
4.0 |
| User Rating |
 |
3.5 |
 |
 |
Posted: June 29, 2006
For hardcore fighting game fans, the pickings have been very slim when it comes to solid fisticuffs on mobile. Let’s face it, unless you were lucky enough to get your hands on Brady Bunch Kung Fu which in itself was more of a casual fighting game, you’ve probably been let down up until now. If your taste is more of a technical nature such as Virtua Fighter or Tekken, then may I suggest Karate Spirits as a good choice.
Karate Spirits is a 3D fighting game where you will try your skill against five powerful martial artists. Each will have unique techniques and fighting styles and when you select your character, you will be able to nurture his skills from a white belt apprentice all the way up to a black belt master. This move up in ranks will be the result of mastering and unlocking moves as well as performing successfully in matches.
The available modes are Training, Promotion Test, Free Fight and 100 Round Kumite. In Training, you can practice all of your karate techniques using any available fighter against the CPU. The opponent can be set to stand, guard, fight and attack. With Promotion Test, you must complete five tasks including defeating an opponent within a time limit or executing chain combos. The missions will vary from character to character and if completed, your character will also move up a rank. Playing a Free Fight, your fighter and opponent will battle it out one-on-one, but the true test of a master will come with the 100 Round Kumite. That’s right, 100 rounds.
In the Kumite, you will be pitted against fighters (the same five in recurring fashion), one after another until you can no longer stand or go through all 100 of them. As you move through the matches, your Hit Points and fighting techniques will increase and the opponents will get stronger and more skillful. Every 5 wins, you will reach a save point to restart from if you lose and if you don’t continue, you must restart from the beginning all over again. This Kumite is long and arduous and only the truly skilled will survive.
