Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 Review

For those of you who do not know the manga, have not seen the anime or movie and you have never had contact with Fist of the North Star ... Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 is an action game based of a popular manga, Created 30 years ago, in which an individual who punches you in the elbow and will exploit the brain is engaged to purge the world of evil and to do good while looking for his girlfriend stolen and later his brothers head to exploit them because they have become ill. All in a post-apocalyptic future in which no water or seedlings.

No need to say with this premise, the original comic was a success. But thirty years later, can you make a video game to exploit the anniversary? Short answer: No. Long answer:

My Review of Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2.

One blow and their head's explode

At its core harder, in the depths of his being, Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 is a beat 'em up massive Dynasty Warriors style. What makes attractive a button mashing game? The combos and special moves. The variety of characters. The vibrant and rich scenarios. The epic feeling of heroism. Here there is none of that. Ken has four or five combos that I remember having used and acquires a special move by chapter. Eventually you will get used to execute a combo that covers a large area to the hordes of enemies and a "signature move" that fulfills the same purpose.

The difference between different combos and "signature moves" as the game calls them, is based on the number of attacks and the area they cover as the damage is not significant. The bosses are pretty much the same damage from any attack and filling enemies die almost instantly when our hero goes near them. Fiercely loyal to the manga, yes, but a little bland for a game. When filling enemies... I mean a counter in the bottom of the screen that says 0/150 defeated. No matter how fast you kill them, it is never fast enough. In addition, there is a small delay between kill an enemy and this rises from the ground and proceeds to explote, preventing you to know precisely how many of those guys out front are still alive.

And with the game's main mechanics gutted, what remains are minigames occasional quick time events at the end of the bosses and a sleep mode, in which you can control other characters in a parallel universe in which we must conquer enemy camps and defend ourselves until a boss you must defeatn appear. Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 wants to be Dynasty Warriors and I wish it had been.

Fan Service

As for the graphics, not much to say. Fist of the North Star Ken's Rage 2 uses a visual style as faithful to the manga as it may, the character models and environments are acceptable convey what they want: a desert wasteland populated by battered remnants of civilization. Overall, nothing spectacular.

All that falters, and I understand that it could not be otherwise, especially given recent controversies, are the death scenes. The enemies are rolled into small wisps of red air and disappear instantly. For the enemies of two cents a kilo, happens, but i expect to see the full consequences of Hokuto Shinken (The martial arts style of the protagonist) in the heads at least. Where is my heads exploding?

What surprised me was how incredibly game that is faithful to the manga (not the movie). This is its main selling point, unfortunately, does not do much good to a game of 60 €. Especially when alone. Fist of the North Star Ken's Rage 2 covers the story so Bolge. In this case, a long game is bad..

Conclusions

3/10
I have nothing more to say. The game is pure fan service and even that does well. Take a manga that marked an era that created school and becomes a tedious and boring experience. Be saved because it is not broken on the technical and because the story is true. If you lived publishing the manga or have been a fan of it, this game has a fifty fifty of it right, but I can not honestly recommend it.

Play it if:

You are a big fan of the manga and nostalgic series and do not mind button mashing

Dynasty Warriors seems too complex and / or difficult

You are a compulsive collector series

Do not play if:

Do not know the manga or the series but YouI want the experience of killing lots of enemies

Is this is your first exposure to Fist of the North Star

You need your head and do not want to explode

Three reasons to random buy 

Complete your collection but, is it worth it?

Lost a bet

All random reasons to see the show and stay away from this game