The Karate Kid (1987-)

• Developer: Atlus

• Publisher: LJN

• Genre: Action

• Composer: Tsukasa Masuko, Hirohiko Takayama

The Karate Kid for the NES was developed by Atlus and published by LJN in 1987. Based on the hit films The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II, the game was created as a licensed tie-in to capitalize on the popularity of the movie franchise during the 1980s. Unlike many other titles that remained arcade exclusives or saw multiple versions across platforms, this particular adaptation was released solely for the NES. Its purpose was to bring the cinematic martial arts drama into the hands of home console players, while offering a blend of action and movie-inspired set pieces.

The game’s story follows the journey of Daniel LaRusso, beginning with his victory in the karate tournament featured at the end of the first film, before moving into the events of the sequel in Okinawa. It was directly inspired by the tournament scenes and the cultural themes presented in The Karate Kid Part II, offering players a chance to relive iconic battles in video game form. By tying into both films, the game provided a condensed but recognizable narrative arc that connected the two movies, rather than functioning as a strict adaptation of just one storyline.

Gameplay was structured around side-scrolling action and one-on-one fighting sequences. Early stages take place in a tournament setting where Daniel faces off against opponents, while later stages shift into Okinawa, where the player must defeat multiple enemies and rescue villagers during challenging scenarios. Special moves, such as the crane kick and drum punch, could be performed to give Daniel an edge in combat. These moves were earned or collected during gameplay, adding an element of progression. Boss fights against notable adversaries, such as Chozen, added variety and made the gameplay more cinematic in tone.

The soundtrack featured upbeat, driving tracks that supported the martial arts theme, though it was original music rather than direct adaptations of the film’s score. The Karate Kid for NES had no prequels or sequels in video game form, despite the movie franchise continuing beyond Part II. Promotion leaned heavily on the success of the films, with marketing emphasizing the chance to play through Daniel’s story and iconic karate moments. Reception at the time was mixed, with some appreciating its faithfulness to the movies and straightforward gameplay, while others criticized its short length and repetitiveness. Over time, the game has gained recognition as a classic example of 1980s film-to-game adaptations on the NES.

Images from MobyGames