------
OKAY THEN. I accidentally refreshed the bloody page while writing this review, so here it goes again.
First thing I have to mention that this Hokuto No Ken is essentially very different one. Rather than sequel, imagine it as alternative universe one. It's has very grim, depressive, dark and very heavy atmosphere around this tine. In a sense similar to another anime called "Zettai Karen Children" which also has dark spin-off. So rather comparing it to main series I'll have to review it as standalone.
Before I'm going to overall comments and the good things about Shin Hokuto No Ken, I'll have to get off my chest 2 things I did't enjoy in this piece of work. First would be the "Mad Max" thematic (obviously post-nuclear world filled with deserts, punks, bikes and punkish machines were around in first season as well, but here it felt more in my face), which I was not fond of. Second would be CG, if mad max video game would be done by second-hand developers in early 2000's. That's how it would look like. Camera spans and scenery was acceptable to some extent. But cars and bikes were bloody ugly. Character art or battles were quite great.
So, to the main dish now. I absolutely loved the dark, grim and depressive atmosphere it had going here. I'm sucker for such types as I'm depressive myself, heh. So in my opinion it was presented in a really satisfying way.
Story I did like for most part. It was more mature yet still cliched (I like stereotypes, cliches, fanservice, tropes, traditional genre combinations "generic" if done the way I like or well "clicks with me") Story gave you Ken's adventure and as always he helps someone, but this time around we get to see some naked tits and pseudo-violation along side that AMAZING gore. Gore was bloody beautiful on this one. There was also a specific scene in this anime that I don't wanna mention because of the spoiling to some extent. But it can be found on my MAL entry under (more). That specific scene was absolutely satisfying and epic. Felt as time really has passed from Ken era. Yet still, story felt quite western'ish and weakest aspect of this 3 hour Hokuto.
This part also brings me a little funny thing about the story. I found it a bit silly how post-hokuto no ken martial arts have surfaced as if tens of years had passed after season 2. But that's why I said it's better to imagine it as alternate universe.
Characters. Ken was quite a silent badass this time around, he definitely had this oozing aura of power as well. (not that was literally shown, but the general feel). Quite an opposite to a failure of 2nd season. Aside that, we had the usual thugs, some absolutely "celestial ruler" stereotype wimp and a rogue martial artist who does not abide the code. Fights were minimal but quite cool overall. This time it felt battles focus was shown in general method rather than Ken specific. Again, gore was great. Main villain felt like a very evil stressball who really "held back" his emotions. Doing something against his nature. In a sense at least, his motivation or backstory was somewhat silly, but for most part he was okay character.
Music and soundtrack I did not particularly enjoy, not my cup of tea. It was some sort of hard-boiled samurai-esque.
So in overall I must way it was good 3 hour experience. And simply because it hit my "sweet spots" I praised it with my final score. Not sure if forgot anything important to mention, but that's how my reviews toddle along.
