Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues is a beat ’em up video game based on the popular TV series of the same name. Set in North America, the game allows players to engage in martial arts combat as they continue the saga of the iconic Karate Kid franchise. Featuring side-scrolling 2D gameplay with RPG elements, players can control characters from the series, battling through various dojos and enemies in an arcade-style experience. The game supports both single-player and local multiplayer modes, offering a nostalgic yet modern take on the classic karate battles.

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues: Review

Introduction

In an era saturated with cynical licensed games, Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues emerges as an unexpected triumph. Arriving in October 2020 amidst the cultural phenomenon of the Netflix series, this side-scrolling beat ’em up transcends its origins as a mere cash-in. It delivers a surprisingly robust combat system, heartfelt fan service, and a narrative that honors the legacy of the Karate Kid franchise. This review deconstructs how Flux Games’ creation defied low expectations, leveraging the show’s thematic core—the eternal dance between aggression and discipline—into an interactive experience that resonates long after the final crane kick.

Development History & Context

Brazilian developer Flux Game Studio, operating under the creative direction of Paulo Luis Barbosa dos Santos, tackled this ambitious project with a genuine passion for the source material. Santos admitted to initially being unfamiliar with the series, but after binging all episodes, he became a die-hard fan, channeling his enthusiasm into a meticulously planned 100-page design document. The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant hurdle, forcing the team into remote work during the game’s alpha phase and disrupting development pipelines.

Technologically, the game built upon the Unity engine, a pragmatic choice for cross-platform deployment (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC). This environment enabled cel-shaded visuals and Wwise-powered audio but constrained graphical fidelity. The developers drew inspiration from classic beat ’em ups like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time and The Combatribes for combat flow, while modern RPG elements like skill trees were inspired by Overwatch and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Notably, the parry system was scrapped late in development after negative player feedback, replaced with a more forgiving dodge mechanic. This blend of old-school sensibilities and contemporary design philosophy reflects the game’s core identity: a love letter to the past, built for today’s audience.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The game’s narrative unfolds through a brilliant framing device: Hawk and Demetri, suspended from school, recount conflicting versions of a valley-wide karate turf war to their skeptical principal. This dual-perspective structure allows players to experience two parallel campaigns:

• Cobra Kai Story: Hawk narrates Miguel’s discovery of a trap note, leading Johnny to suspect Daniel’s retaliation for past trauma. Players navigate escalating conflicts—brawls at the Mini-Golf & Arcade, infiltration of the shopping mall, confrontations at the All-Valley Tournament, and a climactic showdown at Valley Fest—culminating in Johnny blaming Daniel for orchestrating chaos.
• Miyagi-Do Story: Demetri counters with Sam’s identical experience, framing Johnny as the vengeful antagonist. Parallel beat-downs occur at LaRusso Auto, Smitty’s Diner, and the Weinberg TV Studios, with Daniel ultimately accusing Johnny of reigniting their ancient feud.

Both paths converge in a “True Ending” where Kreese reveals himself as the puppet master, having manipulated both dojos to sow discord. His defeat by Daniel and Johnny’s alliance underscores the game’s central theme: the cyclical nature of vengeance and the power of choosing mercy over cruelty. Kreese’s lines—“No mercy!” versus Miyagi’s “Balance, Daniel-san”—become gameplay philosophies, with Cobra Kai favoring aggression and Miyagi-Do emphasizing defense. Voice acting is a standout, with Ralph Macchio and William Zabka effortlessly embodying their roles, lending authenticity to the franchise’s emotional core.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Combat in Cobra Kai is a rhythmic, fluid ballet of violence. Each character boasts a moveset including light/heavy attacks, four unique special moves (activated via directional inputs + buttons), and a screen-clearing ultimate attack. The character-swap system allows seamless transitions between dojo members (e.g., swapping Johnny for Miguel mid-combo), though a cooldown prevents abuse. This encourages tactical depth, as players leverage complementary strengths—Cobra Kai’s explosive fire combos versus Miyagi-Do’s defensive ice walls and parries.

The RPG-like progression system elevates the experience. 40 unique skills per character unlock via a robust skill tree, offering branching paths for offensive, defensive, or hybrid builds. Currency earned from defeated foes funds upgrades, encouraging replayability. Environmental interactions (“badass attacks”) let players hurl enemies into hazards like arcade machines or bonfires, adding spectacle. Boss battles against characters like Xander Stone or Kreese incorporate phased mechanics, though enemy variety occasionally falters with repetitive palette swaps.

However, the game falters in execution. UI inconsistencies plague the skill tree interface, while technical flaws—like collision detection issues during environmental throws—interrupt the flow. The lack of online co-op limits multiplayer to local split-screen, a missed opportunity given the game’s couch-friendly design. Despite these hiccups, the combat’s depth and satisfaction factor rival genre giants, proving that licensed games can innovate.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Flux Games meticulously recreates the San Fernando Valley’s iconic locales. From the neon-drenched Mini-Golf & Arcade to the sun-drenched Valley Fest, each stage is a tribute to the show’s 80s aesthetic. However, the visual presentation is a double-edged sword. Cel-shading captures the energy of the anime-inspired fight sequences, but character models—particularly NPCs—suffer from stiff animations and plasticine textures. Comic-book cutscenes are especially jarring, with inconsistent likenesses and crude framing that clash with the game’s polished combat.

Sound design, by contrast, is exceptional. The original soundtrack by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson (the show’s composers) injects synthwave nostalgia into every level, with tracks like “No Mercy” and “Miyagi-Do Dojo” amplifying the atmosphere. Voice acting is another triumph, with Macchio and Zabka delivering iconic lines (“Sweep the leg!”) with renewed gravitas. Sound effects—crunching punches, shattering ice, and fiery impacts—ground the fantastical combat in tactile reality, making each hit feel impactful.

Reception & Legacy

• Cobra Kai* arrived amid a surge of renewed interest in beat ’em ups, following Streets of Rage 4’s success. Critical reception was mixed but generally positive, with Metacritic scores hovering around “mixed or average” (PS4: 67%, Switch: 63%, Xbox: 60%). Praise centered on its combat depth, fan service, and co-op thrills, with Nintendo Life calling it “a strong effort” and GameSpace awarding a 90% for its “amazing” mechanics. Conversely, TheSixthAxis lambasted its “terrible” licensed-game quality, while Capsule Computers lamented “rough” execution that felt “rushed.”

Commercially, the game capitalized on the show’s fervent fanbase, becoming a steady seller across all platforms. Its legacy endures through its sequel, Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising (2022), which refined its formula. More significantly, it challenged industry perceptions, proving that licensed games could prioritize substance over spectacle. It inspired studios to invest in authentic adaptations, influencing titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

Conclusion

• Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues* is a paradox: a technically flawed yet themically perfect adaptation. It succeeds where many licensed titles fail by honoring the spirit of its source material—not just through voice cameos or Easter eggs, but by translating the philosophical clash between Cobra Kai’s fury and Miyagi-Do’s balance into a compelling gameplay loop. Its combat depth, RPG progression, and co-op chaos deliver genuine thrills, even as its dated visuals and technical stumbles hold it back.

In the pantheon of video game history, this title earns its place as a curate’s egg: flawed in parts, but undeniably special in others. For fans of the show, it’s a love letter; for beat ’em up enthusiasts, it’s a worthy successor to the classics. As Principal Lopez quips in the game’s finale, the saga’s “delusion” makes for a compelling story—and a surprisingly great game. Final Verdict: A flawed but essential chapter in the Karate Kid legacy.