Reviews of Karateka Classic

By: DotEmu

List of user reviews and ratings for Karateka Classic

Total ratings

4.30 (Rating count: 88)

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Review summary

Users largely praise Karateka Classic for its faithful recreation of the Apple II original, complete with authentic loading sounds and nostalgic feel. Many welcome the game’s modern conveniences like save and rewind features and note the 64-bit update enabling compatibility on newer devices. The major drawbacks mentioned by several reviewers are ongoing compatibility issues with newer iOS versions (frequent black screen or launch problems) and occasional sound problems, compounded by concerns that the developer is slow to update or respond.

Pros

Faithful recreation of the Apple II original with authentic sounds and presentation.
Strong nostalgia appeal; widely praised as a faithful, 'perfect copy' of the original.
Modern conveniences such as save and rewind features.
64-bit compatibility update enabling play on newer iOS devices.

Cons

Ongoing compatibility issues with newer iOS versions, including black screen or launch failures.
Sound problems like no sound or audio dropouts on some devices.
Perceived lack of updates and slow/no response from developers.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 3.00

All time rating average: 4.30

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9% (8)

Date	Author	Comment
2025-04-16	Gr*****	As a lifelong devoted "Karateka" who started playoing this game in the 1980s on my beloved Apple ii computer and is still happily playing it on this app today, I have one request to REALLY bring the total 1980s classic experience back. Developers, could you provide Bluetooth keyboard and Bluetooth game controller functionality? It would be truly "authentic" if the user could play Karateka on an iPad or iPhone without having the massive online touchscreen keypad obscuring the scenery.
As a lifelong devoted "Karateka" who started playoing this game in the 1980s on my beloved Apple ii computer and is still happily playing it on this app today, I have one request to REALLY bring the total 1980s classic experience back. Developers, could you provide Bluetooth keyboard and Bluetooth game controller functionality? It would be truly "authentic" if the user could play Karateka on an iPad or iPhone without having the massive online touchscreen keypad obscuring the scenery.
2023-01-11	Mi*****	This was a very faithful remake of the classic Apple II game. It even included the sound of an old floppy disk drive as it loaded the game! That’s a sound I haven’t heard for a very long time. In case you’re not old enough to have played the game before, be sure to try taking a fighting stance as you approach the princess. Also, at the very beginning of the game, try moving to the left instead of the right to see what happens. The only part of the original game that can’t be duplicated now was the easter egg that resulted if you put the program disk in upside down. The game would load, but the screen was flipped. The fights took place upside down at the top of the screen. Thanks to the developer for making it possible to relive playing a great old game.
This was a very faithful remake of the classic Apple II game. It even included the sound of an old floppy disk drive as it loaded the game! That’s a sound I haven’t heard for a very long time. In case you’re not old enough to have played the game before, be sure to try taking a fighting stance as you approach the princess. Also, at the very beginning of the game, try moving to the left instead of the right to see what happens. The only part of the original game that can’t be duplicated now was the easter egg that resulted if you put the program disk in upside down. The game would load, but the screen was flipped. The fights took place upside down at the top of the screen. Thanks to the developer for making it possible to relive playing a great old game.
2021-12-02	pm*****	Unfortunately I didn’t know this existed until 9 years after it came out (I was an 80’s teen), but now am disappointed that the graphics are just black :/ Please have a look and update, devs!
Unfortunately I didn’t know this existed until 9 years after it came out (I was an 80’s teen), but now am disappointed that the graphics are just black :/ Please have a look and update, devs!