Much like a karate student who's mastered the basics but hasn't progressed to advanced techniques, The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is competent yet ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression
The Karate Kid: Street Rumble brings the beloved 80s franchise to modern consoles with a retro-inspired beat 'em up. Set in the familiar world of Reseda, California, you can choose from four characters - Daniel LaRusso, Mr. Miyagi, Ali Mills, and Kumiko - as you fight your way through stages loosely based on events from the original trilogy of films.
The pixel art style captures the essence of the 80s setting, with pastel-hued backgrounds and somewhat detailed character sprites that do justice to the iconic looks of the Karate Kid cast. Locations like the Cobra Kai dojo and All Valley Tournament are lovingly recreated in 16-bit style. The soundtrack, while not featuring any licensed tracks from the films, provides an appropriately energetic backdrop for the on-screen action.
Gameplay follows standard beat 'em up conventions, with light and heavy attacks that can be chained into extremely simple combos. Each character has their signature special moves, like Daniel's crane kick, that can be unleashed when a meter is filled. Grabbing and throwing enemies adds some variety to crowd control. There's also a parry system that rewards skilled timing. Also included in the package there's local co-op allows for team-ups with up to 3 other friends to take on waves of Cobra Kai goons and whatnot.
Initially, there's a satisfying rhythm to the combat as you string together attacks and build up to the flashy special moves. The four playable characters offer some variety in speed and power, encouraging experimentation to find your preferred fighting style. You have to go back to the main menu though, if you want to change the character and I honestly do not understand why this and many other beat 'em ups do not have a character selection screen before each level starts. There are also some secondary objectives for each stage, like finishing enemies with specials or avoiding damage, that are intended to provide extra goals for completionists, so if you are into that thing, this game got you covered.
However, the gameplay loop quickly becomes repetitive, with little to no evolution or new mechanics introduced as you progress through the story. The first stage effectively showcases everything the game has to offer, and subsequent levels feel like variations on the same theme rather than meaningful progression. Boss battles, primarily featuring Johnny Lawrence, lack the intensity or memorable patterns you might expect from climactic showdowns. Still, slapping on teenage kids as Mr. Miyagi has its charm and it's low-key hilarious.
The absence of interactive objects or weapons to pick up and use feels like a missed opportunity to add depth to the combat. Also, while the parry system is a nice idea in theory, the inconsistent visual feedback makes it difficult to reliably execute in the heat of battle. So every fight just revolves around you pressing the light and heavy attack buttons like a gajillion times and that, unfortunately, is not fun.
Presentation-wise, the game kinda nails its retro aesthetic, but other elements feel undercooked. Sound effects lack impact, robbing attacks of the satisfying crunch you'd want from a brawler. The combo counter is oddly tucked away in a corner, making it easy to miss your progress during extended fight sequences. The stage music, while it's serviceable, it quickly gets on your nerves as stages tend to drag on more than they should. Also, why aren't there any alternate costumes for the playable characters? Feels like a missed opportunity.
For fans of The Karate Kid, there's undeniable nostalgic appeal in seeing familiar characters and locations rendered in this style. The game hits the right notes in terms of fan service, even if the loose adaptation of the films' plots means you shouldn't expect a faithful retelling of Daniel's journey.
Ultimately, The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is a serviceable beat 'em up that doesn't quite reach its full potential. While the core gameplay is perfectly functional and can be enjoyable with a couple of friends, the lack of meaningful progression or gameplay evolution makes extended play sessions feel monotonous. It's a game that shows its full hand early and struggles to maintain interest beyond those initial impressions. Much like a karate student who's mastered the basics but hasn't progressed to advanced techniques, the game is competent yet ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, I don't think this game is worth your time. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 via a promo copy provided by the publisher. The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC.
