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One of trickiest things about the Kunio-kun series is how to make head or tail of it.
The original Kunio-kun (1986) was a groundbreaking arcade action game, released worldwide as 'Renegade'.
Double Dragon (1987) pushes the same game system even further - in many ways it is Kunio-kun's spiritual sequel.
The second Kunio game, Dodgeball (1987), feels a lot more like a 'spin-off' - it's just as violent, funny and full of character, but with less of an urban feel.
Kunio and Dodgeball were hegely popular on the Famicom, so it was no surprise to see the third game Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari (1989) developed exclusively for the format.
Returning to the series' action roots (and released as 'River City Ransom' in the US) the game is a bona fide cult classic, and for good reason. It has everything: hilarious 2-player gameplay, stylish characters and a uniquely off-the-wall sense of humour.
After Soccer Hen (1990) it was clear which direction the series was taking: none. Each game was just as different as the next, not to mention released across numerous platforms.
Listing every Kunio game would be a bore. Also, truth is a lot of them aren't that good - so we've put them into basic 'categories' with every variant and spin-off presented on the same page.
After Technos' demise in 1996 the series went quiet, before being picked up by Million in 2001. They immediately produced a handheld 'EX' update of River City Ransom and 3 Famicom compilations for the Game Boy Advance.
Arc System Works have since produced a few hadheld DS titles (below). |
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GBA River City Ransom EX |
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GBA Collection 1 |
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GBA Collection 2 |
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GBA Collection 3 |
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DS Dodgeball |
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DS Soccer |
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DS Athletic |
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3DS Kunio-kun |
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Nekketsu
Kōha Kunio-kun (1986) is where it all started. It was a groundbreaking arcade
action game for its time, and remains a landmark of the genre. A home version for the Famicom
appeared in April 1987, and proved just as popular.
As the series veered off into different genres, it eventually returned to arcade action first on the Game Boy (1990) then in two average Super Famicom releases (1992, 1994).
Both SFC games feature arcade action but they are almost completely ruined by excessive amounts of text. Their gameplay is average at best, so strip away the 'story' and there really isn't much left to talk about.
In 2006 the original
arcade was re-issued on the PS2 Oretachi Gasen Zoku series, and the Nintendo 3DS Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun Special (2011) is the very latest entry. |
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The arcade Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu (1987)
started off one of the most widespread titles
of the Kunio-kun series.
Simple, fun and hilarious 4-player,
the game has now appeared on no less
than 10 different formats, including
a second arcade version on Neo Geo
hardware, Technos' last ever production
before they went bust in 1996.
The original game is available on
Famicom (1988), X68000 (1988), PC
Engine (1990), and was later re-issued
on PlayStation 2 (2006).
Variants and pseudo-sequels exist
for Game Boy (1991), Super Famicom
(1993), Game Boy Advance (2001) and
most recently Nintendo DS (2008). |
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Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari (1989)
is an
absolutely superb 2P action game for
the 8-bit Nintendo, that became a massive
hit as 'River City Ransom' in the
US and 'Street Gangs' in Europe.
Also released on X68000
(1990) and PC Engine (1993), then
updated on GBA as 'Downtown Nekketsu
Monogatari EX' (2004). |
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Back to sport with Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu Soccer Hen (1990), where Kunio and crew take to the
pitch to let off some steam.
Released internationally as 'Nintendo
World Cup', this one of the few Kunio
games to get a lot of worldwide exposure
- with mixed results. Its
character designs and extreme violence confused a few (you
can easily K.O. the entire opposing
team) but for
most with a sense of humour it was
great fun - especially 4-player.
Originally released on Famicom (1990),
then ported (in various forms) on
Game Boy (1991), PC Engine CD (1991),
PC Engine (1992), Mega Drive (1992),
then finished off with a 'Soccer League'
update for the Famicom (1993). |
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Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku (1990) "Let's Go to the Great Athletic Meet" is one of the series' high points: it's an absolutely hilarious 4-player racing / fighting
game, an angry mix of Kunio-kun street violence and Hyper Olympic (1983). Race to
the right of the screen while beating
the shit out of your friends. Brilliant.
