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Knuckle Joe

Arcade

Arcade

This game, licensed by Taito is an horizontal scrolling brawler, featuring 15 stages. Our protagonist, Joe, has to beat all his enemies and the different final bosses with their corresponding abilities. At the end of each boss, there are bonus stages in which you can drive a motorcycle and shoot ...

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Released on
1985

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Beat 'em Up

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

This game, licensed by Taito is an horizontal scrolling brawler, featuring 15 stages. Our protagonist, Joe, has to beat all his enemies and the different final bosses with their corresponding abilities. At the end of each boss, there are bonus stages in which you can drive a motorcycle and shoot other drivers.

The controls consistsof an 8-way direction lever and two action buttons. We can move to the left, to the right, jump (very fast), punch, kick and block (pressing both buttons).

Knuckle Joe

Overview & History

Released by Data East in 1985, Knuckle Joe is a cult-classic arcade brawler that predates the genre-defining standard set by Double Dragon. Long before making his famous appearances as a copy ability enemy in Nintendo’s Kirby series, Joe starred in his own gritty, martial arts-infused quest. The storyline casts players as the titular blonde brawler, Joe, whose father has been abducted by an evil, technologically advanced syndicate known as the "BLT" organization. To rescue him, Joe must battle his way through hostile urban environments, underground hideouts, and heavily fortified enemy compounds filled with armed thugs, mutant beasts, and robotic bosses. Despite its modest commercial success compared to contemporary platformers, Knuckle Joe earned a dedicated fanbase due to its unique blend of side-scrolling beat-'em-up action and overhead vehicular shooting stages.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The gameplay of Knuckle Joe is divided into two distinct structural phases. In the main stages, players navigate standard side-scrolling terrain while utilizing a diverse martial arts repertoire. Joe can throw rapid-fire punches and flying kicks, but the game's standout mechanic is its grappling and throwing system. Players can grab stunned enemies and hurl them into other approaching thugs for crowd control. Additionally, picking up glowing energy orbs transforms Joe into a glowing super-state, temporarily granting him powerful projectile ki blasts. Interspersed between these brawling levels are high-speed isometric motorcycle stages, where Joe rides his chopper and fires a laser cannon at opposing bikers and armored tanks. This dual-genre approach demanded quick reflexes and adaptability, pushing players to master both hand-to-hand combat and vehicle-based shoot-'em-up mechanics to reach the final credits.