Gameplay tips/strategy

[Spectrum Legacy]

Hello! I played both Karatekas and I do like this version as well (I like minimalistic games, reminiscent of 80's and 90's, and for some reason games 'on-rails' feels somehow special, e.g. Killer7). I rarely do need any kind of guide or help, nor I look them up, because I think that they spoil the fun most of the time (i.e. finding solutions to puzzles etc).

However this game's concept is easy to grasp and control, but no matter what, there are certain things I cannot do. I practiced for something around 5 hours, so I am no master at it, but beating Akuma with True Love, or not getting hit until reaching him (reaching stone wall I nearly managed, but the gate boss just slapped me once, doh) seems out of reach. Also reaching Bamboo forest in under 6minutes I can't imagine to see done, as I reach bamboo house boss no sooner than 6minutes and 15seconds (all fights are on perfect rating, not single hit taken, skipping cutscenes immediately, running to next enemy as soon as I can).

All of them can be done by cheating, i.e. backing up savegames, or deliberately cancelling fight to get brute...but that is not what I am looking for. Any legit way to do it? Any advice how to proceed faster at start, beat enemies faster (usually punch-punch-kick works best, since it won't push enemy away most of times) or block those tricky boss moves? Any info is appreciated, cheers!

[MystMan]

I played it like we all played our fairly difficult NES games from 20 years ago:
play it again and again and again until you get used to the expected attack patterns. Muscle memory alone will get you far.
All enemies have a number of predictable fixed attack patterns. Regular enemies have 1-2 while bosses have 3-4. Akuma has 5. Save your Chi attacks when a difficult pattern is about to hit you in a boss fight.

I use puch-punch-kick-kick on everybody. Or punch-kick-kick on enemies which allow you to hit them only three times. (Play the game enough times and you will remember which ones).

A few enemies and bosses (including Akuma) have fake delayed attacks. They start making an attack motion but the attack itself doesn't come out until a whole second later, making you block too soon. Learn which enemies do this so you can expect them. The 2 masked black-clothed guys guarding the courtyard entrance and Akuma have the most delayed attacks in the game, they really psyched me out the most. When I know I'm about to get hit, I use a Chi attack immediately, that gives me a pass from a sure beating.

This game really is about patience and willpower to not lose your nerve and panick.

You do know about the music tones before each attack? For example 3 tones = 3 hit-combo coming your way etc. Bosses do not have tones, which is why they are bosses.

[Spectrum Legacy]

Thanks for the info mate, I appreciate it. Haven't played it in last two days, but will give it a go again...and again, to practice. Just those trick attacks of bosses gives me troubles and they just throw me off rhytm completely. About tones before attack I know about them, also its pitch seems to indicate how fast the combo will be...high pitch = fast, low pitch = slow. Also noticed that activating Chi autoblocks all incomming attacks as you mentioned too (and I think it might be the key to non-hit achievement, to save Chi as some kind of insurance block).

I got myself to Akuma twice as TrueLove, but I'm yet to beat him with TL... will just have to practice more I guess.

Only thing I can't seem to do is 'never get hit' achievements and '6minutes to reach bamboo forest'...even with all perfect fights and skipping cutscenes, I end up reaching drunk boss at 6:15 or 6:20, but never sooner. Any idea how to proceed faster here? Basicaly tutorial is slowing me down a little bit, even if I press the button as fast as instructions appear on the screen. Same goes for 1st hawk encounter, it just feels too long even if I damage him, or let him damage me. Someone stated that that they got there in 5minutes and 20 seconds or something around that...It just seems technically impossible to do from what I experienced so far.

Anyway I grew up on 8-bit systems like Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ 48k, Commodore 64...and later Amiga etc so I really do welcome old-fashioned games with challange (and no saves etc), so I'm quite determined to play it over until I complete it finally. Thanks again for all your feedback!

[MystMan]

Leave the Way of the Karateka achievement as very last. Honestly I didn't think I would ever reach it myself.
When doing Chi attacks, use ONLY kicks, that does the most damage.

This xbox360 guide of the game pretty much gives the only possible advice that can be given for this game's achievements.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/game/karateka/guide/

[Spectrum Legacy]

Thanks for the link. I checked couple of gameplay vids too and now I found the reason for being so slow...simply put, my game runs at slightly lower speed because of having old laptop thats circa at min reqs, while timer goes at system's clock apparently. But in the end it adds up and makes the difference. Well hardware upgrade is long overdue, have to admit that.

[Big Smile]

I find if I focus my attention on hero instead of opponent during defense, it helps in blocking off the delayed attack as I don't get distracted by their moves.