Fist of the North Star 2: Kenshiro's Rage Trailer: Heads Will Roll Again... or Explode (Your Choice)...

I'm one of the few reviewers who liked the first game, so I'm looking forward to this sequel quite a lot. Granted, developer Omega Force isn't reinventing the wheel here, but the level of depth here will be outstanding for fans of the anime and manga, that's for sure. The combat has been made smoother and faster, I'm liking the visuals a lot and overall, I'm locking this down as a sleeper when it hits the PS3 and Xbox 360 next year. If there's anyone out there who doesn't like this, well, I'd say some Fist fans would say "You are already dead." or something close. Of course, those are the annoying fans with too much time on their hands who SHOULD be enjoying the games they like without letting others get in the way of their enjoyment, but hey - everyone needs a hobby, I suppose...

TGS 2012: Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 Trailer: Pow! Wow! (Ow!)

 

I really loved the first game, warts and all because it captured the tone a spirit of the film and anime perfectly. That familar Sengoku Musou gameplay slowed down deliberately, the loads of extra characters to unlock and the ridiculous replay value made this a great guilty pleasure worth going back to multiple times. The game obviously sold well enough to get this sequel made, so I say give it a try if you're looking for something really out of the ordinary in a beat-em-up. Of course, some critics won't "get" this game one bit, but fans of the show of manga should be all aboard this particular post-apocalyptic train, I say...

TGS 2011: Ninja Gaiden 3 Trailer: Blood and Gore and Multiplayer Modes (?!), Oh, My...

Tecmo Koei is bringing Ryu Hayabusa back in a bigger and bloodier game this time out and of course, there's a nice split down the middle of the fan base. Granted, I'm not sure I'd like an online multiplayer mode in my Ninja Gaiden game, but it's in there. No disembowelment? No big deal for me, as the game isn't supposed to be a simulation at all. As long as it's not packing in a super-easy mode and isn't TOO much of a God of War swipe (granted, Kratos owes his very existence to games like the Ninja Gaiden trilogy), it should rock.

Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage Gameplay (Videos 1 & 2)

Full review coming quite soon on the regular DAF blog. Here's the short version: it's a fun, tough mash-up of Dynasty Warriors and the classic ultra-violent manga/anime not for all tastes, but it gets the job done. Overall, it's an incredibly long game that while taking its sweet time in terms of pacing, ends up as a mighty, meaty beat 'em up mixing the style of the 1984 original, the TV remake and today's 3D technology. Tons of moves to learn, stuff to unlock and some great game modes make this a must for hard core fans of the manga and anime. Video # 2 below the jump.