The Kunio Kun series is a beloved franchise that has been ongoing since the 8 bit era, but the west only received some of the games. Arc System Works recently released the Kunio-Kun The World Classics Collection in Japan, and that collection has now come west as the Double Dragon & Kunio-Kun Retro Brawler Bundle. Containing multiple 8-bit entries for the series, this is also the first time many of the Famicom classics are being released in the west. Let’s take a look game by game on a retro blitz basis.
Before I do though, I will mention that this collection includes two versions of most games. The original and a “Quality Up” version with improvements are here for most but not all. I will add mention of what is new here.
Double Dragon
A classic, this is the NES version of the game and there is not much to mentioned here. You know what you are getting and its a great game. The new additions are Reduced Lag, Bug Fixes and reduced flickering. For those who like beat em ups, this is a good place to start, with good music and action, the only flaw was no co-op.
Double Dragon II
The superior sequel to the original, this has the two-player co-op the NES version of the original lacked. This is one of the best beat em ups ever made and far better than the original double dragon. Not much was changed for the quality up version aside from some reduced lag and flickering. The music is great, and this is a great game to play with a friend for some two-player fun.
Double Dragon III
The worst of the trilogy, I would avoid this one as it is a terrible game. Poor hit detection, too high a difficulty and a lack of fun are here. This is a major let down. There are only minor changes for the Quality Up version, but there are some changes made to the text that might amuse certain people.
Renegade
Another classic beat em up, the NES version is not as good as the arcade version and it takes some getting used to, due to stiff controls. That said, there is a lot of fun to be had and the music is amazing. This is where the Kunio series really started and multiple series spun off from here, including the European sequels to Renegade, the Kunio Kun series, and Double Dragon. There is no Quality Up version here. It hasn’t aged the best, but as I said, there is enjoyment to be found,
Nekketsu Renegade Kunio-Kun
The Japanese version of renegade is also included, and even given a translation. This is different from the western version, as the western version received many changes in its localization. The original Japanese characters and storyline are all here and accessible to westerners for the first time.
River City Ransom
The classic that most people are familiar with, this is an open world 8-bit beat em up that inspired many games going forward, such as Yakuza and more. It has aged extremely well, and still has a lot of fun to be had. There are big fixes, lag reduction and reduced flickering included. The gameplay is still ahead of many other Beat em Ups, and the gameplay is fun to experiment with. The music is also iconic and that is a plus.
Downtown Nekketsu Story
The Japanese version is included here as well, again with an English translation, since the western localization was very different. There are minor technical differences as well, but the main draw is the original Japanese story. There is some modified text in the Quality Up version.
Super Dodge Ball
A classic of the NES era. Super Dodgeball is arcade style dodge ball mixed with fighting game elements. In fact, all of the sports games here have some fighting game elements within them. This is an easy to pickup and learn game, and there are some big changes made in the Quality Up version. In addition to Big Fixes and reduced lag and flickering, this version also unlocks all teams in Bean Ball mode and allows 3-4 players in that mode as well.
Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club
The Japanese version of the game not only stars the Kunio-Kun cast, but also has a very interesting story mode. The Quality Up changes also go even further with changes. All teams are unlocked for Club Activities. Changes were made to the characters shot tech that affects the gameplay. I wont list all the changes here, but they really do add a lot to the game. Some other changes include different jump mechanics and running moves. This is a great game to check out for fans and you will enjoy it.
Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club – Soccer Story
The Japanese version of Nintendo World Cup, this is the only version of the game here, as the western version could not be included due to the collection being a multiplatform release. This is a decent soccer/football game, but I found the controls a little too floaty for my liking. It is a very physical game though and maintains the beat em up/fighting game elements that Super Dodge Ball had. It is decent but not the best soccer game in the collection. There is reduced lag and flickering in the Quality Up version. Unlike in Nintendo World Cup, this is based around a soccer tournament between schools rather than countries. It is a bit lesser than Nintendo World Cup, as that version had additional teams you could play as in VS mode, and more people could play together in that version. On the plus side, the story mode is preserved here, as mentioned before. This is also the game where Misako made her debut, so River City Girls fans may be interested in that.
Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day
Long title aside, this is an interesting game. It is a game composed of different sports competitions, much like Crash N The Boys Street Challenge, which is the sequel to this title. It is a decent game but lacks a certain polish. The story mode is preserved and translated here, and there is fun to be had, but this is more of a curiosity. There are up to 4 players available for this game and the Quality Up version does adjust things like the throw power for the characters, and it does make a difference.
