Hokuto no Ken (Sega Mark III): Difference between revisions

}}{{Translation|'''Hokuto no Ken'''|北斗の拳|Lit=Fist of the North Ladle}} is a video game released in Japan on July 20, 1986 by [[Wikipedia:Sega|Sega]] for the [[Wikipedia:Sega Master System|Sega Mark III]] gaming platform. It is a side-scrolling action game that follows the events depicted in the first television series from [[Kenshiro]]'s battle against [[Shin]] and his gang to his final showdown with [[Raoh]]. The game consists of side-scrolling levels where the player must reach the goal while defeating numerous enemy grunts and sub-bosses along the way, each leading to a one-on-one battle with the stage's boss. Despite featuring similar gameplay, this game is unrelated to Toei's video game version of ''[[Hokuto no Ken (Famicom)|Hokuto no Ken]]'' for the Family Computer released a few months later. The game's lead programmer was [[wikipedia:Yuji Naka|Yuji Naka]], who would later be known for his work on the ''[[Wikipedia:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' game franchise. Despite appearing on the cover artwork, [[Rei]] does not actually appear in this game.

The original Mark III version game is included along with an enhanced remake in ''[[Sega Ages 2500 Hokuto no Ken]]'' for the [[wikipedia:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]] in 2004. The game was later re-released for the [[wikipedia:Wii|Wii]] [[wikipedia:Virtual Console|Virtual Console]] in Japan on February 26, 2008. An overseas version of the game was produced for the western Master System titled '''''Black Belt''''', which lacked the ''Hokuto no Ken'' license of the Japanese version and featured altered graphics as a result. The game is also an unlockable extra in ''[[Hokuto Ga Gotoku]]'' in all regions, in its original form.

Listed by order of appearance. Note aside from Devil, all of the giants in the series are significantly smaller in size in the game. One such example being Uighur standing at the same height as Kenshiro.

 

* [[Spade]] - The first sub-boss of Chapter 1. He attacks by throwing axes. He is changed into a Kung fu Master in ''Black Belt. ''

* [[Diamond]] - The second sub-boss. He attacks with a bo. Changed into a Kung fu master in in <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Belt. .</span>

* [[Club]] - The third sub-boss. He wields large claws on both hands and can attack while jumping. Changed into a Kung Fu master in <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Belt. </span>

* [[Heart]] - The fourth sub-boss. He can only be defeated by throwing four consecutive punches on his belly. Changed into a Kung fu Master in in <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Belt. </span>

* [[Shin]] - The boss of Chapter 1. His weak spot is his chest. After delivering the final punch, Kenshiro will perform the {{nihongo|[[Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken]]|北斗百裂拳}} on him, knocking him dead. He is turned into Ryu, a Kung fu Master in Black Belt.

* {{nihongo|Golan Recruits|GOLAN訓練生|Golan Kunrensei}} - The enemy grunts of Chapter 2. Newly recruited Golan soldiers trained by the Mad Sarge. They are turned into wrestlers in <span style="font-style:italic;">''Black Belt.''</span>

* {{nihongo|Captain of the Elite Guard|親衛隊長|Shin'eitaichō}} - The first sub-boss of Chapter 2. A whip-wielding Golan commando who is one of the hardest characters in the game.. Likely the same character as the [[Major]]. Changed into an animal tamer in <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Belt. </span>

* [[Mad Sarge]] - The second sub-boss. He attacks with a combat knife and blood-sucking needle knives. Changed into a punk. in <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Belt. </span>

* [[Colonel]] - The boss of Chapter 2. He attacks with boomerangs. His weak spot is his face. After delivering the final blow, Kenshiro will perform the {{nihongo|[[Hokuto Kaikotsu Ken]]|北斗壊骨拳}} on him, causing him to explode afterward. In <span style="font-style:italic;">Black Belt, ''Colonel'' becomes Hawk, a punk with a mohawk.</span>

* {{nihongo|Jackal's lackeys|ジャッカルの部下|Jakkaru no Buka}} - The enemy grunts of Chapter 3. Members of Jackal's gang. Turned into martial artists in ''Black Belt.''