Released on Famicom (1990), Game Boy
(1992) and PC Engine Super CD (1992). |
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Downtown Special (1991) "Kunio-kun's Period Piece... Assemble Everyone!" follows directly in the footsteps of Downtown
Nekketsu Monogatari (1989): the game is similar but set
in medieval Japan, spoofing both period
plays and fighting games.
Released on Famicom (1991) and Game
Boy (1993). |
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Nekketsu Hockey Bu (1992)
is an anarchic ice hockey game for the
Famicom, similar to the delirious Soccer
Hen (1990) but in the ice rink, with
even more (slightly more justified)
fisticuffs. |
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Bikkuri
Nekketsu Shinkiroku! (1992) "The Distant Gold Medal" provides more 4-player events, sequel to Downtown
Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku (1990) but
with more of a genuine 'olympic' setup.
Released on Famicom (1992) and Game
Boy (1993). |
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Nekketsu
Kakutō Densetsu ( 1992)
- 4-player versus fighting game similar
to Smash Brothers.
Famicom. |
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1993
- Madcap basketball game full of classic
Famicom Kunio action. Also the final
Kunio-kun release on the
Famicom. |
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Downtown
Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari: Yakyū
de Shōbu da! Kunio-kun (1993) was Technos'
second SFC Kunio-kun release, a rather dull and uneventful
interactive baseball game.
Not the best the series has to offer. |
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1994
- Standard well-type puzzle game featuring
Kunio and a lot of processed food. |
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Nekketsu!
Beach Volley Dayo Kunio-kun
熱血! ビーチバレーだよ くにおくん |
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1994
- Average handheld beach volleyball
action, and the beginning of the end
for Technos. The Neo Geo version of
the dodgeball game, 'Kunio no Nekketsu
Tōkyu Densetsu' (1996) will be their
last ever release. |
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Kunio-kun
Nekketsu Collection 1
くにおくん
熱血コレクション1
GAME BOY ADVANCE |
DETAILS
| Format |
Game
Boy Advance |
| Released |
25
Aug 2005 |
| Publisher |
Atlus |
| Product
ID |
AGB-B9AJ-JPN |
| Size
(cm) |
13.5
x 8.5 x 2 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.07 |
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First
in a set of three 2-in-1 collections
for GBA, featuring the Famicom
versions of:
- Nekketsu
Kōkō Dodgeball Bu
- Nekketsu
Street Basket
Both games remain identical
to their original editions.
Standard GBA cardboard packaging,
32Mbit cartridge, booklet. |
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Kunio-kun
Nekketsu Collection 2
くにおくん
熱血コレクション2
GAME BOY ADVANCE |
DETAILS
| Format |
Game
Boy Advance |
| Released |
27
Oct 2005 |
| Publisher |
Atlus |
| Product
ID |
AGB-B9BJ-JPN |
| Size
(cm) |
13.5
x 8.5 x 2 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.07 |
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Kunio-kun
Nekketsu Collection 3
くにおくん
熱血コレクション3
GAME BOY ADVANCE |
DETAILS
| Format |
Game
Boy Advance |
| Released |
16
Feb 2006 |
| Publisher |
Atlus |
| Product
ID |
AGB-B9CJ-JPN |
| Size
(cm) |
13.5
x 8.5 x 2 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.07 |
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Third
and final Kunio-kun
collection for the GBA, featuring
two classic Kunio games from
their Famicom heyday:
- Downtown
Special (1991)
- Nekketsu
Hockey Bu (1992)
Both games remain identical
to their original editions
- i.e. just as ridiculous.
Standard GBA cardboard packaging,
32Mbit cartridge, booklet. |
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'Kunio-kun'
and 'Technos' are registered trademarks of Technos Japan Corp.
'Game Boy Advance' and 'Nintendo' are registered trademarks of Nintendo
Co., Ltd.
Kunio-kun TM & © 1986 Technos All Rights Reserved
Page content, design & layout © 2008 www.Jap-Sai.com |
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