Fist of the North Star punching PS3, 360

Koei prepping Dynasty Warriors-style adaptation of postapocalyptic manga for 2010 Japanese release; Western plans not yet confirmed; first teaser trailer inside.

In 2007, Koei caused a stir by combining its signature action series with an anime staple in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam. Next year, the publisher will revisit that formula with a twist, as today it announced plans for Hokuto Musou, based on the Hokuto No Ken series better known in the West as Fist of the North Star. The "Musou" in the title is drawn from the Dynasty Warriors franchise, called Shin Sangoku Musou in Japan.

Being a savage outland raider simply can't pay enough to put up with what's about to happen to this guy.

Set for release on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Hokuto Musou will pit series protagonist Kenshiro against hordes of gang members and savage armies answering to his elder brother, Raoh. As in the manga and anime, Kenshiro will have at his disposal Hokuto Shinken, an absurdly powerful martial art that allows masters to explode heads and liquefy internal organs through careful strikes to hidden pressure points on the human body. The game will include two main campaigns; one "faithful to the spirit" of the original manga adventure, and a second featuring Kenshiro in an original storyline.

A Koei representative said the company hasn't yet decided whether to release the game outside of Japan. However, Koei's American arm did issue a press release heralding the game's Japanese announcement. Should the company opt to leave the game in Japan, Western gamers wouldn't be completely out of luck. Given that PS3 games have no region lockout functions, those willing to pay a premium for Hokuto Musou should be able to import it upon its Japanese debut.

If Koei does release Hokuto Musou outside Japan, it would not be the first time the world received a Fist of the North Star game. Taxan released a Fist of the North Star game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, and Electro Brain followed that up with a Game Boy game the next year. And although it didn't bear the series' name, the tamed-down 1989 Sega Genesis title Last Battle was originally a Fist of the North Star licensed game in Japan. The Fist of the North Star has remained fertile ground for games in Japan, recently being made into a PlayStation 2 and arcade fighting game by Arc System Works in 2007.

101 Comments

  • Se7en18sHiNoBi

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 12:03 pm PT

    stupid teaser but hopefully it comes to U.S.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Oct 20, 2009 12:57 pm PT

    Hmm...I didn't know the PS3 didn't have region lockout! I thought it was only on the handheld systems.

  • HuusAsking

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 1:11 pm PT

    I'll be frank. If the track record of this series has been any indication, it would perhaps be best if the series did not jump the water. Much as I appreciate the sheer grittiness and brutality of Hokuto no Ken, the idea it'll be a Musou title fills me with named dread (which according to Terry Pratchett is even worse than nameless dread).

  • dr_jashugan

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 10:24 am PT

    Hope it turns out great.

  • SDBusDriver1979

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 9:33 am PT

    My day has come to get a import system, its going to suck but I'll still play it like I played Dynasty Warriors Gundam for no good reason.

  • TreFacTor

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 6:06 am PT

    I would be all over this title if not for the fact that it's made in the dynasty warrior mold. That is gonna suck the life out of this game by itself... what a poor decision for a classic anime!

  • WM_Samurai

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 6:02 am PT

    I pray that they release it over here. I've been a Fist of the North Star fan from the word "go". However, everyone here is right that it will be a toss up if the title is released here. Thank goodness for the reigonless PS3!

  • 91210user

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 2:07 am PT

    This game is never going to be released here... Japan loves Fist of the Big Dipper, however I would be surprised if it did get announced for Western terrorities.

  • Aero5555

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 1:38 am PT

    Hell yeah! YOU WA SHOCK !

  • SephirothSyZtem

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 9:46 pm PT

    Koei......=(

  • BlakkSteel

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 4:33 pm PT

    . . . . OR, they can make it available thru the PSN, & the world can download it!!

