Remember those old-school karate tournament vibes? Best of the Best – Championship Karate nails it—you pick your fighter (I always went for the guy with the red headband), then it's straight into punch-kick-block chaos. The controls feel surprisingly smooth for a Genesis fighter—no weird delays when you throw a spinning kick or try to counter.

Matches are fast, almost brutal. One wrong move and you're eating a roundhouse to the face. The AI doesn't mess around, especially in later tournaments. Graphics are bright and chunky in that classic 16-bit way, and the sound effects? That "WHAP" when a punch lands never gets old.

It's not as deep as Street Fighter, but there's something satisfying about the simplicity. Just you, some basic but effective moves, and the need to outthink the other guy. You'll either love it or rage-quit after the third rematch. Either way, it's pure 90s arcade-style fighting.