An upgraded version of the PSP game for console players, Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce brings the battle for ancient China online, allowing up to four players to participate in raids, take on giant enemies or simply battle it out competitively. Strikeforce also features new Fury transformations, drastically changing the look of your character, granting them new powers, enhanced speed and the ability to fly. It almost sounds like they’ve taken a page from Dynasty Warriors: Gundam.

The console version features more than 40 exclusive missions, an enemy Hyperbreak gauge, command of up to three AI-controlled officers in single player mode, a new character and the ability to trade officers online with other players.

Now how much would you pay? But wait, there’s more!

Both versions of the game will feature exclusive guest characters, with the PlayStation 3 version scoring folks from Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and characters from Warriors Orochi 2 for the 360 version. Completing challenges with these guest characters allows players to use their signature weapons in combat.

All of this, plus planned DLC to keep the game fresh for a long time coming. It sounds like a Dynasty Warriors fan’s dream come true.

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce hits store shelves on February 16th.

That announcement leaked a bit early, as Famitsu exclusives are wont to do, but Koei was generous enough to offer a clear, non-scanned, non-crap footage look at Hokuto Musou today. Most of what you’ll see are stills from the game’s opening cinematic, but two shots of in-game action also await you.

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”.

Hokuto no Ken will be produced by Hisashi Koinuma of Samurai Warriors fame and feature the voices of Katsuyuki Konishi and Fumihiko Tachiki.

As someone who has unusually fond memories of Fist of the North Star’s brand of fisticuffs and exploding bodies—mostly born from playing Last Battle on the Sega Genesis—I’m looking forward to the game’s release in 2010.

As leaked yesterday in the upcoming issue of Japanese mag Famitsu, Tecmo Koei is hard at work on Fist of the North Star for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

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.

The first bundle is priced at ¥27,300 ($341) and comes with the game, a black Wii, a Classic Controller Pro and three one-sheets (pictured). The second bundle is the game bundles with a Classic Controller — yours for ¥8,715 ($109).

The last is dubbed “Sengoku Musou 3 TREASURE BOX” and priced at ¥11,865 ($148). It comes with the game, a Classic Controller, a special walk through/art book, an original soundtrack CD and a mini-figure.

This two-sided document was handed to reporters who attended a Tecmo-Koei event in Tokyo last week. Video game producers from the recently-merged company mingled with press like us. At least, that was the goal. This sheet was designed to help break the ice and the language barrier.

And it might have been educational, too.

For the record, Tecmo’s Kohei Shibata did do his zombie walk. It was passable.

Also, note the lack of info for Yosuke Hayashi, who Crecente and I last saw at E3 when he was talking about Tecmo’s role in co-developing Metroid: Other M. I asked him how the game was going. He said, “Very, very good.” I did not ask him about his likes or dislikes. Nor did I request a fun fact. Next time!

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They should probably figure that one out.

Ninja Gaiden character Ryu Hayabusa will be appearing in Koei’s PS3 version of Sangoku Musou Multi-Raid as an unlockable costumed character in armour, while Warrior Orochi’s Nu Wa on the Xbox 360 version of Multi Raid. And costumes of Multi-Raid characters Sun Shang Xiang and Zhao Yun are going to pop up on the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.

We look forward to seeing Dynasty Warrior character relaxing on the beach with the girls from Dead or Alive Xtreme. Make it happen, Koei Tecmo!

There’s even a special Sengoku Musou 3 Classic Controller bundle. Very nice!

Sengoku Musou 3 hack-and-slashes its way onto the Nintendo Wii in Japan this November—November 19, to be exact.

Those are “historical idols” Eri Kohinata and Mikako, not Shigeru Miyamoto. We repeat not Shigeru Miyamoto.

Koei is releasing Samurai Warriors 3 on the Nintendo Wii, and Shigeru Miyamoto was on hand to talk about the Mysterious Murasame Castle mode in the game.

Edo-era Mysterious Murasame Castle was developed by Nintendo for its Famicom Disk System. The title was never released outside Japan.

Nintendo has been expressing renewed interest in the property as of late: a Mysterious Murasame Castle song appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and a character from the game popped up in Wii title Captain Rainbow.

コーエー、Wii「戦国無双3」発表会を開催。宮本茂氏、GACKTさんなどスペシャルゲストが登場 [Game Watch]