Today the company announced the exact date. That's annoying!

Post-apocalyptic martial arts manga Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken), which debuted in 1983, will be joining Koei's successful "Musou" series of games, allowing players to punch people into explosions of blood.

According to official word, gamers will "unleash a myriad of devastating fighting techniques and finishing moves powerful enough to bring down whole buildings," cause enemies to "violently explode on screen" and trigger "the instantaneous breakdown of internal organs."

A Hokuto Musou "TREASURE BOX" will be released on March 25, priced at ¥13,440 (US$146) and containing special goods that Tecmo Koei hasn't quite yet made public.

Stay tuned for Tecmo Koei's announcement next month when the company will detail the exact time the game will be released.

In March 2010, Tecmo Koei is bringing post-apocalyptic martial arts manga Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) to the PS3 and the Xbox 360 in Japan.
The game has been titled Hokuto Musou, and is part of Koei's popular "Musou" series of games.

The manga Fist of the North Star debuted in 1983 and went on to spin off two animated series and motion pictures.

The game has been titled Hokuto Musou, and is part of Koei's popular "Musou" series of games.

Besides new screens, there is new art of characters like hero Kenshiro, tough guy Rei and village leader Mamiya — she's in a thong, something the Japanese internet has been quick to point out. Thank you, Japanese internet!

The manga Fist of the North Star debuted in 1983 and went on to spin off two animated series and motion pictures.

"Only in Japan, the game should sell a million copies," Matsubara told the Nihon Keisai Newspaper. According to the paper, the game is expected to launch worldwide, given the international familiarity with Fist of the North Star.

【オプーナ】北斗無双はミリオン確実【ミリオン】 [2ch]

The manga (Hokuto no Ken) debuted in 1983 and went on to spin off two animated series and motion pictures.

Dubbed Hokuto Musou, the game is scheduled for release sometime next year. Wasn't that interested — blurry magazine scans do that — but this leaked footage has me intrigued. Looks fun! With all that blood, wonder what rating it will get in Japan.

The clip is originally from Nico Nico Douga — hence the scrolling Japanese text.

The manga debuted in 1983 and went on to spin off two animated series and motion pictures. Check out the Japanese opening.

Details are still scant, but early (and blurry) scans characters Kenshiro, Rei, Raoh and Yuria. The game is scheduled for release sometime next year from the folks at Tecmo Koei.

They should probably figure that one out.

"I'm sure that for casual games these motion controls will be very popular, but for action games like Ninja Gaiden we need quick responses and if you're swinging your arms around like you're using a sword you will soon be tired," says Tecmo Koei honcho Kenji Matsubara.

So no Ninja Gaiden with Sony motion controls?

"Maybe we have to change the playing style and check the technology to see how quick it can be," he explains. "So, at first it will be casual games and then maybe hardcore games and we have to prepare for that and provide the games to satisfy that playing style."

Kinda hope this doesn't mean casual Ninja Gaiden with motion controls.

Ninja Gaiden Could Go Motion Controlled [NowGamer via VG247]

Kenji Matsubara, CEO of Tecmo Koei—and former president and COO on the Koei side—tells CVG that his company has "concerns" about the move to motion controllers, as "we specialize in making action games, so we have to explore whether we can achieve real-time response from a controller-free system."

"We understand that, for casual gamers playing dance games or some sort of fishing game, this controller-free system can be popular," Matsubara says. "But for hardcore gamers who like action games, we have to research and develop games that satisfy our core gamers."

We'd think anyone who played Koei's Samurai Warriors: Katana would have a list of concerns about the company trying more waggle filled games too. But if we get Dead or Alive Xtreme Fishing, who can possibly argue that these new control methods don't have merit?

More from Matsubara, including his thoughts on the Japanese game market, the PSPgo and Tecmo Koei's focus on the Western market at the original interview.

Tecmo Koei Interview [CVG]

"Xbox 360 as a business is doing better than the old Xbox," Tecmo Koei boss Kenji Matsubara tells game site Kikizo. "They have a good opportunity for growth, but of course Sony is a Japanese company and Microsoft is known as a business software company, so brand image is one point."

Matsubara adds that "Microsoft is doing well" — especially in regards to how difficult the game market is these days.

"I think they have good growth potential for the future depending on the titles," he says. "We have a close relationship with Microsoft so I hope we can be a part of that."

Interview: Tecmo Koei CEO, Kenji Matsubara [Kikizo]

Speaking with CVG, CEO Kenji Matsubara has said "Whenever I discuss this with Sony reps I always ask them: 'Please cut the price', but I don't have a clear view on Sony's situation".

Yes you do, you're just having a whinge. Maybe you should ask "when is the PS3 slim" coming instead?

Tecmo Koei: "Please cut the price" of PS3 [CVG]