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 2:59 pm PT

    good news *if* they release it in US/Europe... I hope they do, if not, I'll have to learn some japanese for this one and fork out for the import I think

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 2:54 pm PT

    awesome fist of the north star was class. it best come to the uk

  • davidyang1123

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 12:14 pm PT

    saw some gameplay footage and it looks pretty good
    pretty cool how theres a boss battle

  • shii666

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 11:35 am PT

    Hmmm... Maybe KOEI will do us a favor and make the enemies attack every once in a while...

  • shawise

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 11:15 am PT

    What is there to comment on?

  • enoslives7

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 11:06 am PT

    "Say your good-byes cause you're already dead!" ....... keeeeeeyaaaaaaahhhhh

  • tenlong

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 10:53 am PT

    what! Hnk is the $hit!

  • TheTHCGamer

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 10:28 am PT

    Koei prepping Dynasty Warriors-style adaptation of postapocalyptic manga for 2010 Japanese release.

    nuff said tihs is just yet another terrible fist of the north star game that has been released over the years. just give the rights back to arc system works.

  • TheTHCGamer

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 10:26 am PT

    Next year, the publisher will revisit that formula with a twist, as today it announced plans for Hokuto Musou, based on the Hokuto No Ken series better known in the West as Fist of the North Star. The "Musou" in the title is drawn from the Dynasty Warriors franchise, called Shin Sangoku Musou in Japan. that said it all for me the dynasty warrior games are just button mashing garbage and get old in about an hr. once again arc system works made the best fist of the north star game with hokuto no ken. with the popularity of blazblue i was hoping they would get a chance to make anothe fist of the north star fighting game but unforunately we get another dynasty warriors game with just anohter franchise tacked on. first it was gundam now its fist of the north star. i guess there just trying to make money off of good anime franchises. this game even though fist of the north star is my FAVORITE anime will not be getting a purchase from me. theres only so long reptitive gameplay and button mashing can be fun.

  • djseuung

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 10:17 am PT

    wow a guyver game would be freakin awesome!!!!!

  • kenerhai

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 9:46 am PT

    Awesome. But more anime needs translated into games. And I'm not talking about all that crappy shonen jump crap, like Naruto and Inuyasha.
    We need a games based on anime like Ninja Scroll, Guyver, and Akira.
    How awesome would it be to have a racing game with Kaneda's bike?!?!?
    And I know Ghost in the Shell didn't do so hot on PS2, but I would love to see a company like Ubisoft give GITS an Assassins Creed type gameplay.

  • MamaLukuBuku

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 8:52 am PT

    The game "Black Belt" for the Sega Master System is also considered a "Fist of the North Star Game".

  • hazuki

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 8:35 am PT

    Graphically, its at least as good as fallout 3. Thats something none of the dynasty warriors or gundam current gen games can say.

  • Willceace

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 6:18 am PT

    Until I saw the KOY name I was excited. Don't fret if you miss this version. They'll have the same one out next year. And then Fist of the north star vs GUNDAM. Don't forget the lack of gore that the western versions will have. bastards.

  • jadefury27

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 6:16 am PT

    Yes! Time for some exploding head action.

  • player_leo

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 6:03 am PT

    About time for a good Fist of the North Star game. But when will the OVA come out to DVD?

  • majere613

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 6:01 am PT

    Could be interesting, but I'd prefer to get hold of the punch-pad coin-op version. That game was glorious fun, and not a bad little workout

  • blucynder

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 5:42 am PT

    I enjoy the Dynasty Warriors franchise and they sell extremely well in Japan, so I am looking forward to this game. Lu Bu is no longer the man among men.

  • aots_twilight

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 3:29 am PT

    If I punch them and they don't explode. I'll be so disappointed. . .

  • Zerosumgame posted Oct 15, 2009 3:02 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Zerosumgame

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 3:02 am PT (hide)

    This is truely a Burtal Legend!!! not the other lame one, FK. I hope this is a domestic release only, don't release it in other countires plz.

  • deathshead74

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 2:37 am PT

    The screen shot above looks nice!

