This spin-off sequel however makes the game a full-on crossover with the Fist of the North Star anime and manga property, first published in 1983. It follows the bloody adventures of Kenshiro, who is a practitioner of the martial art style Hokuto Shinken. The anime became a cult classic in the West, becoming a fan favorite and influencing many other Shonen anime for years to come. With this popularity and emphasis on punching enemies, it’s a fitting crossover with Fitness Boxing.
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As revealed in the game’s brief trailer, Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star will be released in March 2023. Players will have some of Fist of the North Star’s strongest characters as their instructors, where they learn to box to the beat and train themselves in “Exercise Mode” as the trailer dubs it. This includes the deadly practitioner of Hokuto Shinken himself, Kenshiro. Like other Fitness Boxing games, these workouts can be daily, and players will get a better score if they are precise with their punches and other techniques.
The game isn’t just limited to practicing punches and dodges, as players can also participate in battles. This includes taking on waves of enemies, or fighting against some of Kenshiro’s rivals from the anime, like his elder foster brother Jagi. It’s likely players will encounter some other iconic big bads and enemies from the series such as the dominating Raoh and Kenshiro’s other rival Shin.
While some fans were happy to see Fist of the North Star get some love in this fitting but bizarre crossover, many others were just as disappointed that the Nintendo Switch wasn’t getting a proper game based on the series. The last console game based on the anime series was Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise by Studio Ryu Ga Gotoku, which was a Like a Dragon crossover title released back in 2018.
Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star will be launching for Nintendo Switch in March 2023.
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