Hokuto Musō
Hokuto Musō
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| Developer(s) | Omega Force |
| Publisher(s) | Koei |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| Release date(s) | March 25, 2010 |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | CERO: D |
Hokuto Musō (北斗無双) is an upcoming video game by Koei. It is a Fist of the North Star-themed version of the company's Dynasty Warriors series. Hokuto Musō will be released in Japan on March 25, 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with a possible international release following it.
Gameplay
The basic controls and mission system are the same as most Warriors titles. Players can also evade like the characters in the Samurai Warriors series. While a K.O count is still present, enemies don't necessarily swarm the players and appear in certain sections within an area. Enemies are killed in a similar manner as the original comic, including the series' unique death cries, blood, and exploding bodies.
- Players can play under three different styles found among characters: the Hokuto, Nanto, or Unique Type.
- Hokuto style users can pinpoint their opponent's secret pressure points at various times, allowing their character to deal critical damage.
- Nanto fighters can use a unique technique called Migiri Kougeki, which allows the characters to see openings in their opponent's attacks. When the player and their opponent simultaneously perform a strong attack, a select button may appear on the screen within that instant. If players successfully press the correct button within the moment it appears, the Nanto fighter will instantly evade the attack and perform a counter.
- Unique types, like Mamiya and Jagi, rely on a technical perspective and can use weapons for special attacks against their foes. They are made for veteran players who want to use trickier characters.
- A skill point system similar to recent Warriors titles also appears in the game. The main difference with Hokuto Musou is that players need to equip particular skills in order to expand their character's learning curve. As more battles are cleared, players can choose to learn whatever techniques, legendary techniques, and secondary abilities they desire for each character based on their own choices. Skill points are earned by collecting glowing balls, or "karma", found after defeating opponents in the field. They can also be earned by correctly performing a Musou Ranbu, trashing objects for scrolls, completing missions, or by finishing a stage with a sound performance.
- Players can perform an instant guard, or "Just Guard", against an opponent's blows to open opportunities for more combos. It require precise timing with the L1 trigger (PS3) to pull off the technique.
- Characters can also grab opponents, climb walls, or pick and throw items with the R2 trigger (PS3). They may also need to destroy objects to clear alternative paths through an area. Pressing R2 and triangle (PS3) or Y button (Xbox 360) re-adjusts the camera in a target position for players.
- Each character can perform, Touki Kakusei, which momentarily increases the powers of their characters by sacrificing the "Touki" gauge. It can be activated by tapping the L2 trigger (PS3) or the Left bumper (Xbox 360).
- Tapping circle (PS3) or B button (Xbox 360) lets players use their character's various techniques from the comic. These deadly techniques (or ougi) act as the character's type of "musou" in this game, allowing limited invincibility and massively damaging a target. When a technique is used, the game will momentarily freeze the action on the field until the move is completed. The nature of implementing a technique varies with each character.
- Characters are allowed to have multiple techniques at once and they can be rotated by tapping the R1 trigger (PS3). There are several new techniques for characters that were made solely for this game.
- Each character has their unique legendary technique, or Shin Denshou Ougi, which can instantly kill crowds of weak opponents if performed correctly.
- Another skill available to each character is the Musou Ranbu, which is a special finishing blow that can only be used against weakened opponents in duels. During the sequence, players will need to input buttons that flash on the screen to pummel their foe with Fist of The North Star flare. The feature is executed in a similar manner as Duels in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2, except that players need to input a longer series of button combinations for a successful finish. Causing a mistake lowers the player's health as punishment.
- Players can also taunt in the game with their characters. Taunting a foe too many times can make them enraged and tougher to defeat.
- When a character is damaged, their model may change to reflect the changes in their life gauge. If Kenshiro is wounded by an explosion, for instance, portions of his shirt will be blown away. His clothing gradually regenerates over time.
Modes
Legendary Mode
Similar to the Dynasty Warriors: Gundam titles, this is the story segment which faithfully follows the original source material. The official mode follows the first arc of the series, starting with Kenshiro's beginnings until he faces Raoh for the right of successor. Kenshiro, Rei, Mamiya, Toki, and Raoh can be played in this mode.
Clearing this mode with Rei also unlocks an alternate "white haired" Rei model for players.
Illusionary Match Mode
An original story for the game which lets other characters become playable. The basic outline of the mode has the four Hokuto brothers interacting with the "Nanto army". Each character offers a different perspective or story arc within the mode. Completing character scenarios in this section is needed to unlock more characters for this mode.
Clearing this mode with Kenshiro unlocks an alternate torn clothes version for him at the character select screen.
