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The first chapter takes place in the domain of Kung Fu fighter Ryu in Black Belt or Southern Cross Town (サザンクロスタウン) in Hokuto no Ken. The backdrop varies based on the version played (with Black Belt portraying a fully-intact oriental landscape and Hokuto no Ken portraying an urban wasteland), but it has no effect on the gameplay. The common (or "small") enemies are Chinese Kung Fu men in Black Belt and King's Soldiers (KING兵) in Hokuto no Ken, in both cases lackeys of the area's boss.

The chapter starts off with a beat 'em up segment against small enemies. This will be the pattern for all future chapters, though some chapters don't have as many bosses as others. The small enemies can easily be dealt with using kicks. Their strategy is simply to crowd you on both sides, and their only method of attack is punching. The reach of the kick allows you to defeat them before they can even attempt a punch, though make sure to watch both sides of the screen; while their attacks only do a tiny amount of damage, let them get close to you and that damage will add up.

Sub-bosses[edit]

No. 1: Spade No. 2: Diamond
HnK SMS boss Spade.png

In Hokuto no Ken, Spade is the first of King's generals that Kenshiro faces, and is thus the first line of defense against Shin. In Black Belt, Spade is a Kung Fu Master working for Ryu. He fights by throwing axes, which fly in a straight line toward you. Some of these axes may be thrown lower than others, so crouching is out of the question here. Your best bet to dodge these axes is a high jump or two. Jumping over a couple of axes should get you close enough to punch Spade. He should explode after only a few punches. An alternate strategy is to punch or kick the axes away, but this requires precise timing. While Spade is weak, it is likely that you'll get hit by a pesky axe or two; don't sweat a minor health loss, as health is regained from defeating him (as well as all other sub-bosses).

Hnk SMS boss Diamond.png

Diamond (another Kung Fu Master in Black Belt) is the second sub-boss, and he might just be the trickiest of the four. He has a staff which he'll spin over his head before stabbing in your direction. The best tactic here is to step away as he spins his staff, then perform a jumping kick in his direction. You should get a clear shot at his head, after which you can back away and repeat the process. He may stab you a few times on your descent, but again, don't fret, as the health restoration after his defeat should make up for the health loss.

No. 3: Club No. 4: Heart
HnK SMS boss Club.png

Club (the third Kung Fu Master in Black Belt) is the third sub-boss, and may just be the easiest. Club attacks by dual-wielding blades, strapped to his wrists so that they act as claws, and will very often jump around the screen in an attempt to dodge your attacks and sneakily land his own. Club will sometimes attempt to aim a stab at you from the ground, but will most often try to dive down toward you from the air. This can very easily be countered without giving in to the chase he has planned for you; simply hit him with a kick on his way back down toward the ground. His attack will miss, and as he is in mid-air, he has no choice but to receive your kick. Do this a few times to defeat him.

Hnk SMS boss Heart.png

Heart (the fourth Kung Fu Master in Black Belt) is the fourth sub-boss, and is also a contender for easiest. Heart attacks by stomping toward you with consecutive kicks and throwing the occasional punch. You may have to take a few of these kicks when fighting him off using the safest strategy, which is to simply crouch down and continuously punch him. To avoid some of these kicks, you can step back after a few punches, as he will take some time to slowly lumber toward you again (time that you can take to continue punching). After Heart's defeat, you will have to fight a few more small enemies before facing the final boss.

Boss: Shin[edit]

HnK SMS boss Shin.png
HnK SMS screen Shin.png

Shin (Ryu in Black Belt) is the final boss of the first chapter, standing in the way between Kenshiro and the love of his life, Yuria. Shin's attacks do a good deal of damage, and so some finesse is required here. The safest strategy involves jumping kicks; perform one of these during an attack of Shin's, and his attack will be interrupted. The much riskier and quicker strategy involves punching Shin immediately after he attacks. As always, punches do much more damage than kicks, but kicks are far more versatile, giving you at least a little room for error in mistimed kicks. However, for both strategies, timing is key; Shin will either chop downward or kick upward, and between these attacks, he'll either advance on you (if you're backing away) or back away from you (if you're advancing on him). A tiny window between these attacks and movements of his is your prime opportunity for attack.

Once Shin's health is depleted, Kenshiro will perform the Hundred Rending Fists (北斗百裂拳 Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken?) on his opponent, killing him. Unfortunately for Kenshiro, the short scene that follows - in which he finds that the "Yuria" in Shin's captivity is nothing more than a doll - ensures that his journey is far from over.