Black Belt (video game)

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Black Belt

cover for the game
Developer(s) Sega
Designer(s) Yuji Naka (programmer)
Platform(s) Sega Master System, Virtual Console
Release date 1986
Genre(s) Beat 'em up
Mode(s) Single Player

Black Belt is a 1986 side-scrolling fighting game released for the Sega Master System. It is a localization of the Japanese Mark III game, Hokuto no Ken (北斗の拳?), which in turn was based on the Japanese manga and anime of the same name (Fist of the North Star in English), although it was stripped of its license in the North American and PAL versions. It was one of programmer Yuji Naka's early games prior to his involvement in Sonic the Hedgehog.

Contents

[edit] Plot and gameplay

The player take control of a martial artist named Riki, who sets out to rescue his girlfriend Kyoko from his rival, Wang. The game is composed of six left-to-right side-scrolling stages in which Riki faces different types of underlings (depending on the stage), facing an occasional sub-bosses at mid-points of certain stages. At the end of each stage, Riki must confront the stage's boss, each being succeptible to only one type of attack. The player must exploit their opponent's weakness and use it to finish the boss off.

[edit] Localization

Black Belt is a localized version of the Japanese game Hokuto no Ken, which is based on the Fist of the North Star manga and anime franchise. The changes were the characters themselves and the backgrounds, as well as everything related to the property. However, the game mechanics are still the same and even the lesser enemies die by exploding into bits. A sequel was released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan, which was released overseas as Last Battle, once again stripped of the Hokuto no Ken license.

[edit] Characters

Black Belt Hokuto no Ken Role
Riki Kenshiro (ケンシロウ) Hero
Kyoko Yuria (ユリア) Heroine
Ryu Shin (シン) 1st Boss
Hawk Colonel (カーネール) 2nd Boss
Gonta Devil's Rebirth (デビル・リバーズ) 3rd Boss
Oni Toki (トキ) 4th Boss
Rita Souther (サウザー) 5th Boss
Wang Raoh (ラオウ) Final Boss

[edit] See also

List of beat 'em ups

[edit] External links