Budokan really adds a new twist to the beat 'em up genre

User Rating: 6.3 | Budokan: The Martial Spirit GEN
Budokan really adds a new twist to the beat 'em up genre - it's a thinking mans fighting game. You have to use both your brain and reflexes as you balance stamina, Ki and pure skill to outwit the opponents. The sheer variety of moves takes time to master, but practice reaps its own rewards - you really feel a sense of satisfaction and achivement when you start to make head way in the budokan. The graphics and sound are top notch, and with thought opponents to beat budokan is highly recommended to beat 'em up fans. Get down to you local 2nd hand store and get if for a few quid, dollars what ever you currency is.

The game giving its age hasn't aged all that badly, the only real problem is that there is only four game modes. The Nunchakus, Kendo stick, Bo, and Karate.

Nunchaku, apart from being immortalised in the Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon the nunchaku started off as a grain thresher, but its potential as a weapon - you swing flick it at an opponents with crippling effect - has meant it has been introduced as a discipline in may Japanese dojos.

Kendo, the samurai of feudal Japan placed enormous importance on their abilities with their swords. Because these blades were incredibly sharp, practicing with them often resulted in injuries or fatalities, so kendo was introduced as a safer alternative.

Bo, the Bo is a six foot oak staff that can be wielded to stunning effects when in the right hands. It was originally used by samurai to gain an advantage against sword swinging foes.

Karate, the classic martial art made famous by the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie chan. It evolved on the tiny island of Okinawa, where the locals were forbidden to carry weapons.

Summary

Good game even almost after ten years since it was released; it still remains one of my favourite Mega drive games, I still enjoy have a go when I have the time or I'm just feeling nostalgic.

Alternatively

There isn't many martial arts games such as budokan, I would recommend street fighter, streets of rage or other games along those lines.