The Making of Karateka

The Making of Karateka for PC DIGITAL is an interactive documentary from Digital Eclipse that combines the story of Jordan Mechner’s influential game with playable originals, early prototypes and two remastered games. Explore how the future creator of Prince of Persia developed Karateka as a college student with an Apple II, creating one of the biggest-selling games of 1984.

Part historical archive and part playable collection, this package lets you discover the creative process behind Karateka while experiencing the games themselves. Interactive timelines allow you to explore the material at your own pace, much like walking through a museum.

Explore the origins of Karateka

Discover how the game took shape through an extensive archive of design documents, playable prototypes and newly created video features. These materials bring together the development story and the work behind it, allowing you to examine Mechner’s ideas alongside playable examples.

The documentary also explores Karateka’s place in gaming history. Learn how it became one of the first games to feature cinematic scenes, an original soundtrack, rotoscoped animation and a Hollywood-style love story, influencing games across the decades that followed.

Play the originals and early prototypes

The collection includes pixel-perfect versions of the original Karateka games, together with a variety of previously unseen early prototypes. Rather than only reading about the development process, you can play these versions as part of your exploration.

Quality-of-life features and commentary accompany the playable material:

• Save anywhere to preserve your progress.
• Rewind to revisit moments during play.
• Chapter select to choose sections.
• Director’s commentary for additional insight.

Two remastered games

Karateka Remastered

This all-new version of the original game features cutting-room-floor content, commentary and achievements. It sits alongside the original versions, offering another way to experience Karateka within the collection.

Deathbounce: Rebounded

Based on Jordan Mechner’s unpublished prototype, Deathbounce: Rebounded is a fast and frantic twin-stick shooter. It provides a distinct playable experience alongside the Karateka material.

Part of the Gold Master Series

Digital Eclipse’s Gold Master Series presents iconic games through an interactive documentary format, bringing the history of games and their creators together in one comprehensive package. The studio’s previous work includes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection and Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration.

Product details

• Platform: PC DIGITAL
• Format: Digital download
• Publisher: Atari Interactive, Inc.
• Content: Interactive documentary, original Karateka games, early prototypes, Karateka Remastered and Deathbounce: Rebounded.