Hokuto no Ken 3

Hokuto no Ken 3 - Shin Seiki Sōzō - Seiken Retsuden
Developer(s)	Shouei System
Publisher(s)	Toei Animation
Platform(s)	Family Computer
Release date(s)	October 19, 1989
Genre(s)	RPG
Mode(s)	Single player
Media	Cartridge
Input methods	Controller

Hokuto no Ken 3 : Shin-Seiki Sōzō Seiken Retsuden (北斗の拳3 新世紀創造 凄拳列伝, which roughly translates to Fist of the North Star 3: The Creator of the New Century - History of the Dreaded Fist) is the third Hokuto no Ken video game developed by Shouei Systems and released by Toei Animation for the Family Computer (the Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment System) on October 19, 1989. Unlike the first two Hokuto no Ken video games for the platform, which were side-scrolling action games, Hokuto no Ken 3 is a role playing game which adapts the storyline of the original manga from the beginning to the Kingdom of Shura story arc. It was the first in a trilogy of RPGs based on the franchise.

Characters

Certain plot details in the game differ from that of the original manga.

Playable characters

• Kenshiro - The player's main character. Successor to the Hokuto Shin Ken style and the story's main protagonist. His role in the story does not differ much from the original manga. If he is defeated in combat, then the player will be warped back to Ryūken's room with half of their currency.
  • Skills: Secret techniques (奥義, Ōgi), vital points (秘孔, Hikō)

• Bat - A young boy who becomes Kenshirō's self-proclaimed manager. His first meeting with Kenshirō occurs differently compared to how it happens in manga, as neither one are thrown in jail. At the early stages of the game, Bat's offensive power will be greater than Kenshirō's if he equips a weapon. After Raoh's passing, he grows up and rejoins Ken's party as an adult. he abandons the player's party after Kenshirō leaves for the Land of Asura, but appears again after Kaioh's defeat to rescue Lin. At the end of the game, Ken entrusts Lin to him.
  • Skill: Hide (回避, kaihi)

• Lin - A young girl who lives in the village of Mesaia. Unlike in the manga, she can already speak when she first meets Kenshirō. She claims to have traveled to various places as a child, knowing the locations of other villages, and tries to convince the player to allow her into the party by telling this. After Raoh's death, she rejoins the player's party as a grown woman, but is eventually taken captive by Jask and sent to the Land of Asura. She disappears after she is sold over to Han, but she is eventually found and rescued by Bat at the end.
  • Skills: Heal (治療, chiryō), Hide (回避, kaihi)

• Rei -Successor to the Nanto Suichō Ken style. He saves off on a journey to rescue his sister Airi from Gotland. He later goes after the Fang Clan when he learns that Airi was sold to them as a slave. However, he is unable to infiltrate the clan to rescue, so he asks Kenshiro for his help. After doing this favor, Rei joins the player's party and entrusts his life to Ken. When he later returns to Grimtown after it is invaded by Raoh, he challenges Raoh to combat, but he is defected after his Shinkesshū point is struck, leaving him with only a few days to live. His life is extended after his Shinreidai point is struck, allowing him to challenge Yuda and rescue Mamiya from his clutches. Rei dies shortly after defeating Yuda.
  • Skill: Secret techniques (奥義, Ōgi)

• Toki - The second of the Hokuto disciples. He awaits at Cassandra after being imprisoned by Jackal. After being rescued, he joins Kenshiro's party. He eventually receives an invitation from his natural brother Raoh to return to their childhood home and settle their rivalry. Although he is defeated by Raoh, his life is spared by his brother due to his illness. Since the Ryuga story was not adapted in this game, what becomes of Toki after leaving the player's party is unknown.
  • Skills: Secret techniques (奥義, Ōgi), vital points (秘孔, Hikō)

• Fudō - A member of the Nanto Gosha Sei. He is the adoptive father to numerous orphaned children. He awaits Kenshirō alongside Rihaku at the entrance of the Last General of Nanto's castle and joins his party in order to guide him through the castle. When Raoh leaves with Yuria and learns that he has headed to the Hokuto Renkitōza to await Kenshirō, he leaves the player's party, going after Raoh before Kenshiro does. When the player arrives at the Hokuto Renkitōza, Fudō is already defeated by Raoh and tells Ken that must defeat Raoh before dying.
  • Skills: Secret techniques (奥義, Ōgi), Protect (守る, mamoru)

• Ein - A bounty hunter forced to serve Bask after his daughter Asuka is taken captive. After the player rescues Asuka, he becomes a member of the player's party. Unlike in the manga, Ein doesn't die, but he leaves the player's party when Ken travels to Asura.
  • Skill: Protect (守る, mamoru)