  • deathshead74

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 2:35 am PT

    First I would like to say that I agree with 'ivanfred', a Ninja Scroll game adaptation would be awesome!! As for Fist of the Northstar, I really hope it is done well and does get released here in the states. It wasn't that long ago that the original Manga was finally re-released onto DVD; it had been like 10 years or longer since I had seen it. An awesome old school anime!! How great would it be to punch someone like 50 times, and then kick back....eat some popcorn....and wait for them to explode!!! Good stuff!!!

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 2:12 am PT

    I remember watching the Anime when I was younger. But younger still? I had once rented and played the original Fist of the North Star on Nintendo way back when.



    It was unusual not because of his fighting style but bear in mind back then I don't recall there being a Final Fight nor a Double Dragon. Yet here this game was on an 8-bit system delivering to some extent that type of action (in some areas atleast) yet in other areas it was equally vacant not a soul to be found (kind of unusual for a fighting game of any kind don't you think?).



    I mean I get that he would walk around a desert but where was everyone that he ended up fighting?



    This game and a few others? Good times I would not mind having another here in America.



    In hind sight I guess you could try to compare it to Kung fu but graphicswise it gave it a run for its money...on the SAME 8-bit console...



    I mean Kung Fu in comparison looked like Super Mario Bros. Yo could see the blocky pixels in everything and everyone but Fist of the North Star? didn't look blocky to me at all very much retained a since that it was based on an anime in the way that the characters looked in-game. While that alone would be impressive its equally speaks volumes about how much they cared about crating the in game art that it was done on an 8-bit console...O 8-bits? Some would view that as limited memory space for such great in game art direction.



    Yet today sometimes limited memory space is fingered as the guilty culprit for why a game with great art can't be done on this or that console...



    Then there's the game play I don't recall it suffering one bit...(sorry no pun intended) An equally noteworthy feat considering once again it was done on an 8-bit console.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 1:17 am PT

    1. Please develop it well Koei as you are now notorious for developing crap games and 2. please come to the west!

  • vicsrealms

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 12:59 am PT

    Sounds cool, but with Koei doing it......we'll see. So, the Anime is still going on? I only remember the original anime that came out like 20 years ago. I didn't even know they continued or did a remake. Will have to check it out.

  • plightstar

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 12:55 am PT

    Frikkin Awesome can not wait, guna dust off my DVD collection and watch the series again. Then maybe buy the recent series.

  • imperial_agent

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 12:42 am PT

    the entire series is on Hulu. I made it up to episode 49. Cool stuff. It hasn't even showed Raoh's face yet... so it's a pretty long series.

  • BFKZ

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 12:19 am PT

    i wanna see some fingers piercing chests

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 11:50 pm PT

    WATA TA TA TA TA TA TA AT ATA AT ATA

  • GodsPoison

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 11:36 pm PT

    No freaking way!!!!

  • Zerosumgame

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 11:31 pm PT

    Fist of the north star > everything!

  • keebthesquee

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 11:03 pm PT

    ummm... that trailer wasn't even a trailer... or even a teaser. lol. But i love me some fist of the north star. heh.

  • zomglolcats

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 9:58 pm PT

    Could be good. Hopefully its not completely like Dynasty Warriors with a Fist of the North Star paint job. The death moves could be really neat.

  • ShockG707

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 9:43 pm PT

    Wow did'nt see this coming, I'm extra excited about this one. I'm glad the PS3 is region free that way I'm sure to play.

  • drknessfeeds

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 9:16 pm PT

    Can't wait for this but this trailer is a dissapointment, wanted to see some gameplay or atleast in game characters.

  • DamnedApples

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 8:46 pm PT

    "Hey lard-*ss, you're already dead"

    If I can do that, then life will be set!

  • Clan_motor_pool

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 8:27 pm PT

    Man look at all these frakkin' weeaboos.

  • Asagea_888

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 8:10 pm PT

    Making dudes puff up and explode with a flick of your fist is the best move ever.

  • afrothundaIV

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 8:09 pm PT

    one of my favorite anime... definitely wanna play, dont **** this up koei!!!

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