It is the year 199X. The world, after being plunged into nuclear war, is now a desert. The rule of law is might makes right. The weak suffer as bandits and warlords do as they please. Chaos runs amok and it seems there is no relief in sight.

However, there is one man who stands against that. His name is Kenshiro, and he wields the Chinese martial art Hokuto Shinken - the Divine Fist of the North Star.

Join Kenshiro on his journey as he encounters all kinds of people, both friend and foe, as he discovers what his purpose in this wasteland is - to protect those who cannot protect themselves.