Non-playable characters

• Yuria - Kenshirō's beloved fiancee who was kidnapped by Shin. Ken sets off to Southern Cross to rescue her, only to be told that she took her own life by jumping off from Shin's palace. It is later revealed that she survived and took on the identity of the Last General of Nanto. However, she is abducted from her castle by Raoh, who uses her as bait to lure Ken to their final battle. After Raoh is defeated, she goes on a journey together with Ken, until she dies from an illness.
• Ryūken - The previous successor to Hokuto Shin Ken and the master to Kenshirō and his brothers-in-training. He tells Kenshirō at the beginning of the game to follow the path of becoming the Savior of the Post-Apocalyptic World. Every time Kenshirō is defeated in combat, he is transported to Ryūken's room and revived. Ryūken also has the ability to revive Ken's fallen comrades, as well teach Ken the Tenha Kassatsu technique, which is required to defeat Souther. Unlike in the manga, Ryūken never dies and is still alive even through the Imperial Capital and Shura story arcs.
• Misumi - An old man who lives in the village of Minōri. He is said to have infiltrated Southern Cross in the past, which is where obtained his bag of rice seed. However, his rice seed bag is stolen by Zeed (instead of Spade like in the manga) and he falls into a state of shock. After retrieving the rice seed to him, he will reveal to the player the underground passage he took to get into Southern Cross. Unlike in the manga, Misumi never dies.
• Tarousa (タロウザ) - A game original character. A sailor who owns a boat shop near Gotland. For 50 judol, he will transport the player's party to Grimtown. He appears again in Hokuto no Ken 4.
• Airi - Rei's younger sister. She originally lived in the village of Oasis until she was captured by the Golan and then sold to the Fang Clan. She is rescued after Ken defeats the Boss of the Fang Clan. According to a villager, she seems to have pleasant singing voice.
• Mamiya - The female guardian of Grimtown, Mamiya fights to protect her village from the Fang Clan. When Yuda attacks the village, she is taken captive by him and confined at Grimm Tower. After Yuda is defeated, she bears witness to Rei's final moments as he dies. Her role in the game is minor compared to the manga and her past with Yuda is never even mentioned.
• Abeshi (あべし) and Hidebu (ひでぶ) - Two game original characters. An eccentric father and son duo who had vital points struck by Jagi. Abeshi and Hidebu are not their real names. Hidebu (the son) later appears in Hokuto no Ken 4 with a son of his own also named Abeshi.
• Yasuhide (ヤスヒデ) - A game original character, his role in the game is similar to Yū. He is a young boy who was captured by Amiba's dummy hunting squad and was intended to be used as a guinea pig for Amiba's experiments. After he is rescued, Yasuhide's grandfather will reveal the hidden path to Villainy Prison.
• Raiga and Fūga - Two warriors who stand near the gates of Cassandra, although they're not the gatekeepers like they were in the manga. When the player defeat Zakoru (the gatekeeper in the game), the two will reveal to the player that they'll need to obtain a key from Villainy Prison in order to open the gate of Cassandra. After Toki joins the player's party, they'll inform the player that Ken-oh's army is heading to Grimtown. Unlike in the manga, neither one dies.
• Shū - The master of the Nanto Hakuro Ken style and representative of the Star of Benevolence. He leads a resistance movement against Souther's forces. He informs Ken that is the Hokuto school's destiny to defeat Souther, who stands atop the chaos of Nanto. After Souther's defeat, he allows the player's party access to his home village, where they can use a village to travel to Toki's hometown. The event from the manga where he is forced to carry the summit of the Holy Emperor's Cross Mausoleum never happens, and as a result doesn't die.
• Kōryū - Ryūken's former rival for the Hokuto Shin Ken succession. He lives in a cave near the Holy Emperor's Cross Mausoleum. He teaches Kenshirō the secret technique of Suienshin, which allows Ken to use the techniques of his fallen friends and rivals. He doesn't battle Raoh like he does in the manga and thus, he doesn't die.
• Rihaku - A member of the Nanto Gosha Sei. He meets the player's party in the front of the Last General of Nanto's castle, where he reveals to Ken the identity of the Last General. However, he also tells Ken that Raoh has already entered the castle to seize Yuria. When Raoh escapes after triggering a trap Rihaku set up meant to capture him, Rihaku apologizes to Ken for his failure to protect Yuria. He moves to a harbor after Raoh's defeat. However, one of his ships is stolen by Jask after he kidnaps Lin and Rihaku apologizes to Ken again for this inconvenience. After Kaioh's defeat, he appears again, having led his Naval Army to Shura in order to rescue Lin.
• Hyūi, Shuren and Jūza - Members of the Nanto Gosha Sei. They never actually appear in the game, but villager mentions, informing that all three of them are fighting off Raoh's invading forces.
• Asuka - Ein's daughter, who is taken captive by another bounty hunter named Tawaba during Ein's absence.
• Saiya - A soldier from the Imperial Capital. After Lin is taken captive by Jask, he informs the player that Jask has headed to the Land of Shura.
• Lui - The Tentei and Lin's twin sister. She is kept captive by Jakoh, but is rescued by Ken.
• Akashachi - The captain of a pirate gang. He takes Kenshirō to the Land of Asura, hoping that Ken will deliver a letter to his son Shachi. He doesn't die in the game.
• Leia - A young woman from the Village of Labian who preaches about love to young children. Her romantic relationship with Shachi is never mentioned.
• Shachi - Akashachi's son, who hides in the inn of Labian village by disguising as a "rag". When the player delivers Akashachi's letter to him, he realizes that Ken must be the one who defeated Raoh and he asks Ken to defeat Han for him, revealing the path to Han's castle. After Han's defeat, he tells Ken that Jūkei wants to meet him at his place. He doesn't die in the game.
• Jūkei - A hermit who lives in a house located under a marsh along with several apprentices. He tells Ken that in order to succeed Raoh's legacy, he must learn the hidden art of the Hokuto Sōke and in order to do that, Ken must restore Hyoh's memories. He doesn't die in the game.
• Sayaka - Hyoh's fiancee. She was killed by Kaioh, who pinned her death on Hyoh. She is only mentioned by name in the game and her relation with Kaioh is never mentioned.
• Kuroyasha - An old man who lives in cave located north of Hyoh's castle. He teaches Ken the vital point of Juseimon, which is required to restore Hyoh's memories. He doesn't die in the game.
• Shuken - The founder of the Hokuto Shin Ken style. When Ken strikes the vital point Shihōrin before the female statue, Ken will hear Shuken's voice as soon as the Holy Pillar appears. He will teach a secret technique that will seal off the evil path that Hokuto Ryū Ken has taken.

