Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising

The video game adaptation of the Netflix series. The aim of the game is to find out which karate school is the best by doing battle, in 3D, at the All Valley tournament. And schools mean students, so you'll need to try and recruit as many fighters as possible to enter and win the tournament. If you can remember Karate Kid, you'll recognise the main character on the Cobra Kai team.

Cobra Kai 2: Dojo’s Rising is the second instalment in the beat 'em all series inspired by the hit Netflix series. It serves up complete immersion in the thrilling world of the Karate Kid. The iconic characters from Cobra Kai are centre stage in this game that deftly combines fierce combat sequences with strategic management of your dojo.

The main game mode, Story Mode, is, of course, the most interesting for fans of the series. You start by choosing your dojo from one of three available options. Next comes the tutorial, and the adventure begins with you playing as one of the students at your chosen dojo. From then on, you're free to recruit new students for your dojo from across the city. In Story Mode, the aim is to take the best students to the All Valley tournament and walk away with the trophy.

The graphics may fall far short of a AAA title, but the combat modelling is decent enough. You'll easily recognise the actors, and that's all that matters.

We liked the genuinely fun story that does more than just ride on the tails of the Netflix series, bringing its own touch of humour. The writers have managed to inject subtle moments of comedy into the script, whether that's through the interactions between the characters or the comical situations you'll encounter. The dialogue – specially recorded by the series' actors – keeps things fresh, making every interaction an immersive experience.

There are more than 15 characters to unlock, each with their own skill tree that you can upgrade as you earn combat experience.

Our advice to help you on your way? Master the Chi skills. In the heat of the action, strategic management of your Chi skills is crucial. Frantically bashing away at the X button to dish out blows is one thing, but wisely using each character's skills makes all the difference. Train them all!

Our favourite part? Managing the dojo. You'll need to maintain and grow its reputation by hiring staff and spending money. You have 14 days to turn your school into a thriving dojo, recruiting students and making savvy investments to upgrade your combat skills and the overall level of your dojo. And 14 days fly by!

And don't overlook the Cobra Classics: a kind of street battle arena that's great in two-player.

In short, Cobra Kai 2: Dojo’s Rising successfully captures the series vibrant energy, and delivers an exciting experience for fans of the series and the beat 'em up genre.

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