Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise

Lost Paradise delivers Fist of the North Star universe spot on. Though story may not be its core quality, there are many emotional outbursts throughout the medium sized campaign, and lots of flashy gore and fun action, any fan of the franchise will appreciate. Heck, even if not a fan, you may just become one.

I said that this is a perfect match of developer and IP, and that’s not an exaggeration. The Yakuza Studio has not only produced the best Fist of the North Star game ever, but also one of their best overall. This is a setting more raw and gloriously over-the-top than their usual, but they never tamp down the humanistic streak that defines the entire series. Wipe away the blood and guts, and underneath is a beautiful story about the importance of working together, and how selflessness is the ultimate virtue.

Lost Paradise is most certainly based upon the Yakuza framework in most ways, but there's a sense of growth and expansion that Kamurocho simply can't match. From exploring the wasteland to fisting your way to glory, Kenshiro's path to reclaiming his love will require hitting the streets, rescuing lost children, and powering up to become one of the strongest acupressure practitioners the world has ever seen.

Quotation forthcoming.

Anime action with soul the of 80‘ and gameplay of the present. Crazy story and boatload of absurdity is marred by small technical difficulties.

Despite being essentially a re-skin of the Yakuza games, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is still a comically fun video game once you get past the early portions of the game. Fans of the Yakuza series will feel right at home with the game, but so would fans of Fist of the North Star. While a bit more differentiation from the Yakuza series would have been nice, that does not prevent the game from being enjoyable overall.

Although Yakuza fans are certain to notice its imperfections, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise still exceeds expectations. The fighting system is so good that even the battles with the lowliest of lowlifes are entertaining. Every boss fight ranges from great to fantastic. They are exactly what long-time fans of the anime and manga franchise deserve. Then again, some gamers might just be happy to get a Fist of North Star game that's actually satisfying. It's been far too long since the last remotely decent one.

It's good. It's really, really good.

You might not initially think that the story of a Yakuza member fighting for control of the streets of Tokyo would make a good template for a tale about post-apocalyptic warriors battling over resources (and pride), but Sega’s Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is the best game the beloved manga series has ever seen. While the experience does have some failings, they’re nothing protagonist Kenshiro can’t shake off.

When it comes to making you feel like the coolest person around, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise succeeds on every level. While its structure may borrow a little too heavily from the Yakuza series, combat is the real differentiator with unforgettable techniques that’ll really leave a mark and combos to finish off even the most foreboding of enemies. Those looking for their next dose of Japanese flair will most certainly be hooked, because Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is everything we were hoping it would be.

Lost Paradise may replicate the Yakuza series' format, but it's filled with a passion for FotNS that makes it fantastic all on its own.

A game that will be perfect for Hokuto No Ken fans, but that lacks a little bit of everything for those who don't love the original manga-anime.

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise seeks to please fans of the franchise for the time it presents a Hack and Slash combined with other genres, getting a different title that, far from becoming a reference, offers several hours of casual fun while the players discover the outcome of the story of Tenshiro.

Hokuto no Ken fans will love this game, although it's not as good as the franchise it borrows from, Yakuza. Still, a good and enjoyable adventure.

Fist of the North Star Lost Paradise is a game which definitely comes from the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The game feels similar to Yakuza at times, but does its own thing. Despite a few hiccups the game is worth your time.

If you love this franchise, you will undoubtedly enjoy your time here. Gameplay-wise there are many similarities to Yakuza. The over the top action sequences and decent voice acting really add to the overall quality of this game. The game does suffer from lengthy load times and the available special moves could use some more variation - a criticism that applies to combat in general.

In the end, players will get a pretty fun beat ‘em up that is both serious and zany at the same time. The combat, while repetitive, is always satisfying and the wonderful moments of brilliance shine brighter than the dullest of fetch quests. Fans of Fist of the North Star will have a blast here, while fans of beat ‘em ups and the Yakuza series will enjoy the familiar feel of the entire package. Give this one a shot if you’re looking for some bloody good action with a goofy twist.

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the series. For others, the wacky combat is the main draw, which should be enough to offset some pacing and story issues.

One of the best (if not the best of all) Fist of the North Star-based games ever created. An interesting approach to what we have experienced several times before in the Yakuza series.

If you ever wondered what it would be like if Kazuma Kiryu gained like 200 lbs and fell into the Mad Max universe, well that’s Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise summed up pretty neatly. On the other side of the coin, Fist of the North Star fans will have a blast tearing it up as Kenshiro, but those still hoping for a great video game adaptation of the classic manga may come away disappointed in that respect.