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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'.
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 is sport-based. Both games were hugely popular on the Famicom, so it was no surprise to see the third game Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari (1989) developed exclusively for the format.
Released as 'River City Ransom' in the US, the game returns to Kunio's action roots and became a bona fide cult classic. It has everything: 2-player gameplay, an unforgettable visual style and a uniquely off-the-wall sense of humour.
After Soccer Hen (1990) it was clear which direction the series was taking: none. By 1992-1993 Technos went into overdrive, literally releasing dozens of Kunio titles.
Listing every Kunio game would be a bore. Also, a lot of them aren't that good - so we've put them into '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 GBA.
Arc System Works have since produced a few hadheld DS titles (below), but they're really more than handheld tributes - the series still awaits a return worthy of the name. |
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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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The arcade Nekketsu
Kōha Kunio-kun (1986) is where it all started. Released as 'Renegade' outside of Japan, it remains a landmark of the arcade action genre. The Famicom
version appeared in April 1987, and proved just as popular.
As the series veered off into different sub-genres, it eventually returned to classic Kunio-kun action first on the Game Boy (1990), followed by two Super Famicom releases (1992, 1994). Sadly both SFC games are ruined by excessive amounts of text.
In 2006 the original
arcade game was re-issued on the PS2, before getting a massive overhaul in the Nintendo 3DS Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun Special (2011). |
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Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu (1987) started off the most widespread of the Kunio-kun spin-offs.
Simple, fun and hilarious 4-player,
this chaotic Dodgeball game has appeared on over 10 different formats. A second arcade edition on Neo Geo
hardware, Kunio no Nekketsu Tōkyu Densetsu (1996) was Technos' very last production
before they went bust.
The game was ported onto the
Famicom (1988), X68000 (1988) and PC
Engine (1990) before being re-issued
on PS2 in 2006.
Variants also appeared
for the Game Boy (1991), Super Famicom
(1993), Game Boy Advance (2001) and
Nintendo DS (2008). |
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Back to sport in 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) 'The Great Athletic Meet' is one of the series' high points.
After the 2-player chaos of the first 'Downtown' game, Tehcnos push things even further in this 4-player racing / fighting
game, essentially an angry mix of 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), and more recently still brought back on the Nintendo DS by Arc System Works. |
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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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