Enemies

• 

Zeed - The gang leader who steals Misumi's bag of seed rice.

• 

Spade - A member of the King organization, he is an optional sub-boss found in the underground passage leading to Southern Cross. He attacks with an axe.

• 

Diamond - A member of the King organization, like Spade, he can be found in the hidden passage to Southern Cross and fighting him is option. He fights using a staff.

• 

Club - A member of the King organization, he blocks the entrance to Shin's room in his palace. Uses a steel claw.

• 

Heart - A member of the King organization, he is sent by Shin to fight Kenshirō in order to test his strength before battle. In order to defeat him, the player use the Jūha Zan'technique to lower Heart's defense ratings.

• 

Shin - The leader of the King organization, he rules over the city of Southern Cross, oppressing its people. He was one who took Yuria away from Kenshirō. When Ken defeats him, he claims that Yuria has already died. Many of the plot revelations about him that were made after his death were omitted in this game.

• 

Golan - Fought as a random enemy in Gotland (a misspelling of Godland). His design is based on the Major and uses attacks like knives and wires.

• 

Mad Sarge - Fought as a random enemy in Gotland. Uses a jack knife.

• 

Colonel - The founder of Gotland. His organization has captured numerous young women from Oasis, imprisoning them in his lair. He was also the one who sold Airi to the Fang Clan. Uses Nanto Muon Ken and boomerang attacks. Unlike in the manga, their reason for capturing women is never properly explained.

• 

Kiba Daiō - The leader of the Fang Clan, a gang of bandits that seeks to attack Grimtown. He bought Airi from Gotland, causing Kenshirō to face him in order to rescue her. His skin is already turned into steel at the beginning of the battle, although no vital point are needed to struck in order to win.

• 

Jagi - A man who is impersonating Kenshirō in order to tarnish his reputation. He seeks to become the Hokuto Shin Ken successor by defeating Ken. After being defeated, he reveals to Ken that Raoh and Toki are still alive. His attacks includes Senshusatsu and Rakangeki.