* [[Fox]] - The only sub-boss in Chapter 3. He attacks by spinning his blade around while jumping. Turned into a Jujutsu master in ''Black Belt.''

* [[Devil Rebirth]] - The boss of Chapter 3. He uses {{nihongo|[[Fūsatsu Kongō Ken]]|風殺金剛拳}} technique to create flames. He can also defeat Ken by merely jumping over him. His weak spot is his head. When finishing him, Kenshiro will perform the {{nihongo|[[Hokuto Shichi Shi Sei Ten]]|北斗七死星点}}. The battle with Devil is the only boss battle in the game where Kenshiro remains in his regular size instead of using the large sprite used in every other boss battle (presumably done in order to properly convey the large size of Devil). ''Black Belt '' drastically alters the battle so Devil is a sumo and the large sprite for the player is used. Additionally the finisher is changed to the Sumo being knocked out of the ring.

* {{nihongo|Cassandra Guards|カサンドラ衛士|Kasandora Eishi}} - The enemy grunts of Chapter 4. Members of Raoh's army assigned to watch over Cassandra. They become ninjas in ''Black Belt.''

* {{nihongo|Eagles|鷲|Washi}} - Enemy creatures who will descend from the sky and attack Kenshiro. Likely based off the eagle that threatened [[Mitsu]]. They are not altered in ''Black Belt.''

* [[Uighur]] - The first sub-boss of Chapter 4. He attacks with a body ram and his whip. He is turned into a red ninja in ''Black Belt.''

* {{nihongo|The King of Fist's Royal Guards|拳王親衛隊|Ken'ō Shin'eitai}} - The second sub-bosses in Chapter 4. A pair of swordsman who also attack with throwing stars. They are based on [[Zarqa]] and [[Qasim]]. In ''Black Belt'', they become ninjas.

* [[Toki]] - The boss of Chapter 4. Toki can only be defeated by literally exchanging blows with him until his life gauge is almost empty. During the battle, Kenshiro will learn the {{nihongo|Fist of Softness|柔の拳|Jū no Ken}} from Toki. Toki becomes a ninjitsu master with an Oni mask in ''Black Belt.''

* {{nihongo|The Holy Emperor's Army|聖帝軍|Seiteigun}} - The enemy grunts of Chapter 5. Souther's army of loyal warriors. They are turned into female warriors in ''Black Belt.''

* {{nihongo|Flamethrower Troops|火炎放射隊|Kaenhōshatai}} - The sub-bosses of Chapter 5 based off [[Flamethrower Man]]. The player will fight three groups of two throughout the stage. They are gender flipped into flamethrower women in ''Black Belt.''

* [[Souther]] - The boss of Chapter 5. His weak spot changes places between hits and the player must strike his head, chest, waist and legs in that very order to defeat him. Kenshiro will finish him with the {{nihongo|[[Hokuto Ujō Ken]]|北斗有情拳}} In ''Black Belt'', Souther is gender swapped into Rita, a female martial artist who appears to serve Wang.

* [[Raoh]] - The final opponent. He has a very orthodox fighting style compared to other bosses, but has greater strength. His weak spot is his chest. After defeating him, he will ascend to the heavens. ''Black Belt'' turns Raoh into Wang, a martial artist with the same training as the protagonist.

* '''Energy''': To gain extra health in Chapters 1, 3, or 4, perform a high jump kick when the timer reaches "080". A power-up shaped like the letter "E" will appear. Pick it up to regain health.

* '''Power-up''': To gain temporary invicibility in Chapters 2 or 5, punch one of the dog-faced statues above any of the gates and a power-up shaped like the letter "P" will appear. Pick it up and the background music will change, making Ken invulnerable to enemy attacks while it plays.

* '''Chapter 7''': After defeating Raoh, press Up twenty times when the final message is displayed after Ken and Yuria are reunited. Chapter 7 is a boss rush stage where the player must defeat all six bosses in a single life bar. There is no health recovery between fights.

|None (see below) ||懺悔無用 (''Sangen Muyō'') || Fourth finishing move

;Infinite Health (but vulnerable to Devil Rebirth)