Fist of the North Star (1987-)

• Developer: Shouei System

• Publisher: Toei Animation

• Genre: Action

• Designer: Kenichi Suzuki

• Composer: Tomohisa Mitsuyasu

Fist of the North Star for the NES is an action beat ’em up game developed by Shouei and published by Toei Animation in 1987. The game is based on the popular manga and anime series of the same name, which follows the post-apocalyptic adventures of Kenshiro, a martial artist with deadly combat abilities. While the NES version remained exclusive to the console, the Fist of the North Star franchise spawned numerous adaptations across arcade, home console, and handheld systems, reflecting the widespread popularity of the source material. The game translates the dramatic combat and intense narrative of the series into a side-scrolling action experience for players.

In the NES adaptation, players control Kenshiro as he battles gangs, warlords, and rival martial artists to protect the innocent in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The game draws inspiration from the manga’s emphasis on martial arts, revenge, and justice, capturing the series’ signature over-the-top combat moves and dramatic finishing attacks. The story progresses through multiple stages, each depicting a different devastated city or desert landscape, culminating in confrontations with powerful bosses that reflect iconic moments from the original anime.

Gameplay features include side-scrolling combat, special attacks, and limited health management. Players must defeat waves of enemies using a combination of punches, kicks, and signature martial arts techniques. The NES version simplifies some of the manga’s complex fighting moves into accessible button combinations while retaining a sense of strategy through timing and positioning. The soundtrack includes energetic and dramatic musical themes that underscore combat intensity and convey a sense of urgency, while sound effects accompany punches, kicks, and finishing moves to reinforce the action on-screen.

Fist of the North Star had no prequel on the NES and did not receive a direct sequel for the system, although the franchise continued with numerous games on other platforms, such as Hokuto no Ken titles for the Famicom, Super Famicom, and various arcade machines. Promotion highlighted the game’s faithful adaptation of the beloved manga and anime, emphasizing Kenshiro’s martial arts prowess and the intense, action-packed gameplay. Reception was mixed; fans appreciated the faithful representation of the series’ characters and dramatic combat, while critics often pointed to the repetitive gameplay and limited controls as drawbacks. Despite these issues, the NES version remains a notable early adaptation of a major anime franchise.

Images from MobyGames