I picked up Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage for the PS3. The game was monotonous at first, slow paced but it’s become more fun as I upgrade along. It’s basically Dynasty Warriors with The Fist of the North Star skin. There is more to it, I had to unlock coop which I haven’t even touched yet and was the main reason I got the game for my brother and I to sit down button mash. The single player mode is nothing like Dynasty Warriors at all, it’s an action/adventure game with the DW engine. That being said cause it’s like that, it’s slow and clunky. Open world type of game, but generally linear. The exploration portion of the game is if you want to 7 Star a Chapter, which is getting perfect. However you still get letter graded on the Chapter based on how well you do. But in order to 7 Star a Chapter, you have to go back and forth and locked door open. It’s definitely bland in how it’s done.
Right now I’m playing through Kenshiro’s story and about 6 hrs in. Long game as there are multiple characters to do. Then I started trying to perfect a stage, which was a mistake. I was successful but did not expect THE most craziest QTE I’ve ever experienced. Basically every boss will require a QTE button sequence with a time limit to enter them in. You make a mistake the boss gains life again, you run out of time, rinse and repeat. Usually the button sequences are 3 or 4, the worst was a 5 button one I think. However if you get the Death Bonus star during the stage… you have to do an 8 button QTE, 8 times. That’s right 64 sequential button presses. The first time it totally caught me off guard and I messed up after the second go. It wasn’t until the third attempt that I finally sat up in my chair and concentrating. I haven’t had my heart pound that fast in a game in a long ass time! Mainly cause it was a pain in the ass to finish the QTE and I had half of my life left and knowing me I would’ve done it over again if I died. Either or I’m sure the game is like C for the letter grade. But it’s fun and mindless for the most part. It’s got this FFX like sphere grid where you upgrade your skills.
Is it an achievement to finish a 64 button sequence? Hell yes. Seriously , the one thing I hate about QTE is you can’t watch the sequence on screen, your focus is the button you need to press. It always takes me out of the game. Castlevania actually does a good job of QTE placement, with how it’s indicated. It’s not a specific button you need to press, it’s just an event you need to trigger via the button. In GOW3, the QTE is better as which button is emphasized more so in it’s placement on the screen. For example, Triangle, the button is placed at the top of the screen, X at the bottom, etc. It’s actually a bit intuitive in a simple way, nicely done. But when I’m looking at a 64 button sequence I just need to press through, my eyes are 100% focused on the sequence and not the action of the screen.
The game though is definitely geared towards fans of Fist of the North Star and that’s who is buying this game. I never read the manga, but I grew up on the animated movie and live action movie. The single player follows through the original manga story which is nice, but the delivery of the story is poorly done, it’s just events before a Chapter starts, totally lame. So the gameplay is based on you going through the area and killing a set amount of enemies, a few mini bosses and a boss fight. That’s it, rinse and repeat and collect skill points to upgrade your character’s abilities.
The coop mode is different as that is more the Dynasty Warriors type of game, from what I’ve read. What this is, is enemies respawning and racking up kills in the hundreds. The usual beat em’ up type of game, coop mode is called Dream mode. Dream mode enables you to partner up with other characters of the series to create a “what if” storyline and playing with a friend locally.
I’m gonna try to finish Kenshiro’s story this week, I’m on Chapter 7 now, there are 14 total I think. To give you some perspective I’ve put roughly 6 hrs of gameplay in. I’m thinking about going back to the Jordan challenges is all. Literally it was Saturday night I was looking at what to play, but then I said screw it and busted open Fist of the North Star.