Fist Of The North Star: Lost Paradise Review
Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise: A heroic epic a bit outdatedCult manga as well as Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya or Captain Tsubasa, Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken in Japan and Ken the survivor in France) experienced the joys of video game adaptation from the 80s. And it's now Ryu Ga Gotoku studio's turn to dwell on Kenshiro's post-apocalyptic adventures. Open world with Yakuza sauce ... Is Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise the worthy heir of the Hokuto Shinken school?
LOVE IS IN THE DESERT
Last decade of the 20th century. Undetermined year (199X). Civilization is only a distant memory. Man wanders on the surface of a desert planet charred by nuclear fire. In this post-apocalyptic context, Kenshiro desperately searches for his fiancée Yuria, kidnapped by Shin (master of the Nanto Seiken). After a Dantesque fight by way of introduction, the fourth brother of the Hokuto Shinken learns the death of his beloved. Unable to mourn, this last era in Wasteland leaping from rumor to rumor ... a quest that will lead him to the gates of the city of Eden.The Ryu Ga Gotoku studio appropriates the work of Tetsuo Hara here. This Fist of the North Star tells an alternative story, a new narrative arc drawing in the main events and highlights of the first animated series. The main characters (Bat, Rei, Thouzer, Jagi, Uighur, Toki, Devil Rebirth, Raoh ...) and certain places in the saga (Cassandra prison ...) have come together to seduce the fans. However, Lost Paradise perfectly accompanies neophytes through flashbacks and discussions sufficiently verbose and rich in information to give meaning to the story.
However, this adventure structured around a single city, namely the City of Miracles (City of Miracles), connects the adventures without actually creating a binding, without consolidating the whole, to the point of becoming anecdotal at times. The result is a series of flowery conversations and violent confrontations ... dragging on. The end alone with its "endless" series of fights tests the patience of the most hardened players. The rhythm suffered from intensity decreases before setting off again.
This Fist of the North Star 2018 version does not just recycle Kenshiro's life, quite the contrary. The title of Ryu Ga Gotoku adds new characters, among which Xsana, Lord Nadai, a new threat in the person of Kyo-oh and his Army of Ruin and of course the city of Eden ... central point of the story. However, these new elements at no time distort the purpose of the manga and integrate perfectly. The ultra violence of the fights, the assumed gore, the hectoliters of blood, the exaggerated poses and the situations always also Over The Top testify to the love of the studio for the original work and its will to remain faithful to it. this.
The staging, strength of the Yakuza studio, accentuates the epic dimension of the confrontations. In this post-apocalyptic world, exaggeration rules and Kenshiro exaggerates beyond reality for the greatest pleasure of the fans during cinematics, pillars of the story, produced with care. These sketches, dubbed in your choice of English or Japanese and subtitled in English, rattle the players' ears and make them smile sincerely. And the artistic direction "manga" pays homage, not to the 1983 series, but to recent films and OAV. These Cel-Shading graphics soiled by semi-realistic textures bring a certain cachet to the visuals, despite a technique far from current standards in many aspects.
Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise is based on the engine of Yakuza Zero: The Place of Oath and Yakuza Kiwami and it shows. The rigidity of the animations, the resolution of certain textures, the vintage lighting and the lack of life in the surroundings betray the obsolescence of an engine that has had its day. However, the artists of the studio perfectly transcribe the extravagant outfits all in leather and studs and the cult of the body of the franchise. Post-apocalyptic punks inspired by Mad Max 2 haunt the city of Eden and Wasteland with a 100% assumed kitsch that will undoubtedly please fans and seduce the everyday.
YAKUZA’POCALYPSE
Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise promised to merge the post-apocalyptic universe of the license and the game system of the Yakuza series and on this point, the studio keeps its promise by concocting a vast open world rich in activities. at least on paper. Only the city of Eden is of real interest during the adventure. Kenshiro strolls through the streets of the City of Miracles, chats with its citizens, buys food and equipment using local currency, and responds to the call of duty during side quests that are always so crazy (and sometimes useless).The fourth brother of Hokuto Shinken also swaps his combat outfit to become a bartender, club manager or even an osteopath. These unexpected and fun sequences have the intelligence to break the linearity of the adventure and brighten up the city nights. The same applies to the few additional activities and missions. Fighting in the Colosseum, becoming a bounty hunter or spending your fortune at the casino (Blackjack, Poker ...), the life of our hero is not easy. The icing on the cake, Ken also plays retro gravediggers by literally digging up arcade machines (Hokuto no Ken of 1986 ...).