Challenge Mode
Unlocked once Kenshiro's official mode is cleared, it pits the players against a continuous string of opponents. Players can simultaneously face the four Hokuto candidates, the six Nanto Seiken, and other challenges as the players continue playing. It acts as the game's survival mode.
Introduction Mode
The game's tutorial mode for anyone unfamiliar with the game's system, starting with Kenshiro (Hokuto Type). Includes Rei (Nanto Type) and Mamiya (Unique Type) once the second chapter of Kenshiro's official mode is cleared.
Gallery
Features renders, music, and movies within the game.
Settings
Players can arrange the buttons, adjust the sound, or turn off the gauges on the screen. There are three difficulties: easy, normal, or hard. An option to adjust the game's violence level can also be done: "Hard" keeps the blood and gore while "Mild" turns it off.
Characters
Voice actors in parentheses
Playable Characters
- Kenshiro (Katsuyuki Konishi)
- Raoh (Fumihiko Tachiki)
- Toki (Tomokazu Seki)
- Jagi (Wataru Takagi)
- Rei (Takehito Koyasu)
- Shin (Tomokazu Sugita)
- Souther (Nobutoshi Kanna)
- Mamiya (Naomi Shindō)
Other Characters
- Yuria (Hōko Kuwashima)
- Bat (Umeka Shōji)
- Lin (Kanae Itō)
- Airi (Umeka Shōji)
- Yuda (Keisuke Baba)
- Shū (Takahiro Yoshimizu)
- Jūza (Masaya Takatsuka)
- Fudō (Hiromu Miyazaki)
- Ryūga (Takeshi Mori)
- Zeed (Shunzō Miyasaka)
- Heart (Takahiro Fujimoto)
- Kiba Daiō (Kōhei Fukuhara)
- Uighur (Ryūzaburō Ōtomo)
- Amiba (Tomokazu Seki)
- Kokuō
- Narrator: Norio Wakamoto
Stages
- Hokuto School
- Southern Cross
- Cassandra
- Holy Emperor Cross Mausoleum
Development
It was originally announced as a "mystery title" during the 2009 Tokyo Game Show and was publicly unveiled during a staged media event on October 14, 2009 (broadcast live to the Japanese movie site, Nico Nico Douga). Its story and characters are based on the famous Japanese comic and anime Fist of the North Star. Tetsuo Hara and Yoshiyuki Okamura, the illustrator and writer of the original comic, have expressed their support and enthusiasm for the title.
Hisashi Koinuma, the game's producer says that the staff aims to create a "new realistic feel" for the Fist of the North Star series while still being faithful to the original's roots. During this process, he remarked his concerns for the characters' body structure, muscles, and other minute details (such as perfecting the model for Raoh's wrinkled forehead). He notes that the official mode for this title carries more action adventure tones than other Warriors titles thus far yet gave his assurance that Warriors fans can easily feel at home in the game's original story mode. He personally spoke his thoughts regarding the game at Yodobashi-Akiba, Biccamera Yurakucho, and Biccamera Ikebukuro on March 22 and March 25. He also played a rock-paper-scissor game for attendants, the winner of the crowd obtaining an original T-shirt signed by the game's voice actors.
Downloadable Content
Upon release of the game, Koei plans for special downloadable content for the game, including additional costumes and Characters. Players can also gain access to download Kenshiro's original costume from the Manga and the Anime for 300 yen, originally available for the first print editions.[1]
Bundles
The game comes in four different variations; a standalone copy of the game, the pre-order version, the First print edition and the treasure box edition. The first print edition comes with the access to download download Kenshiro's original costume, the pre-order version comes with the Metal Card Case and the treasure box edition includes the character voice Alarm Clock, an original soundtrack CD and a original story book with strategies and artwork.
Theme Song
Female Jpop artist Nana Tanimura performed two theme songs for the game, "FAR AWAY" and "Believe You" during the October 14, 2009 press event. It will be used during promotional videos and will be used during the game. Tanimura herself dresses up as the game versions of Yuria and Mamiya while performing these songs in live Koei sponsored events. The single, titled "FAR AWAY/Believe you", which contains both songs, is released on March 24, 2010.
The first opening song of the Fist of the North Star anime, "Ai wo Torimodose!!", can also be heard in the game as background music. It will be given a special heavy metal arrangement for the game and will play during important events.
- Far Away by Nana Tanimura
- Believe You by Nana Tanimura
Promotions
Pokka Coffee was performing a collaboration event with Fist of the North Star in which they had specially printed cans on their products. These same drinks were present during the March 3rd Premium play test for Hokuto Musou.