Video games that released the inner judoka

Ever since video games have been around, martial arts have become one of the most popular genres, particularly those in which unarmed combat is part of the overall gameplay. Unfortunately, judo has never quite gained the presence it so richly deserves within the digital realms, although there has been a limited selection of games released over the years.

Since first being accepted as an Olympic sport in 1960, initially contested amongst men at the Tokyo 1964 games and then women at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, the sport has gradually begun to enjoy greater exposure. Likewise, as a competitive sport which has attracted greater interest from broadcasters, odds for top judo contests are also appearing at online bookmakers.

These days, we can quickly find betting markets for judo and many other sports, all with greater convenience from our desktop and mobile devices. In addition, visiting https://www.sbo.net/ is a good place to start when looking for good value bets, as the site is packed with useful guides and extensive reviews of the best betting sites.

Wagering on judo events is one way to keep ourselves entertained, without actually participating directly in the sport ourselves. Likewise, video games can often prove to be immersive experiences, especially when it comes to sport simulations, although judo does appear to be somewhat underrepresented compared to many other martial arts.

Early games that simulated the judo experience

Arguably the first video game to exclusively represent judo in its truest form, Brian Jacks Uchi Mata was released in 1986, named after the British judoka who was a national celebrity through the 1970’s and 1980’s. Critics actually praised the game for its difficulty to master, as players would need to learn many hidden moves, which didn’t appear in the instruction manual.

Although the 2D graphics of the era were simple and basic, as can be observed at the https://www.mobygames.com/ classic games website, the control system inspired many other subsequent unarmed combat game releases. Indeed, this judo game named after Brian Jacks was the first to include realistic grappling, which later featured in the hugely popular Street Fighter arcade game series by Capcom.

The next game dedicated entirely around judo was Moero!! Juudou Warriors, developed and released by Jaleco in June 1990, which became popular on the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in Japan. Renamed as US Burn!! Judo Warriors in the United States, the aim of the game was to travel the world in search of opponents.

Light role-playing elements were introduced, as the player sought rivals who would challenge them to matches, which involved learning a variety of judo moves. After defeating five initial opponents, the player could then unlock the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games, aiming to win another nine matches and win the gold medal.

The modern judo gaming era

Despite a distinct lack of judoka simulations for more than a decade, David Douillet Judo finally hit stores in October 2006, becoming the first true 3D judo game. Named after the iconic French judoka, who won Olympic gold medals at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, David himself played a large part aiding development of the game.

Released for PlayStation 2 and Windows PC, the likeness of Douillet was used within the game and he also provided the tutorial, explaining a total of 52 different judo moves. Gameplay was also unique and highly challenging, consisting of fast-paced sequences and careful thought, making this a highly realistic judo simulation. This game still rates highly amongst nostalgic reviewers at https://gamefabrique.com/games/david-douillet-judo/

The most recent game releases featuring judo have both been tied to the Olympics, initially with the multi-sport Beijing 2008 official video game produced by Eurocom and Sega. However, the judo action available only featured the 81-90 kg men’s contest, although the graphics were very good and the controls easy to understand.

Finally, the latest representation of judo was incorporated in Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game, developed and published by Sega across all platforms. The game itself received mixed reviews from critics, largely for being filled with too many gimicks and leaning heavily on arcade game mechanics, rather than following the path of a true sporting simulation.