Due to its size and geographic position, Eden obviously serves as a central hub, a nerve center. The narrative and therefore the majority of the quests begin and end here, the Wasteland being mainly used to artificially extend the playing area. Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise tries and this attempt is commendable, but fails to rise to the challenge competition. Eden remains a pleasant city to browse and discover before having visited it ... far too quickly.
THE HOKUTO SHINKEN'S WAY
Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise: A heroic epic a bit outdatedFist of the North Star Lost Paradise hits the table with style. Kenshiro, past master of Hokuto Shinken, covers the immaculate dunes of this post-apo universe with the blood of his enemies. The combat system effectively incorporates the basic mechanics of the Yakuza series. Combos, parades, cons, dodges and Heat gauge are the sap of this Beat'em All, but the martial art previously quoted is distinguished by the exploitation of the pressure points of the opponent to make it explode. Kenshiro hammers the enemy in order to create a meridian shock (Meridian Shock) necessary to launch special techniques with evocative names (One Hundred Fists Rush, Fist of Penitence ...).
Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise: A heroic epic a bit outdated
The blood spurts excessively. The cry of enemies pierces the skies before dying out in an explosive groan. The title of Ryu Ga Gotoku is an ode to Hokuto Shinken and this particular violence that emerges from the animated series. The studio perfectly masters its subject and manages to renew these combat phases throughout the adventure, thanks in particular to devious bosses with varied attacks and the desired staging. The sequences in QTE (contextual actions) and the cutscenes underline the epic of the moment.
The learning system also spices these games through orbs to spend in four talent trees in order to gain resistance or to unlock new techniques. As he travels, Kenshiro integrates new movements and enriches his range of solutions in the face of ever more powerful and determined adversaries. Certainly, the studio does not innovate in anything with these RPG mechanics, but these have the merit of existing and spicing up the debates. In addition, accessories and talismans of destiny grant the hero significant passive bonuses. The latter in particular temporarily improve defense, fill the Heat gauge, etc. for an often convincing result once in the arena.
Very close to the Yakuza series, Fist of the North Star appropriates the combat system to transpose controllers into hands all the specificity of Hokuto no Ken clashes with a certain talent. Redundant at first glance, these phases of gameplay gain in interest and intensity chapter after chapter. Kenshiro deploys all its power and demonstrates its expertise in style. Exploding post-apocalyptic punks is rarely as rewarding.
A SPECTACULAR ROUTE EXIT
Leaving his favorite field, namely the open worlds traveled on foot, Ryu Ga Gotoku was taking a risk and this is confirmed once at the wheel of a buggy. Driving frustrates the most patient players and ruins the very existence of Wasteland to the point of losing patience. Vehicle control is archaic. The only act of turning is an act of faith sometimes leading to an incomprehensible spin. Admittedly, the universe of Fist of the North Star would be only the shadow of itself without these famous motorized chases in the desert against the backdrop of Heavy Metal, but as it is the road exit is radical.In the collective imagination, the exploration of Wasteland is a guarantee of freedom and epic hair in the wind. In reality, these stretches of desert deprived of life are of too little interest. With the exception of enemies hitting you to start a fight and the resources to be gleaned, this Wasteland is a "corridor" leading to the different script areas and nothing else. And yet, the Game Over hangs in your face. Gasoline is a scarce commodity in this world and running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere is synonymous with failure. Logical in fact, this nail in the tire (thorn in the foot) transforms an epic raid into the Stations of the Cross.
To note, for the amateurs of personalization, the possibility of modifying the buggy as it pleases the color of the cabin with the various parts which compose it. These modifications are essential to participate in different races with the hope of winning them.
The notes
+ Positive points
A new narrative arc faithful to the work of Tetsuo Hara ...
An epic staging and Over the Top
An artistic direction worthy of the manga
Tactical and bloody battles
A living city of Eden
Multiple activities and professions to discover
-Negative points
... suffering from a lack of rhythm at times
An under-exploited Wasteland
Capricious driving phases
An outdated game engine
Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise hits hard and hits the fan right in the heart ... failing to aim right. The title of Sega pays homage to the original work and offers an epic adventure suckled by fan service. Fighting alone justifies getting lost in this ultra-violent post-apocalyptic universe. Unfortunately, an empty Open World, a blatant lack of rhythm and capricious driving phases scratch the players' patience and therefore the playing experience. The art of Hokuto Shinken still awaits an heir worthy of its legend.
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