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Hokuto no Ken, or Fist of the North Star, is an iconic Japanese anime series and fighting video game franchise released in 1983 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

The series was created by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara with music composed by Shiro Sagisu.

It follows the adventures of a post-apocalyptic warrior named Kenshiro who uses martial arts to protect those in need.

He is also known as “the successor of Hokuto Shinken”, a powerful style of martial arts that enables him to defeat opponents with a single blow.

The original manga series was published from 1983 to 1988 in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine and later collected into 27 tankōbon volumes.

It spawned an anime television series produced by Toei Animation which aired on Fuji TV from 1984 to 1988, consisting of 109 episodes and two movies.

A sequel anime television series titled New Fist of the North Star (Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken) ran from 2003 to 2004.

The first video game based on Fist of the North Star was released for the NES in 1986.

Titled simply “Hokuto no Ken”, it combined side-scrolling action sequences with boxing-style fights against other characters from the manga and anime series.

Players could choose between four different characters: Kenshiro, Raoh, Toki, or Jagi.

Each character had their own unique abilities and techniques which could be used to battle enemies throughout the game's various levels.

The NES version of Hokuto no Ken was followed by several other games for various consoles including Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), PlayStation Portable (PSP), PlayStation 2 (PS2), Xbox 360, Game Boy Advance (GBA) and Nintendo DS (DS).

The most recent installment is Hokuto ga Gotoku (Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise) which was released for PlayStation 4 in 2018.

It combines elements from both the original manga/anime series as well as Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami gameplay mechanics such as hostess clubs and karaoke bars.

Hokuto no Ken has been highly praised for its combination of intense action sequences with thoughtful story elements derived from Buddhist philosophy such as reincarnation and karma.

It has also been celebrated for its memorable soundtrack composed by Shiro Sagisu which includes melodic pieces such as “Ai wo Torimodose!!” and heavy metal tracks like “You wa Shock!” Its influence on contemporary culture can be seen in works such as Street Fighter V where protagonist Ryu can use some moves similar to Kenshiro's signature technique “Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken” or “Hundred Crack Fist” .

In conclusion, Hokuto no Ken is an iconic Japanese manga/anime franchise which has spawned numerous successful video games across multiple platforms over three decades since its initial release on NES in 1986.

Its influence on popular culture is undeniable; its memorable characters have become iconic symbols both within Japan itself but also throughout Asia and beyond while its soundtrack continues to inspire generations of musicians today