Knuckle Joe

This MSX action platform game presents a single-screen stage format in which the player controls a fighter navigating small, self-contained environments. Each stage contains a set of enemies that appear in fixed positions or enter from the sides of the screen. The player can move across platforms, jump between ledges, and use close-range attacks to clear opponents. Defeating all enemies on a screen allows progression to the next stage, gradually increasing the level of challenge through more complex platform layouts and faster adversaries.

The game emphasizes timing and positioning, requiring the player to manage short attack reach and limited movement options while avoiding contact with enemies. Stages do not scroll, so all hazards and platforms are visible at once, creating a compact arena-style structure. As the player advances, enemy patterns become denser and jumps require greater precision. The overall experience is built around straightforward action, simple mechanics, and incremental increases in difficulty across its sequence of stages.