The Karate Kid: Street Rumble Interview – Story, Combat, Stages, and More

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen the rise and fall of many gaming genres. The current beat ’em up renaissance is a breath of fresh air, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia when I hear about a new entrant like The Karate Kid: Street Rumble. With its striking retro aesthetic and promising combat system, it’s shaping up to be a contender in the genre.

A good beat ’em up is hard to turn down, and in this new golden age for the genre, we’re getting quite a few of those with surprising frequency. Whether The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is going to be able to match similar heights is anyone’s guess, but with how it’s adapting a beloved property, the crunching combat that it looks to be touting, and the striking retro aesthetic it boasts, it’s hard not to be optimistic about its chances. Recently, we had the chance to reach out to its developers at Odaclick Game Studio with some of our most burning questions about The Karate Kid: Street Rumble. Below, you can read our interview with product manager Sebastian Bazelmans.

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble Interview – Story, Combat, Stages, and More

“It was thrilling for us to collaborate on the ‘Karate Kid’ series, finding an excellent match in blending it with this specific genre.”

In more casual terms, the popular “beat ’em up” video game genre has seen a significant comeback in recent times. With the enticing appeal of the Karate Kid intellectual property, it’s clear that The Karate Kid: Street Rumble will draw a lot of attention. Does this increased interest bring added pressure?

In our project, instead of being intimidated by the already-popular “beat ’em up” style, we embraced it as a chance to add our unique spin to an established field. At the onset of development, we immersed ourselves in various beat ’em up games, both old and new. Our research culminated in the creation of the “Focus bar,” a versatile resource that can be used for defense and offense, encouraging aggressive gameplay and altering the traditional dynamics of beat ’em ups. Additionally, the prospect of collaborating with the Karate Kid franchise and blending it seamlessly into this genre filled us with excitement, as we believed it would fit perfectly.

The game features a gorgeous retro 16-bit aesthetic. What was the process like of landing on this look for the game? What other alternatives did you consider?

In terms of artistic approach, our aim was to encapsulate the nostalgic feel of the golden era of beat’em ups, given that this brand was born during that timeframe. With this approach in mind, the subsequent steps became more straightforward: we aimed to merge the classic look with contemporary mechanics and techniques. To accomplish this, we integrated smooth combo animations and powerful keyframes, coupled with vivid visual effects, while ensuring a limited color scheme was maintained throughout.

Initially, we opted for pixel art among several options and experimentations during production. We dabbled in smaller designs, ones that were more cartoonish, and even some with a more realistic flair. Each design affected the characters, settings, and color schemes of our game, shaping its message. In the end, we believed we chose wisely by sticking to our chosen direction for the project. Being enthusiasts of the genre, we found ourselves drawn to paying tribute to classic games like TMNT.

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble Interview – Story, Combat, Stages, and More

“We initially opted for pixel art, but we also considered several other options and styles while working on the project.”

Was there any consideration during the creation process for The Karate Kid: Street Rumble to explore a new tale within the same universe instead of revisiting the original trilogy’s storyline? Why was it decided to re-tell these classic narratives?

The initial concept revolved around creating a game where you’d embark on a new journey within the world of ‘The Karate Kid’, choosing which dojo to join and mastering abilities alongside the legendary characters as non-player characters (NPCs). Given that this year marks the 40th anniversary since its debut, we chose to emphasize nostalgia and our affection for the original trilogy. By doing so, we can offer fans a deeper connection with the original narrative and let players relive the grandeur of the story.

As a seasoned gamer diving into The Karate Kid: Street Rumble, let me share some insights. You’ll find an array of karate moves and combos at your disposal, drawing from the iconic techniques that made Daniel-san a formidable fighter in the original films. Since this is essentially a beat ’em up game, weapon pickups will play a significant role, offering strategic opportunities to turn the tide of battle in your favor. So gear up and get ready to rumble!

In our game design, we aimed to empower players by providing them with flexibility when navigating their moves and the battle system. Each character boasts a variety of combos involving light, heavy, and unique abilities, along with passive skills that advance with your character’s growth. Furthermore, each playable character showcases distinct playing styles, enabling players to discover various strategies for overcoming the game. Unlike other games, we opted not to include weapon pickups in our game. This decision was made during the early stages of development as we felt it didn’t align with the essence of our franchise.

In this game, what can players anticipate as they progress through various levels? To what extent will each level allow for interaction? And what degree of detail should players look forward to encountering?

Each of the stages represents iconic moments from the three movies. It was very important for us to capture the feeling of the original story in our detailed pixel art. To achieve this, we conducted extensive research on the movies themselves and the 80s culture. Players will find a high level of detail and numerous small easter eggs. If a few kids ask their parents to go to an arcade shop after playing our game, it means we achieved our objective.

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble Interview – Story, Combat, Stages, and More

In our game design, we aimed to provide players with the flexibility to strategize their actions and engage in combat in a manner that suits them best. Each character offers a variety of combinations involving light, heavy, and unique moves, along with passive abilities that progress as your character grows stronger.

Roughly how long will an average playthrough of the game be?

Finishing the story might take just a few hours, but that’s just a small part of the entire game experience! To uncover everything the game has to offer, you’ll need to replay it multiple times. This includes exploring the roles of other characters, perfecting their unique abilities, and experimenting with various game modes.

Do you plan on also offering an online co-op option down the line?

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t spill the beans about any secret strategies we’ve got cooking, but one thing’s for sure – the triumph of our beloved gaming franchise could pave the way for some exciting new content in the future!

2024-08-28 12:41

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