Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise Reviews
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.
Even if it sounds like I'm against Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, it's actually a solid game. It might have the same feel as the original story, but manages to retain the charm that made the original series great. While combat isn't the best, defeating foes in an excessively violent way can be a lot of fun, ignoring the fact you might see the same finisher 10 times in an hour. Toss in some new characters, plenty to do and some of the same of the Yakuza series and you have an adventure that will probably delight fans of either.
If you're looking for a solid brawler with a dramatic story that samples from perhaps one of the most iconic shounen manga you should definitely consider giving Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise a shot.
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.
A striking and surprising mashup of a long running game series and even longer running anime proves that the Yakuza studio shows no signs of slowing down
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise may not reach the highs of the Yakuza series that it is so clearly based on, but it's got more than enough spark to make the journey worthwhile for fans craving something new.
All in all, if you are a fan of gratuitous anime violence coupled with some heartwarming moments that alleviate some of the guilt, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is the right game for you.
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.
Lost Paradise has something to offer for fans of Yakuza and Fist of the North Star, but it never reaches the full potential of its source material. With some more time in the oven, this could have been a game for the ages.
Probably the best FotNS adaptation and one of the best anime adaptations, but a low budget and slow, meandering plot makes for an uneven experience, one that is capable of exciting you as well as bore you.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise sounds like a great concept on paper, but it has a clumsy execution. The slow pace in the start is a major hurdle but the game vastly improves in every aspect afterward. The combat is exciting with brutal finishers, and the side content is fun, even if most of it suffers from repetition. It is a solid game to recommend to Yakuza fans although it is best to play it with low expectations.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is a good game but not a great one. It's the best Fist of the North Star game yet, but when all the others have been average at best, it's not that much of an achievement.
While Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise does have a number of glaring issues, the variety and quality of side content, thrilling combat, and protagonist with an attitude that can rival Kiryu's make it a worthwhile experience.
It's good. It's really, really good. The combat alone demonstrates that while everyone who plays Yakuza games remembers everything but the combat, even that "forgotten" element in the formula, when brought to the fore, is still very deserving of a player's time.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise works well as a love letter to the manga/anime and Yakuza games that inspired it.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is an experiment, which is committed from beginning to end in proposing a product designed specifically for fans.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise shows how well SEGA's excellent Yakuza recipe can be adapted to other topics. Although I saw the anime as a teenager, I was never a fan of it. This game entertained me well with its proven build but 40 hours and brought me closer to this world than ever before. The small innovations and deviations, such as driving a car are nice distinctions to SEGA's underworld epic. Overall, although I prefer the Yakuza series clear, but especially for fans of the template, this game could, conversely, ensure that they finally find about Yakuza. I'm looking forward to more licenses, which are implemented with this typical gameplay!
Review in German | Read full review
Fans of original manga and newcomers to this series both will enjoy Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise. The very first hours can be really frustrating, but you'll be offered some rather enjoyable fighting gameplay afterwards. However, the much more popular Yakuza is still better and wasn't dethroned yet.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Overall, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is a gem in your digital library and your physical gaming shelf. If you want to feel manly and do deadly Kung Fu, just pop this in the PlayStation 4 and you are set for a long and awesome adventure.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is, in many ways, the ultimate power fantasy videogame. Every aspect of it has been designed from the ground up to make the player feel like the biggest, baddest guy on the block. Sure, its core structure and gameplay loop borrow judiciously from the Yakuza series, but its combat, writing, and overall tone strike enough of a difference to make it its own thing. If you’re a fan of the manga on the lookout for a great videogame adaptation, this is absolutely the game for you. Although, I think Yakuza fans, or even people who just enjoy damn good videogames will have a hell of a good time with Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise.