Hokuto no Ken (Famicom)

The Family Computer video game version of Hokuto no Ken (北斗の拳) is a 2D side-scrolling action game published by Toei Animation and developed by Toei Systems. It was released exclusively in Japan on August 10, 1986 in Japan and was the first of four Hokuto no Ken video games released for the Famicom. While it features gameplay similar to Sega's earlier Mark III version of Hokuto no Ken, it is a completely different game made by a separate team.

Story

In the year 199X, the world was covered by nuclear flames... The road to challenge Ken-oh, the Conqueror of Century's End, will be a long one. Standing before Kenshiro's way are Heart, the homicidal maniac; Shin, the man of Nanto Seiken; Jagi, Kenshiro's stepbrother; and Souther, the strongest man within Nanto Seiken. To defeat the Ken-oh, Raoh, Kenshiro attain the secret principles of Hokuto Shinken.

Controls

• Controller I
  • A Button - Punch
  • B Button - Kick
  • Up - Jump
  • Down - Crouch
  • Left - Walk Left
  • Right - Walk right
  • Select - Switch between 1-Player Mode or 2-Player Mode on the title screen
  • Start - Starts the game on the title screen after selecting game mode.
  • Pause - To pause the game, simply press Start during gameplay and you will hear a chime. Press it again to continue the game.

• Controller II
  • Used by Player 2 during a 2-Player game. Has the same functions as Controller I.

How to play

• How to proceed - After the game begins, you can move the scenery by having Kenshiro walk to the left.

• How to enter doors - When Kenshiro comes across certain doors, he can enter them by holding down A and B button simultaneously and pressing the directional pad up. Kenshiro will enter the door and you will enter a new level. Enter as many door as you can until you reach the end of the stage.

• Power-up - When you defeat the red-colored enemies with punches, the word "あべし" (abeshi) will appear floating above him. Pick it up to increase your power level, which will be indicated by the number of stars next to your hit counter. You can increase your power up to seven stars.

• Hit - Indicate the number of enemies defeated. You will gain an extra life if you beat enemies consistently.

Characters

• Kenshiro - The player character. The successor of Hokuto Shinken.
• Yuria - Kenshiro's fiancee. She has been kidnapped by Raoh.
• The Ken-oh Invasion Squad (拳王侵攻隊, Ken-ō Shinkō Tai) (300 points each) - The low-ranked enemy characters in Stage 1 and 2. They can punch, kick, and jump. Their weapons includes knives, axes, arrows, and boomerangs (each worth 100 points when intercepted).
• The Ken-oh Elite Guard (拳王親衛隊, Ken Shin-ei Tai) (300 points each) - The low ranked enemy characters in Stage 3-5. Stronger than the Invasion Squad with greater jumping ability.
• Heart (2000 points) - The boss of Stage 1. When he is not being attacked, he will attempt to rush towards Kenshiro to knock him down. He is extremely fast.
• Shin (2000 points) - The boss of Stage 2. A master of Nanto Seiken. He retreats when Kenshiro approaches by jumping and attacking at the same time. He attacks by launching vacuum waves (100 points if intercepted)
• Jagi (3000 points) - The boss of Stage 3. Kenshiro's stepbrother. A master of Hokuto Shinken and Nanto Seiken. He attacks with punches, kicks, and throwing knives.
• Souther (5000 points) - The boss of Stage 4. The strongest man in Nanto Seiken. He attacks by launching several vacuum waves (100 points if intercepted) at Kenshiro.
• Raoh (9000 points) - The boss of Stage 5. Kenshiro's eldest brother. He is surrounded by an aura shield which makes impervious to Kenshiro's attacks. To attack, Kenshiro must also use his own aura...