Update [Fri 25th Aug 10:00 BST]: Digital Eclipse has confirmed that The Making of Karateka will be available on the Switch eShop on August 29th, 2023 in North America, and on September 5th, 2023 in Europe and Australia.
Additionally, a physical release of the game will be made available later by Limited Run Games.
Original Article [Wed 16th Aug, 2023 19:00 BST]:
The release date for the interactive documentary, The Making of Karateka, has been announced by Digital Eclipse. However, Switch owners will have to wait a little longer for the game to launch.
The game will launch on other consoles and PC on August 29th, with the Switch version coming in September. So while the wait isn’t too long, it is still a wait.
The Making of Karateka offers a unique experience for fans of retro video game history and is developed by Digital Eclipse, known for their fantastic retro compilations. It chronicles the development and creation of Karateka, a martial arts game for Apple II that revolutionized cinematic storytelling in video games in 1984.
Jordan Mechner, the creator of Karateka and later known for developing Prince of Persia and The Last Express, started working on the game at the age of 18. He also released a remake of the game in 2012 for PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and iOS. The game was briefly available on the Wii U, but was removed from the digital storefront in 2013.
What to Expect from The Making of Karateka
The Making of Karateka provides an in-depth look at the development of Mechner’s first game through a comprehensive archive of design documents, playable prototypes, and all-new video features. Players can explore the interactive documentary at their own pace, and it includes:
- Pixel-perfect playable versions of the original Karateka games and several early prototypes, with convenient features like save anywhere, rewind, chapter select, and director’s commentary.
- Two remastered games: Karateka Remastered, a new adaptation of the original game with additional content, commentary, and achievements, and Deathbounce: Rebounded, a fast-paced twin-stick shooter based on Jordan’s unpublished prototype.
- A behind-the-scenes look at how Karateka pioneered cinematic scenes, a memorable soundtrack, rotoscoped animation, and a Hollywood-style love story, making it one of the first games of its kind.
- Localization in French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Japanese.
Will You Be Getting The Making of Karateka?
Are you excited to delve into the history of Karateka with The Making of Karateka? Let us know in the comments!