Tecmo Koei Europe are set to kick-off a year of new releases with the arrival of Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 next month, and are intending on making waves with the launch. Arriving a day early on Wii U – and available via digital distribution only – the publisher clearly has designs on turning heads, that they’re doing it with a videogame that would be considered a strictly ‘core’ gamer experience adds even more credence to the determination to get noticed.
Those of us old enough to remember watching anime in the 80's might remember a rather good yet violet series called 'Fist of the North Star'. It was set in a gory post-apocalyptic world and is often refered to as one of the best animes of its time. Fast forward to 2013 and its setting is still quite popular today, though the recent video game the anime inspired, Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2, is far inferior to its source material.
Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 leaves no lasting impression and is only fleetingly entertaining, at best. The combat is repetitive to the point of disinterest, the power-up system lacks impact and the Dream Mode feels more like busy work and time filler. C’mon Tecmo Koei, take a chance and break the mould a little. Those of you hoping and praying for a return to former glory, Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 isn’t it.
What a waste of an incredible, classic manga/anime property.
