Budokan - Electronic Arts, 1989 - IBM PC (4K)

A short presentation of D. A. Decker Jr.'s New World, published by Epyx for the Apple II (and TRS-80) in 1982. In the late 1980s, Michael Kosaka, a black belt and instructor of Aikido and a designer at Electronic Arts, set out to create a martial arts game that went beyond simple combat. His goal was to combine his knowledge of martial arts with his experience in game development, capturing not only techniques, but the philosophy and discipline behind them. It was an ambitious undertaking. Home computers of the time, particularly the IBM PC, were limited and inconsistent, with varying graphics standards and input methods that made responsive gameplay difficult. By the late 1980s, improvements in hardware and development techniques made Kosaka’s vision more achievable. Having joined Electronic Arts in 1987 as its first in-house designer, he found support within a company that was transitioning from a publisher of independent creators into a developer with its own internal teams. Programmer Ray Tobey, known for Skyfox, joined the project, alongside Rick Tiberi. Drawing from his martial arts background, Kosaka designed Budokan: The Martial Spirit as a structured journey rather than a series of fights. Progression, practice, and mastery were central to the experience, reflecting the discipline of real-world training. Budokan features four distinct disciplines: Karate, Kendo, Bo, and Nunchaku. Each requires a different approach, not only in terms of available moves, but in pacing and strategy. Weapons add reach and power, but also demand precision. Stamina affects speed and responsiveness, while ki governs the energy behind actions. The structure provides a sense of progression, leading the player from training and sparring toward the Budokan arena itself. Technically, the game reflected Electronic Arts’ push toward more advanced hardware. Designed to run across CGA and EGA systems while also supporting the emerging VGA standard, Budokan was among the earlier PC titles to offer 256-color graphics. The game’s atmosphere was further enhanced by a Japanese-inspired score from composer Rob Hubbard. Released in November 1989, Budokan stood apart from other fighting games of its time. Critics praised its ambition, depth, and atmosphere, though its deliberate pacing proved divisive. While many players struggled with its slower, more methodical approach, others found a rewarding experience built on discipline and mastery. Budokan: The Martial Spirit, it's all in the title https://retro365.blog/2026/04/05/budo... Enjoy, and for more retro gaming history, please visit my blog at https://www.retro365.blog, where I post new articles every month. Karate sparring 0:54 Nunchacu sparring 3:02 1vs1 5:43 Budokan (torunament) 9:08 Easter egg (Breakout) 12:52 Easter egg (Godzilla) 14:25