Tag: Martial Arts

Jimbaori: The Ōnin War offers samurai sword fights, stealth and a fascinating historical backdrop, but its straightforward action and underexplored story leave the rise and fall of Hideyoshi underdeveloped, short of its full dramatic potential.

Banchou Tactics trades fantasy armies for Japanese school gang rivalries, delivering stylish tactical battles centred on knockback, combos and clever positioning. Its story plays things relatively safe, but its distinctive setting and satisfying combat give this delinquent showdown plenty of personality.

A wonderfully scrappy tactical RPG in which Japanese school rivalries, pixel-art brawling and perfectly timed punches combine to deliver one of the genre's most entertainingly unconventional fights.

With faster martial arts, spectacular aerial combat and a broader Three Kingdoms battlefield, Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember looks set to rise above its predecessor, provided its ambitious new systems land with the precision its combat demands.

With explosive martial arts, fluid acrobatics and a striking science-fantasy world, Elta: Defy All Gods looks set to deliver a divine dose of action, provided its promising foundations can carry the full adventure.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 3: Complete Edition Remastered breathes spectacular new life into one of the Musou series' foundations, preserving its chaotic 1 vs. 1,000 battles, wonderfully old-school personality and wealth of content, while giving the classic adventure a striking modern makeover.

A fascinating piece of fighting game history, where stiff controls and dated animation reveal the limitations of 1986 home gaming, while Hamster's excellent preservation features make this pioneering karate classic surprisingly accessible today.

A stunning modern revival that gives Joe Musashi a beautifully hand-drawn world, brilliantly fluid combat, challenging platforming and enough ninja swagger to make SHINOBI feel gloriously alive again.

1964: Operation Velvet Twins delivers a colourful dose of 8-bit action, with fists, firearms, eccentric bosses and enough retro charm to fill an arcade cabinet. It may not offer much mechanical depth, but its straightforward combat, varied locations and wonderfully silly spy adventure make it a hugely enjoyable throwback for fans of classic action games.

Fight School Simulator blends dojo management, student training and first-person martial arts combat to create an unusual yet surprisingly enjoyable simulation. Its presentation is rough, and some systems could use greater depth, but building your school, developing your fighters and eventually sending them into battle give this quirky indie title plenty of character and a satisfying sense of progression.