Don't stand in the way of Ken's fist

by: Nathan - posted: 10/13/2010 5:37:00 AM

Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage was a game I became excited about the instance I read about it. Then I found it was gong to be a Japanese exclusive, then it came out in Europe, and now finally its US release is just a month away. I admit that I was looking forward to something more akin to the graphical styling of the Dragon Ball Z video games, but I'm quite satisfied with the Ninja Gaiden/Devil May Cry 4 presentation. The only thing I'm really concerned with in the gameplay video below are the special moves. Yes, it is cool to see the description and hear the narration of the move after it's completed (just like the anime/manga). Just like bullet cam, this feature will become annoying after an hour or so of playing. I'm hoping there's an option to turn it off. An option to turn the gore into explosions of white light would be awesome as well.

“You Are Already Dead!”
As witnessed in countless revenge tales throughout the ages, the story behind Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage is written in blood. Presented by Tecmo Koei America, Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage recounts a violent tale of vengeance and honor, where the only thing standing between innocent lives and death is one man’s fist...
 
And like any great story, Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage has a storied past and an explosive beginning.
 
The originalFist of the North Star took the world of Japanese comics – known as manga – by storm in 1983 when it first hit Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. The story ran from 1983 until 1988, spanning 245 chapters.
 
Fist of the North Star delivered a cast of memorable characters whose lives intertwined in a web of violence and brutality. The story dealt with mature themes including loss, love, betrayal, redemption, revenge and honor. The titular character in Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage – and the original Fist of the North Star manga – Kenshiro, also known as Ken, is the successor of a deadly martial arts style known as Hokuto Shinken. This deadly art allows him to kill enemies from within by striking the body’s vital points. The true story of Fist of the North Star is set in motion after the world falls into despair following a nuclear war.
 
After the war, chaos ensues and the land is populated by madmen and gangs who seek to rule over the weak and helpless survivors of the nuclear holocaust. Among these characters are rival martial artists and members of Ken’s adopted brotherhood – also masters of the martial arts. Ken’s drive throughout the blood-soaked story is to rescue his fiancée Yuria, who was kidnapped by a rival martial artist named Shin.  Ken hunts down Shin and meets an army of fighters along the way. Ken befriends some, battles others, and grows stronger through his journey. While he is always searching for Yuria, he never fails to help people in need that he meets along the way. Records of his deeds are spread throughout the land, earning him the name of “Savior of the Century’s End”.
 
Action and manga fans will experience Ken’s origins and many more characters and plotlines for themselves in Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage.
 
Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage fights its way to stores November 2, 2010 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
 
About Fist of the North Star
In Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage, players assume the role of Ken, a man with seven scars on his chest and the chosen successor of the legendary assassin’s art known as Hokuto Shinken.  Sworn to protect the weak and innocent from malicious gangs roaming the post-apocalyptic planet, players use Ken’s trademark moves to decimate enemies on his quest to find his long-lost love.
Tearing through the scorched landscape, manga and action fans will pummel their way through dozens of enemies at once and crush obstacles in their path, using them against their foes. They will execute blistering finish attacks in faithfully recreated environments ripped straight from the comic legend. But Ken doesn’t need to fight alone – he’s joined by an unforgettable cast of playable characters from the Fist of the North Star universe, including Mamiya and Rei, among others. 
If you have any specific assets requests or needs for any planned coverage please let us know!