• Habu - Appears as a nameless member of Amiba's "Dummy Hunting Patrol". Uses the Yaen Gasatsuken technique in battle.
• 

Amiba - Another pretender to the Hokuto Shin Ken succession. After having the real Toki imprisoned by Jackal, he took on Toki's identity and attempted to tarnish Toki's reputation by using innocent villagers as "dummies" for his experiments. His techniques includes Yōsō Sankakukyaku, Shintanchū, and Dōmeikō

• Fox - An enemy fought during random encounters in Villainy Prison as Chōtō Chihaiken.
• 

Devil Rebirth - A giant killer imprisoned within the deepest reaches of Villainy Prison. Jackal releases him from his cell to attack Kenshirō. His attacks includes Rakan Niōken and Fūsatsu Kongōken.

• 

Jackal - A thug who caputed Toki and imprisoned him in Cassandra. He first appears in Amiba's mansion, claiming to be a friend of Toki, and then heads off to Villainy Prison after talking to the player's party. When the player later confronts him in Villainy Prison, he unleashes Devil Rebirth to Ken and after Devil's defeat, he fights Ken by himself. When he is defeated, the player will obtain the gate key to Cassandra. Uses dynamites for his attacks.

• Cassandra Gatekeeper - An enemy fought at the entrance of Cassandra, he resembles Zakoru, the captain of the Cassandra Punishment Squad.
• 

Uighur - The undefeated prison warden of Cassandra. He appears inside the main tower of Cassandra, where Toki is held. His techniques includes Taizan Ryū Sōjōben, Taizan Ryū Senjōben, and Mōko Hakkyokudō.

• Zarqa - Appears during random encounters in the tower of Cassandra. While he shares his name with the Captain of Ken-oh's Royal Guards, his appear resembles that of [[Galf]. Even though some of Zarqa's techniques from the manga are used by the nameless members of Ken-oh's Royal Guards fought during the game, he himself never uses them.
• Hiruka - Another random enemy fought in the tower of Cassandra. The circumstance of his appearance is different from the original manga and he never uses his martial art style from the manga.
• 

Dagar - Yuda's aide, he appears in a random encounter just before entering the room where Yuda is hiding by himself in Grimm Tower. His name is misspelled Dakāru (ダカール) in the game.

• 

Yuda - The successor to the Nanto Kōkaku Ken style. He invades Mamiya's hometown of Grimtown alongside Raoh and holds her captive in Grimm Tower. He fights Rei during an automatic story battle and is defeated. He never gets to use any of his secret techniques, since he dies too quickly. However, the player can confront a bugged version of Yuda in the glitched zone whose techniques comprises of Nanto Kōkakuken and Kesshōshi

• 

Souther - The successor to the Nanto Hōō Ken style and self-proclaimed Holy Emperor. He has kidnapped numerous children from Nanto City in order to use child slavery to construct his Holy Emperor's Cross Mausoleum. Unlike the other bosses in the game, he resembles an ordinary villager (but with orange clothing), but he will immediately fight Kenshirō as soon as the player talks to him. The only way to damage him is by using the Tenha Kassatsu technique on him. While Ken loses his first battle with Souther in the manga, this is not necessary in the game. His immunity to traditional vital point attacks is never mentioned in the game. His techniques includes Nanto Hōōken, Kyokusei Jūjiken, and Tenshō Jūjihō.

• 

Raoh - Also known as Ken-oh, the King of Fist. The self-proclaimed Conqueror of the Post-Apocalyptic World. He is first encountered in the game at Grimtown after Toki is rescued from Cassandra. He challenges Rei to one-on-one battle and then defeats him in one turn. He then faces Toki at their home village and although he defeats his brother in combat, he decides to spare his life. He eventually invades the Tower of Nanto and after putting Yuria into a state of deep sleep, he challenges Kenshirō to battle. Unlike in the manga, he can already use Musō Tensei during his first battle with Ken. He manages to escape from his first battle with Kenshirō when a trap set by Rihaku is accidentally triggered. He fights Ken at the 'Hokuto Renkitōza for their final showdown. His techniques includes the Tenshō Honretsu, Musō Insatsu, and the Hokuto Gōshōha.

