If you’ve got a soft spot for the 90s arcade beat-’em-up era — think shoulder-pads, nineties hairstyles, and co-op mayhem — then Karate Blazers just got put back on the menu. The 1991 arcade brawler from Video System has been re-released under the Arcade Archives banner, arriving on Switch and PS4 from today (27 November 2025.
What is Karate Blazers
Originally an arcade-only title released in 1991, Karate Blazers puts you (and up to three of your friends) in control of one of four martial-arts masters — Mark, Glen, Akira, or Gil — each with their own “killing blow.” Your mission? Recover stolen scrolls, rescue your slain master’s kidnapped daughter, and punch/trip/kick your way through wave after wave of enemies.
Levels scroll sideways and layer up fast action with frequent ambushes, waves of goons, and the sort of chaotic crowd-control that only early 90s coin-ops dared to attempt. No fancy modern polish — just raw reflexes, memorised patterns, and hopefully good timing.
I don’t think I recall this game in any local arcades. To be fair, I was never a big fan of side-scrolling beat-em-ups, but a name like “Karate Blazers”… well, given the sartorial angle, it’s a bit of a silly title, isn’t it? “Blazers” are jackets. Pairing the two words is the most unusual juxtaposition, one that leaves us with a slightly meaningless game title.
All of which is a shame, as from the video, it looks good fun.
What the new Arcade Archives version brings
The new release stays true to its arcade roots, but packs a few modern niceties:
- Play solo or locally with up to 4 players — just like the original coin-op.
- Retro-style arcade display settings, alongside modern comfort options like adjustable difficulty and online high-score leaderboards (a staple for Arcade Archives titles).
With a modest price tag (this is an uncomplicated Arcade Archives release), this could be a nice, inexpensive blast from the past — especially if you’ve got buddies and a shared love of dusty joysticks and 2D violence.
Why it matters — and why you might want to check it out
The early ’90s were packed with beat-’em ups, but a lot of them got lost to time, cancelled ports, or simply never escaped the arcades. Karate Blazers was never really a big league name like some of its contemporaries — but that’s part of its charm. It’s scrappy, fast, and unrefined, which sometimes makes for exactly the kind of chaotic fun you don’t get from the modern, polished shooters you’re used to.
If you’re nostalgic for the era — the one that gave birth to titles like Final Fight or Double Dragon — Karate Blazers could be just the kind of underdog throwback that reminds you why you fell in love with pixelated punch-ups in the first place. Find out more on the Arcade Archives website.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
