Karateka was Jordan Mechner's first game, and you can see Prince of Persia being born in it: rotoscoped animation traced from film of real movement, which made every step and every kick look human in a way nothing else on the C64 did. One fighter at a time stands between you and the princess in Akuma's fortress.
It had manners too. Bow to your opponent and he bows back before the fight. And famously, if you run at the princess in fighting stance at the very end, she drops you with one kick and the game is over. A love story with consequences ;)
