1986 · Fighting

Sai Combat

Sai Combat features real-life combat, in the Japanese style of Sai Karate AKA Kendo. The difference from standard karate is the presence of a large stick for each player, which is used to inflict much of the damage. Your challenge in a one-player game is to progress through the Belts and Dans, by winning every fight. Each hit scores you points depending on how tough a maneuver it is deemed to be- three hits must be impacted to move up a level. A player's energy level, or Chi, is depicted by a white dragon turning green or red as weakened.

Released: 1986
Platforms: Amstrad CPC ZX Spectrum
Genres: Fighting
Developers: —
Publishers: Mirrorsoft
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action
Country: United Kingdom

About

Sai Combat is a 1986 fighting video game published by Mirrorsoft for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC.

Keywords

martial arts

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Sai Combat is a one-on-one fighting game. The sais in the game don't refer to the stabbing weapons but rather long wooden poles. The player has to defeat eight opponents before becoming the Sai Master. In order to win a fight, the opponent has to be knocked down three times. The game includes a two-player multiplayer mode.

Reception

Aktueller Software Markt called it the best fighting game on the Spectrum. Amtix called it "[a] competent fighting game that's worth looking at". The reviewers compared the game to The Way of the Tiger and The Way of the Exploding Fist. Computer and Video Games said the game is "good fun" and "graphically excellent". Crash said the game is better than International Karate but not as good The Way of the Exploding Fist.