Kunio-Kun: Difference between revisions

Though the ''Kunio-kun'' series was successful in Japan, it was was never constantly released (or consistently localized) abroad, although at one time there were plans to localize more stateside under the ''Crash 'n' Thethe Boys'' label. In the rare case that games from the series did get released abroad, though, the series was generally beloved--if not exactly recognized. See, since there were never any ongoing plans to release the whole series outside Japan, the various games that did make it were localized in almost as many different ways as there were different games. The first ''Kunio'' game, ''Nekketsu Kōha Kunio Kun'' (roughly translated, "[[Hot-Blooded]] Tough Guy Mr. Kunio") got renamed ''Renegade'' and a heavy graphics alteration for its American release, although Kunio himself got a relatively accurate name, "Mr. K"." However, the most notable game to make it to America is ''[[River City Ransom]]'', known as ''Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari'' in Japan and ''Street Gangs'' in Europe, in which Kunio is renamed Alex, Riki is Ryan, and everyone else is renamed, as well. Other American releases were ''Crash 'n' Thethe Boys: Street Challenge'' (''Bikkuri Nekketsu Shin Kiroku! Harukanaru Kin Medal''), where Kunio is the titular Crash, and ''[[Super Dodge Ball]]'' and ''Nintendo World Cup'', in which most evidence of a clear protagonist was lost. Another thing American players largely missed out on was that many of the Famicom games supported up to four players, thanks to an adapter that was incompatible with the NES. (''Nintendo World Cup'' was the only localized Kunio game to support the equivalent NES peripheral.). Nonetheless, the series' wacky appeal crossed to America very much intact.

Sadly, Technos went bankrupt in 1996, and it appeared for a while that Kunio and his friends would be no more. Appearances can be deceiving; however, and in ''Kunio'''s case, they fortunately were. Thanks in part to the cult following (though nothing larger), the series had gained in America, fond memories of the series persisted, and it helped that ''[[River City Ransom]]'' and ''Street Challenge'' both had endings that hinted sequels would come. As the internet became more common and more things that had [[No Export for You|never been released outside Japan]] became visible to American audiences, it was discovered that there were, ''indeed'' many sequels. ''Kunio'' fandom swelled online, with many of the Japan-only games being hacked and translated into English, and soon a small but very thorough attempt at producing fangames blossomed.

Though all of this online effort was still pretty subtle in real world terms, it presumably ignited a spark among former Technos employees, prompting their new company, Million, to purchase the rights to the ''Kunio'' series and rerelease many of the games, first for the Game Boy Advance, and then on the Wii Virtual Console. Eventually, Million began making new ''Kunio'' games, although thus far, they've been essentially retreads of older ones. But the series still seems to be getting healthier and healthier. A Wii game [http://tinycartridge.com/post/279430752/million-hints-at-wii-game-for-kunio has been rumored], a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120421191412/http://www.kunioworld.com/ MORPG known as ''Kunio Online: Yamada's Revenge''] is coming soon, and for the first time, new entries in the series are all coming out in America, again under the ''River City'' name, although now the characters have their original Japanese names. A 25th Anniversary Special was released on December 16, 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. Kunio may be fighting his way back into the big time!

In 1991, a manga title "''Ore Wa Otoko Da Kunio Kun"'' was made. The manga was based on the games, but with a [[Denser and Wackier]] twist. Check out the page for it [[Ore wa Otoko Da Kunio Kun|here]].

* [[Badass]]: Kunio, Riki, and much of the other members of the cast.

** Or hell;, how about the ''whole series''? After all, it features people who beat each other up one moment and happily trot into the mall to amiably order a meal the next!

* [[Contemptible Cover]]: While the original [https://web.archive.org/web/20120209163620/http://bcis.pacificu.edu/journal/2005/01/images/rcrbox.jpg American] and [http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/rcr-street-gangs99.jpg European] box arts for ''[[River City Ransom]]'' and ''Street Gangs'', respectively, are embarassingly distinct from [https://web.archive.org/web/20120209163623/http://bcis.pacificu.edu/journal/2005/01/images/Monogatari_Box.jpg that of the Japanese version], they still do a good job conveying the version of the game they contain. However, the American [http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00009YXDR.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg boxart for the ''remake''] is widely decried for the way it seems to clad the characters in clothing that seems hundreds of years too old-fashioned for the game and make them [[Super-Deformed]] in a different--and less appealing--way than they are in the game.

* [[Darker and Edgier]] / [[Lighter and Softer]]: There are essentially two branches of the ''Kunio'' series, the ''Nekketsu Kōha'' series spun from ''Renegade'', and the ''Downtown Nekketsu'' series spun from ''[[River City Ransom]]'' and ''[[Super Dodge Ball]]''. The former is the darker and edgier one, with more realistically-proportioned characters, more gritty villains resembling the actual [[Yakuza]], and less slapstick-oriented violence, while the latter takes a more humorous, cartoonish, [[Super-Deformed|chibified]] approach to the whole ordeal. ''[[Kunio Tachi no Banka]]'' may be the darkest and edgiest of the lot, with conspiracy, the destruction of Nekketsu High School, and guns.

* [[Faux Action Girl]]: Misako and Kyōko from ''Kunio-tachi no Banka'' border on being this. Though they can fight, and are the first girls to do so in a ''Kunio'' game, they're noticeably weaker than their male counterparts, and this extends all the way down to their sprites. In normal attacks, the girls slap instead of punch, and only kick at about shin or knee level compared to the boys who kick at stomach level. In special attacks, however, they look just as [[Badass]] as the boys do.

* [[Improbable Weapon User]]: Any time the games use weapons, expect them to often become improbable.

* [[One Hit KO]]: What makes the final level of ''Nekketsu Kouha Kunio -Kun'' so difficult. If Sabu's cronies don't get you with their ice picks, Sabu's [[Instant Death Bullet|handgun]] just might.

* [[Roaring Rampage of Rescue]]: The Famicom of version of ''Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kunKun'' has Sabu kidnapping Hiroshi and Kunio must save him.

* [[Screams Like a Little Girl]]: Inverted [[Up to Eleven|entirely]] with Misuzu. She's a humongous schoolgirl who's war cries and death screams [[Nightmare Fuel|sound masculine.]].