Hokuto No Ken 3 (NES)

Play Online Hokuto No Ken 3 (NES)

I’ve always thought Hokuto No Ken 3 on the NES really leans into that classic, gritty energy of the manga. You start out in typical side-scrolling brawler fashion, blasting thugs with Kenshiro’s punches and kicks, but every now and then you get pulled into these one-on-one duels that feel like a little cinematic reward. The chiptune soundtrack tees you up nicely, too—nothing fancy, just enough to keep the tension high as you close in on each enemy’s vital points.

What’s cool is how it switches play styles on you. One moment you’re flinging opponents into walls in a sprawling street stage; the next you’re locked into a duel screen where timing a special move just right lights up the screen with that iconic “You’re already dead” style finish. It’s a neat blend, though it can be brutally hard. You’ve got a limited number of lives and continues, and bosses can eat up half your health bar in a single combo if you’re not careful.

Visually, it’s pretty solid for an Famicom game. The backgrounds have scars and rubble everywhere, like an oil painting of a post-apocalyptic city that’s been eroded by an unending war. Kenshiro’s sprite animation isn’t as fluid as an arcade fighter, but he’s got enough frames to sell that heavy-hitting punch. Enemies vary from goofy-looking mooks to more elaborate adversaries decked out in armor, so there’s always a fresh face to deal with—until you reach the recurring ones that keep showing up.

Even though it never saw an official release outside Japan, it has this sort of underground appeal among retro gamers. You’ve got to brush up on some button-mashing finesse and memorization of enemy patterns, but nailing that final blow in a one-on-one fight still feels amazing. It’s definitely not the easiest game to stumble into without practice, but there’s something rewarding about conquering its steep challenge and finishing Kenshiro’s journey in familiar NES-style glory.