The original Fist of the North Star TV series is angling its way back into the home video market and it’s one that you’ll find a lot of people warning you away from. Toei Video has set the 108-episode series for a four-volume release that arrives on December 4th, 2019 where they’re SDBD releases. The sets vary in price with the episode counts like so:
- v1 (eps 1 – 22): 9,000 yen
- v2 (eps 23 – 57): 11,000 yen
- v3 (eps 58 – 77): 9,000 yen
- v4 (eps 83 – 108): 9,000 yen
The problem is that these really are standard definition releases, not upscales. Which is a problem because they did get an HD remaster for a DVD re-release over a decade ago. Which then makes you question whether those were really remastered or not. And if they were, why aren’t they being used here with what should be better quality?
Buyer beware on these releases, especially since it comes to close to 40,000 yen when all is said and done.
Plot Concept: In the year 19XX, after being betrayed and left for dead, bravehearted warrior Kenshirou wanders a post-apocalyptic wasteland on a quest to track down his rival, Shin, who has kidnapped his beloved fiancée Yuria. During his journey, Kenshirou makes use of his deadly fighting form, Hokuto Shinken, to defend the helpless from bloodthirsty ravagers. It isn’t long before his exploits begin to attract the attention of greater enemies, like warlords and rival martial artists, and Keshirou finds himself involved with more than he originally bargained for.
Faced with ever-increasing odds, the successor of Hokuto Shinken is forced to put his skills to the test in an effort to take back what he cares for most. And as these new challenges present themselves and the battle against injustice intensifies, namely his conflict with Shin and the rest of the Nanto Seiken school of martial arts, Kenshirou is gradually transformed into the savior of an irradiated and violent world.
[Source: Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star)]
