Karate Champ is an early one-on-one beat ’em up that was pioneering and influential, and was a precursor to fighting games that followed. It was developed by Technos Japan and manufactured into arcades by Data East in 1984.
Tag Archives: Data East
RoboCop 2, Arcade
The arcade version of RoboCop 2 was developed and published by Data East in 1991 and is loosely based on the 1990 Irvin Kershner-directed film sequel of the same name. In it you play as RoboCop and must stop a criminal drug baron, called Cain, from spreading a new drug called ‘Nuke’.
RoboCop, Arcade
Released into arcades by Data East in 1988, RoboCop is unusual because the game was licensed from Ocean Software, who had acquired the video game rights at script stage, when the case was usually arcade companies licensing to home companies. The arcade and home versions were developed simultaneously and are a mixture of run-and-gun and beat ’em up-style gameplay.
Boulder Dash, NES/Famicom
The NES/Famicom version of the classic Boulder Dash was developed by Data East and published by JVC in North America and Data East in Japan in 1990.
It is distinguished from other Boulder Dash conversions by having completely different graphics and sound from the original.
Karnov, Commodore 64
This arcade conversion of Data East‘s 1987 coin-op was highly controversial at the time of release, because it was viewed as a “lazy, direct port” of the ZX Spectrum version, which was not what Commodore 64 owners wanted to see.
Karnov’s Revenge, Neo Geo
This 1994 Neo Geo release from Data East is the second game in the “Fighter’s History” series. It is tentatively related to the Data East arcade game Karnov, in that it features the red-trousered, bald character of the same name, but it’s a fighting game, in true Neo Geo style.
Mega Turrican, Megadrive/Genesis
Mega Turrican is a Megadrive/Genesis-exclusive remake of the famous run-and-gun shooter which was popularised on the Commodore 64 by Rainbow Arts and later ported to other systems. This version was developed by Factor 5 (as were all of the later ports) and published by Data East in North America and Sony Imagesoft in Europe in 1994.
Psycho-Nics Oscar, Arcade
This obscure 1987 arcade game from Data East was a big influence on many games that came after it, in particular Manfred Trenz‘s Turrican series. It is obviously itself influenced by Nintendo‘s 1986 game, Metroid.
It also displays some similarities to Karnov, another Data East arcade game released the same year.
And, while you may have never heard of this game, it’s safe to say that it’s a bit of a ‘hidden gem’ in terms of old arcade games still worth playing today.
Windjammers, Neo Geo
Windjammers is a legendary two-player sports game from Data East, published on the Neo Geo in 1994. It can of course be played single-player, against the AI, too.
It is kind of a cross between tennis and Frisbee-throwing. Or maybe even table hockey and Frisbee-throwing… The intro screen describes itself as “the flying disc game“. It’s weird but fun, and instantly playable, whatever it is.
Kung-Fu Master, Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 conversion of the classic arcade game, Kung-Fu Master, is not too bad. It is certainly better than the awful Spectrum version.
The King of Grabs 