• Tawaba (タワバ) (original character)
• Barona
• 

Bask

• Buzori
• 

Geira

• 

Soria

• Shiino
• Jask
• 

Falco

• Jakō
• 

Sunagumo Shura

• 

Alf

• 

Kaiser

• 

Xie - The "crab man". He appears as a random enemy to the area east off Leia's village. Since this area consists almost entirely of glitched enemies and Xie appears in no other areas in the game, it is unknown whether he is intended to be a legitimate enemy or not

• 

Han

• 

Kaioh's underlings

• 

Hyoh

• 

Gyōko

• 

Zebra

• 

Kaioh

Locations

• Ryūken's Room (リュウケンの部屋, Ryūken no Heya)
• Messiah (メサイア, Mesaia)
• Minori (ミノーリ, Minōri)
• Southern Cross (サザンクロス, Sazan Kurosu)
• Oasis (オアシス, Oashisu)
• Grimm Town (グリムタウン, Gurimu Taun)
• Benard Town (ベナルドタウン, Benarudo Taun)
• Peloone (ペルーネ, Perūne)
• Capital of Nanto (南斗の都, Nanto no Miyako)
• Toki's Hometown (トキの故郷, Toki no Furusato)
• Hokuto Renkitōza (北斗練気闘座)
• Village of Gento (元斗の街, Gento no Mura)
• Rihaku's Harbor (リハクの港, Rihaku no Minato)
• Pirate Ship (海賊船, Kaizokusen)
• Village of Rags (ボロの村, Boro no Mura)
• Han's Castle (ハンの城, Han no Shiro)
• Raseiden (羅聖殿)
• Taiseiden (泰聖殿)

List of Ōgi

Ōgi (奥義, literally "secret skills") are the special techniques used by the characters in the game. Each Ōgi requires a set of "Aura Points" (オーラポイント, abbreviated "OP" in the game) to perform them.

Kenshiro

Hyakuretsu Ken (百裂拳, Hundred Crack Fist)

Jūha Zan (柔破斬, Soft Breaking Slash)

Ganzan Ryōzan Pa (岩山両斬波, Mountain Splitting Wave)

Hikō Fūji (秘孔封じ, Vital Point Concealment)

Tenryū Kokyūhō (転龍呼吸法, Art of the Dragon Breath)

Shichi-shi Seiten (七死星点, Seven Star Points of Death)

Senju Kai Ken (千手壊拳, Thousand Hands of Destruction)

Tenha Kassatsu (天破活殺, Heavenly Destruction)

Ujō Mō Shōha (有情猛翔破, Humane Fierce Flying Rip)

Kyūkoku Ryōbu (空極流舞, Ultimate Flow Dance)

Musō Tensei (無想転生, Unconscious Transmigration)

Kentō Shadan (拳盗捨断, Fist Stealing Cut)

Shichisei Tenshin (七星点心, Seven Star Mark Spirit)

Sōke no Hiken (宗家の秘拳, Secret Fist of the Family Head)

Suienshin (水影心, Water Shadow Spirit)

Rei

Nanto Koharyū (南斗虎破龍, South Dipper Tiger Destroys Dragon)

Hien Ryūbu (飛燕流舞, Swallow Flowing Dance)

Nanto Hishō Ken (南斗飛翔拳, South Dipper Flight Fist, game original)

Nanto Ryūgekiko (南斗龍撃虎, South Dipper Dragon Attacks Tiger, game original)

Hishō Hakurei (飛翔白麗, Soaring White Splendor)

Danko Sōsai Ken (断己相殺拳, Self-Sacrifice Counterbalance Fist)

Toki

Ujō Ken (有情拳, Humane Fist)

Tōkei Kohō (闘勁呼法, Fighting Strength Summoning)

Hokuto Razanjin (北斗羅残迅, North Dipper Carnage Fast Balance, game original)

Ujō Danjin Ken (有情断迅拳, Swift Judgement Fist)

Shichisei Massatsu Ken (七星抹殺拳, Seven Star Obliteration Fist)

Tenbu Hyakuretsu Ken (天舞百裂拳, Heaven Flying Hundred Crack Fist, game original)

Fudoh

Gosha Enjō Ken (五車炎情拳, Five Chariots Fire Passion Fist)

Tōki Sugo Ha (闘気守護波, Aura Protection Wave, game original)

Gekiheki Haisui Shō (撃壁背水掌, Dam Breaking Palm)

List of Hikō

Hikō (秘孔, literally "hidden slits") are vital points used by Kenshiro and Toki. They also require Aura Points in order to be used.

Kenshiro

Fukugenkō (復元孔, game original)

Dōmeikō (瞳明孔)

Fukuseikō (復醒孔, game original)

Seieikō (醒鋭孔)

Sekkatsukō (刹活孔)

Anbakukō (安騫孔)

Shintanchū (新胆中)

Daikyōkin (大胸筋)

Juseimon (呪醒文)

Shihōrin (詞宝林)

Toki

Fukugenkō (復元孔, game original)

Dōmeikō (瞳明孔)

Shintanchū (新胆中)

External Links

• Hokuto no Ken 3 @ GameFAQs