Budokan: The Martial Spirit
Budokan: The Martial Spirit — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Budokan: The Martial Spirit on?
- Budokan: The Martial Spirit was released on Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, DOS, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, MSX.
- When did Budokan: The Martial Spirit release?
- Budokan: The Martial Spirit was first released on December 31, 1989.
About Budokan: The Martial Spirit
Walk the path of the warrior. Learn four classic martial arts- Karate, Kendo, Nunchaku and Bo. Combine power and grace into a dangerous black belt mix. Enter Tobiko Ryu Dojo. Your journey to the Bodokan begins here. Are you willing to endure the hard training it takes to be called a master? Tobiko Sensei observes your every action. Go to him for words on tactics, strategy, and guidance. Put your philosophy into action. Say hello to Goro-San. If you survive him, eleven others are ready to teach you the zen of defeat. If you don't, it's konban-wa (goodnight!). Do you fast attack for quick points or store up your ki (energy) for the devastating blow? Better decide before his Yari answers for you. Authentic Japanese/Okinawan martial arts- all arts and weapons based on real life. Unique player interface allows for over 25 moves per style. Twelve authentic martial arts styles, including Yari, Tonfa, Kusari-gama and Naginata.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Developer
- Electronic Arts
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer
- Themes
- Non-fiction
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1990 | $10 | $23 | — | 3 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Commodore C64/128/MAX · ZX Spectrum · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · DOS · Amiga · Amstrad CPC · MSX. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $3 | $25 | $52 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a month
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $4.10 in Apr 2012, $12.99 five years ago, and $9.95 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2013 | $6.63 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.95 | $19.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $3.03 | $23 |
| Jan 2016 | $4.99 | $15.97 |
| Jan 2017 | $5.38 | $34 |
| Jan 2018 | $5.10 | $14.63 |
| Jan 2019 | $5.03 | $14.39 |
| Jan 2020 | $6.85 | $15.99 |
| Jan 2021 | $10.01 | $14.43 |
| Jan 2022 | $9.50 | $36 |
| Jan 2023 | $10.65 | $19.95 |
| Jan 2024 | $8.99 | $18.76 |
| Jan 2025 | $6.99 | $17.00 |
| Jan 2026 | $7.69 | $23 |
| Oct 2026 | $9.95 | $23 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode | Known board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | July 1990 | 7018 | 014633070187 | — |
| Europe / PAL | November 1990 | — | — | PWB SC40X1 REV A |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1990
- Authenticity
- Low
A slow, atmospheric martial-arts game from EA that prizes patience over button-mashing, and an inexpensive cart.
Budokan: The Martial Spirit is the Genesis version of Electronic Arts' tournament fighter, which sets you against martial artists at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Electronic Arts handled it for the Genesis. North America got it in July 1990 and PAL territories in November 1990.
MegaTech billed it as a thinking man's beat-'em-up, praising its graphics and sound, and described four martial arts (nunchaku, bo, karate and kendo) with over 25 moves each. Console XS enjoyed the atmosphere but found it a shallow fighter with few opponents and limited moves. Game Player's gave it one of its Genesis Excellence Awards in early 1991.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Games Guide | May 1992 | OVERALL 89% |
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | 89% |
| Sega Pro Issue 25 | November 1993 | 56% |
“Wilh over 25 moves per art and 1 2 very tough opponents, Budokan isn't a game youll master overnight.”
“Billed correctly as a "thinking man's beat 'em up", this graphically and sonically superb oriental fight ing game lets you take out your aggression with four different martial arts skills - nunchuka, bo, karate and kendo. With over 25 moves per art and 12 very tough opponents, Budokan isn't a game you'll mas ter overnight.”
“If beating computer people up (in four different ‘sporting’ events) is where you get your thrills, Budokan is one of the less brain-rotting ways you can go about it. Until Street Fighter 2 turns up that is.”
“Iťs a shame that beneath it is a shallow beat-'em-up with few opponents and limited moves.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
Console XS praised the Genesis version for its terrific atmosphere, but called the game a shallow beat-'em-up with few opponents and limited moves.
Also on other platforms
MS-DOS · Amiga · Commodore 64 · ZX Spectrum · Amstrad CPC
- Amiga. The Amiga and MS-DOS versions came first, published by Electronic Arts in 1989; the Genesis port followed in 1990.
- Commodore 64. The Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC versions did not arrive until 1991, after the Genesis port.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits a bit below the middle. The European cart usually costs much less when loose, and about the same when complete. It has no special accessory requirement, and a complete copy means the case, cartridge and manual.
Budokan: The Martial Spirit screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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