Summary
Debuting all the way back in 1984,The Karate Kidfranchise has been a pretty mixed bag overall, though there have definitely been some shining gems along the way. ThefirstKarate Kidmoviemay not have reviewed too well at the time, but it’s since become an 80s classic, hiding some surprisingly powerful themes behind a fun coming-of-age sports movie plot. Its two subsequent sequels, and the two reboots that followed in the decades after, haven’t aged as gracefully, however.
But thanks to the ongoingCobra Kaiseries,The Karate Kidfranchise has managed to become more popular than ever. With five and 1/3 seasons now under its belt,Cobra Kaihas continued to please fans with its tongue-in-cheek humor and clear reverence for the source material. This particular tone is one that would lend itself well to a heavily stylized video game adaptation, and that’s exactly what fans could be getting withKarate Kid: Street Rumble.
Cobra Kai Fans Need to Keep an Eye on Karate Kid: Street Rumble
Street Rumble Offers a Comprehensive Karate Kid Experience
Announced just a few weeks ago, and slated for a June 19, 2025 release,Karate Kid: Street Rumbleis apixel art beat-em-upheavily inspired by the 16-bit classics of the genre. Much like recent games such asTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge,Karate Kid: Street Rumbleis being designed to look like a game from the early 1990s, but with all of the modern trimmings fans would expect from a 2024 arcade-style beat-em-up.
Karate Kid: Street Rumbleis collectingall three originalKarate Kidmovies, allowing players to make their way through the dojos, alleyways, and beaches of the West Valley, and the village streets of Okinawa. Up to four players will be able to join locally to take on the iconic threats of the originalKarate Kidtrilogy, including familiar faces likeCobra Kai’s sympathetic protagonist Johnny Lawrence, and the Cobra Kai dojo’s fearsome leaders, John Kreese and Terry Silva. Players will be able to control the Karate Kid himself, Daniel LaRusso, along with Mr. Miyagi, Kumiko, and Ali Mills.
Street Rumble Could Finally Break The Mold for Karate Kid Games
There have only been a handful ofKarate Kidgames over the last few decades, but all of them have been met with pretty poor reviews. Made by the infamous LJN,1987’sThe Karate Kidfor the NESwas a disappointing side-scroller beat-em-up that had very little identity, with many reviews at the time comparing it with the much more favorableKung Fu, which released two years prior.
In more recent years, two majorCobra Kaigameshave hit the market, both of which have also been pretty disappointing. 2020’sCobra Kai: The Karate Kid Sagacontinues is currently sitting at a respectable 67 on Metacritic, with reviews ranging wildly from 90 to 30, with plenty sitting in between. While the game captured the spirit of the franchise well, its lack of polish and repetitive combat kept it from earning high marks for many. The 2022 sequel,Cobra Kai: Dojos Risingwas met with unanimous disdain, however, due to an array of technical bugs and glitches that greatly affected performance. Hopefully,Karate Kid: Street Rumblecan finally be the game that breaks the franchise’s unlucky streak.