Downtown Special Kunio-Kun’s Historical Period Drama!
This is one of the more interesting Japan only titles. It is a follow up in terms of gameplay to River City Ransom/Downtown Nekketsu Story but set during the feudal period of Japan in the form of a stage play. For those who liked River City Ransom, this is a very welcome title that offers some more of the same, but with refinements to the gameplay, more exploration, tighter controls and more combat options in addition to more characters to play as. It feels like River City Ransom, but bigger. The Quality Up version adds a new item, adjustments to item effects, changes to the party system, enemy AI, boss moves and more. Some of the sequence of events are also changed, meaning this game has received quite the overhaul. The original version is included as well, if you want to see that one as well.
Go-Go! Nekketsu Hockey Club Slip-and-Slide Madness
This is one of the best 8-bit hockey games I have ever played. It is better than Nintendo’s own Ice Hockey and easy to learn and get into. There is a floatiness to the controls here, but it makes sense in this instance due to the game being a hockey game. The brawler elements are still here, and this does feel like a cross between a fighting game and an arcade hockey game. The music is decent, but it’s the gameplay that is a seller here. I cannot praise this enough and urge you all to try this one. There are only minor changes for the Quality Up version, such as reduced lag and flickering. The game didn’t need any other changes. This game was supposed to be released for the NES as Crash ‘n The Boys Ice Challenge but never came out until now.
Crash ‘n The Boys Street Challenge
An NES classic, this game involves the titular Crash and his gang going up against snobbish school in a series of events. This is a very well polished game and is a superior sequel to Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day. It is playable for up to 4 people and has some of the best gameplay on the collection. The mix of sports and brawler action is on full display here and comes off as a great experience for anyone to have. Good music, and polished visuals round out the package here, and it is a great multiplayer experience.
Surprise! Nekketsu New Records! The Distant Gold Medal
The Japanese version of the game. The story is vastly different from its western counterpart and is a direct sequel to the story of Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day. The story is better, and the pacing is handled well. There are no Quality Up versions for this or the western game.
Nekketsu Fighting Legend
This is a weird game in my opinion. It is a fighting game set in the world of Kunio-Kun, but with a custom character as well. I had trouble with the controls, but overall the game just kind of is there. It is not bad per se, but not good either. I would definitely check it out, and it may connect more with others, but this tournament fighter was not the best game on the collection by far. The controls were also somewhat unresponsive, and the opponents felt too powerful at times. Technos was trying something new with this but didn’t pull it off well. They would later release the excellent Double Dragon for the Neo Geo, and that was a great fighting game. The Quality up version contains reduced lag and flickering.
Kunio-Kun’s Nekketsu Soccer League
The sequel to Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club – Soccer Story, the game is being released in the west for the first time. This is far better than its predecessor, and while there is some floatiness to the controls, it is far more manageable. Of the sports games included, this is my third favourite behind Go-Go! Nekketsu Hockey Club Slip-and-Slide Madness and Super Dodgeball. as it is easy to pick up and learn and have a good time. Once again, Technos combined arcade like sports, with brawler mechanics to create something unique. This is a well-made soccer/football game, and I have no complaints aside from the minor floatiness mentioned before. The Quality Up version has reduced lag and flickering.
Nekketsu! Street Basketball All-Out Dunk Heroes
The last game in the collection, this is a neat take on basketball. Think of it as a mix of all the previous sports games, especially Super Dodgeball, and you will have a basic understanding of the game. You need to be constantly aware of the environment, as you can end up accidentally moving via a shortcut, and your opponents will use any means they can of winning. It’s definitely the best basketball game for Nintendo’s 8-bit system, and I have to say that it is very enjoyable. It takes some getting used to but is worth learning and enjoying the crazy arcade action here. the Quality Up version contains reduced lag and flickering.
In addition to the games in single and local multiplayer, there is online available as well. The rules change for some of the games when multiplayer is on, and the collection will let you know what is being changed. The online play works great, and there is no major issue to report here. There are also achievements here, even on the Switch version, and they are something to aim for. There are save states as well, and each game has four file slots you can choose from, to save your progress on.
This is one of the best collections I have seen in a long time, and Arc System Works went above and beyond here. I highly recommend checking this out, as the games are good, and even the lacking ones are worth looking at.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
In addition, I would like to add that there is an active Nintendo retrogaming Facebook community group you can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/nintendoretrogamers/
For more, visit Retro Gamers Hub (www.retrogamershub.com) for their extensive collection of retrogaming interest groups to choose from.