Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
- March 8, 2018
- Ryū Ga Gotoku Studios
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise can be fun for someone invested in the series, but has too many hurdles that can prevent a new player from enjoying it.
Hokuto Ga Gotoku is a video game by Sega scheduled to be released for the PlayStation 4 in 2018. It is a 3D action-adventure game by the developers of Sega's Yakuza series (known as Ryū Ga Gotoku in Japan) and features the voice cast of the Yakuza series portraying established Hokuto no Ken characters. The story takes place in an alternate universe, as Kenshiro wanders into the post-apocalyptic ha…
Playstation 4
PlayStation
Reviews
- Engaging combat system that captures the essence of Kenshiro's fighting style, providing satisfying and over-the-top action.
- Rich in content with numerous side quests, mini-games, and a fun storyline that appeals to both fans of Fist of the North Star and the Yakuza series.
- Visually appealing and faithful to the source material, with a blend of humor and absurdity that enhances the overall experience.
- Somewhat dated visuals and clunky movement controls that can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- Pacing issues due to unskippable cutscenes and repetitive combat, which may frustrate players looking for a more streamlined experience.
- Not very newcomer-friendly, as the game relies heavily on familiarity with the Fist of the North Star and Yakuza franchises.
- story55 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in the game is engaging and accessible, featuring a mix of main quests and numerous side missions that enhance the overall experience. While some characters may feel shallow, the narrative is complemented by humor and nostalgic elements, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and fans of the franchise. Overall, players appreciate the blend of action, exploration, and RPG elements, despite some repetitive aspects and a less complex storyline compared to the original source material.
“The story is interesting and I’m excited to see where it takes Kenshiro, the main protagonist, and his allies and enemies.”
“Even though some things may feel repetitive, you will have a fun time with an engrossing story and fun side minigames.”
“Very cool story to play through and a good amount of humor to balance it out without becoming ridiculous.”
“The story is very bare and the activities aren't as nuanced as a regular Ryu Ga Gotoku game.”
“This one bombs you with busy work and weak story.”
“Did the tutorial, was cool, but then maybe forty minutes of mandatory fetch quests where I was just trying to find out who I was supposed to talk to next, a fight, more dialogue, then more tutorials.”
- gameplay35 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is heavily influenced by the Yakuza series, featuring a semi-open world filled with engaging quests, mini-games, and top-notch combat mechanics. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the fun, gory execution moves, some criticize the repetitive nature of fights and certain frustrating mechanics, such as driving. Overall, the game offers a mix of action and RPG elements that can provide hours of entertainment, though opinions on its execution and variety vary.
“With Yakuza 0, Kiwami 1 & 2 played, I feel like there is the same surefire spirit of the underlying gameplay and characteristics intact, but with an entirely new cast of characters and the same engrossing line of play you have come to expect.”
“From Sega, this game engine is very similar to the Yakuza series, which contains not only action but RPG gameplay and mini sub-stories where you have to use your brain rather than your fist, which is very good and will keep you busy for hours.”
“Great gameplay, all of the goods of a Yakuza game but in Kenshiro's world.”
“Errors and slow gameplay with monotonous fights against the same 4 enemies.”
“Having to complete certain activities like racing is frustrating to me, especially since the driving mechanics are dreadful.”
“Gameplay is very repetitive and boring and not rewarding at all.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the aesthetic redesign to fit the manga/anime style and noting enhancements on the PS4 Pro, while others criticize the character design and environments as amateurish and lacking effort. Overall, the visuals are described as fantastic by some, but also somewhat dated and unappealing by others.
“This game is essentially a Yakuza title re-designed aesthetically to fit the long-time, popular manga/anime series.”
“Graphics 8/10 - Playing this on a PS4 Pro, I am glad to see that super-sampling is enabled, as Yakuza 0 did not have any enhancements despite being released in 2017.”
“The graphics are fantastic and wonderful to look at throughout the game; Kenshiro looks totally phenomenal out of everyone in the game (probably because he’s the main character).”
“Amateurish and ugly graphics, boring environment and poor gameplay.”
“Graphics and character design are really bad; you'd think they were drawn by a child.”
“They didn't put any effort into the art and graphic design of this game.”
- humor10 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring some enjoyable and shamelessly hilarious scenes, particularly in the bartending mechanics and mini-games, which initially provide a good laugh but can become repetitive. While it successfully incorporates yakuza elements and maintains a balance with its story, some players feel the humor lacks depth compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, it offers a blend of absurdity and charm, appealing to those who appreciate its unique comedic style.
“The humor doesn't dry out as it imports most of the Yakuza aspects such as substories and mini-games, however it is lacking.”
“Very cool story to play through and a good amount of humor to balance it out without becoming ridiculous.”
“It's shameless and hilarious, and I love it.”
“It's not funny; send another game.”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
“I expected more laughs, but it just didn't deliver.”
- music7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and integration with the overall tone, effectively blending elements from both the "Fist of the North Star" and "Yakuza" franchises. Players particularly enjoy the Japanese voice acting and find the soundtrack memorable, with some even noting that the club music is soothing enough to fall asleep to. Overall, the music significantly enhances the gaming experience, contributing to its appeal.
“Sega always has produced good soundtracks to go with their games, and I really like their Hokuto style version of 'Receive You'.”
“The music is great, the voice acting is great in the Japanese (skip the dub, who even asked for it?), they really married the feel and tone of FOTNS and Yakuza perfectly; it really is something to behold.”
“Great storyline, great music, just great all in all. I'd even say this is better than most Yakuza games I've played simply because of the character progression and the freedom you get with the driving feature. Definitely a must-have.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to random fights and unskippable cutscenes that disrupt the flow of gameplay. While some more patient gamers may appreciate the experience, many reviewers express frustration with the repetitive nature of these encounters.
“You also get into random fights, which are tedious.”
“More patient gamers might enjoy this game, but I found it tedious due to the unskippable cutscenes and frequent character dialogue scenes.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the stability of the game, particularly highlighting the smooth experience of engaging in intense battles with multiple enemies while driving, which allows for seamless testing of new abilities.
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The character development has been criticized for its poor graphics and design, with some users likening the visuals to those created by a child, indicating a lack of depth and quality in the character portrayal.
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character growth; it feels like a missed opportunity.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and lack any real depth, which makes the story feel flat.”
Critic Reviews
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise Review – Looking for Water In The Desert
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise can be fun for someone invested in the series, but has too many hurdles that can prevent a new player from enjoying it.
60%Review: Fist of the North Star - Lost Paradise
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
60%Fist Of The North Star: Lost Paradise Review - Be The Tough Boy
80%
