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The 3DS's Renegade remake is, thankfully, better than Renegade
When news came out that Million, a company made up of people who worked on River City Ransom and the other games in the Kunio-kun series, would remake the first game in said series, I found it bittersweet in the extreme(s). On the one hand, I like Kunio games a bunch; on the other hand, Renegade is not among the Kunio games I like a bunch, because I'm a reasonable human being. Here's a capsule summary of my impressions: Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-Kun Special is not flawless, but it is better than original version. Which means it's at least playable now.
Arc System Works planning new Kunio game for 3DS
Arc System Works and developer Million, a group of former Technos employees, have resurrected the Kunio series (which we know best from River City Ransom) in recent years with DS-based games like Super Dodge Ball Brawlers, River City Soccer Hooligans, and River City Sports Challenge. Now, the pair appear to be returning to the origin of the series, with a 3DS game called Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun (Hot Blooded Tough Guy Kunio-kun). That same title was used for the first game in the series, the absolutely terrible brawler we know as Renegade. We're hoping Arc is using that title to refer to the overarching series, and not actually returning to the wooden Renegade gameplay style. Or maybe making the same kind of game ... except not awful. [Image: Hardcore Gaming 101]
Aksys resurrects 'River City' name for DS sports games
The latest announcement from Aksys games includes two surprises. It doesn't come as a shock that the company would choose to localize Kunio-kun no Chou Nekketsu Daiundokai (Kunio's Extreme Hot-Blooded Athletic Meet) for DS -- Aksys is fairly reliable about picking up everything Arc System Works releases in Japan, and it published the last new Kunio game for DS, Super Dodgeball Brawlers, in 2008. However, in addition to the multi-sporting event game (a sort of sequel to the NES game Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge), it also announced a new Kunio soccer game that hasn't even been announced in Japan. You may be familiar with Nintendo World Cup for the NES -- that was originally a Kunio game too. Much like Super Dodgeball Brawlers, you can expect both of these to be revivals of NES sport classics. The other big surprise is the naming scheme Aksys has adopted. Building on the popularity of the best-known Kunio game -- River City Ransom -- these games are being localized as River City Super Sports Challenge and River City Soccer Hooligans. That's basically enough for us to pretend they're really odd River City Ransom sequels. Aksys hasn't dated either game yet.
Japanese Nintendo downloads: Nothing this week, arcade classics next week
This week, there are no updates on the Japanese Wii Shop, due to the Obon holiday. Now we know why last week's update was so massive -- it more than compensated for a week off! The Virtual Console, at least, will return next week with four new games. No announcement has been made for WiiWare yet, but we thought we'd share the VC releases.It's going to be a good week for arcade games! Knuckle Heads, a silly-looking post-Street Fighter II fighting game from Namco, will be available, along with the arcade versions of Bomb Jack and Solomon's Key, two (unfortunately priced) total classics from Tecmo. Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey-bu! Subette Koronde Dairantou (Famicom, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Solomon's Key (Arcade, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Knuckle Heads (Arcade, 1-4 players, 800 Wii Points) Bomb Jack (Arcade, 1-4 players, 800 Wii Points) [Image]
Kunio's Super Collection of Hot-Blooded Big Athletic Meet Screens
Would you like to know what the sports are in the new multi-event Kunio sports game? Of course you would! We're going to pretend that the cool reception that met Super Dodgeball Brawlers didn't happen, and the world is exhibiting the correct and expected frothing demand for a new Kunio sports game from Million.Three of the new sports look like a return to the events found in the first Famicom multievent game, Nekketsu Koushin Kyoku: Soreyuke Dai Undoukai: the obstacle course, in a room full of traps; the free-roaming triathlon that takes the kids through town, climbing buildings and crossing rivers; and, of course, the fighting tournament. New to the series is some kind of treasure-hunting game, in which players compete to hoard the most random junk. New screens of all of the games, highlighting the pretty unfortunate 3D, can be found at Famitsu.
Kunio-kun returns to DS -- now in 3D
A small scan in the latest Famitsu has brought something fairly glorious to our attention: a new Kunio-kun game. Kunio-kun no Chou Nekketsu! Daiundokai (Kunio-kun's Super Hot-Blooded! Big Athletic Meet) is a multiple-sports game similar to Nekketsu Koushin Kyoku: Soreyuke Daiundoukai and the game that we got on the NES as Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge. In an especially baffling decision, it's in 3D, in what we believe is a first for the series. Nintendo 64-level blocktastic 3D, but 3D nonetheless.Like other Kunio sports games, Daiundokai is a collection of sporting events, taking place at Nekketsu High School and around town, in which players can battle it out with punches and kicks as they compete. The released screenshots feature some kind of triathlon event and a character editor. We'll have to wait to find out about more sports and features.We know Super Dodgeball Brawlers didn't turn out perfect, but we just cannot feel anything but, well, hot-blooded when we see an announcement of a new Kunio game.
VC Tuesday: Capcom rocks
Capcom traditionally lends lots of support to every system, no matter how well or poorly they are doing. Games like Marvel vs. Capcom, Mars Matrix, and Power Stone helped make the Dreamcast worth owning, for example. So it's no surprise that the Wii, which is actually very popular and enables companies to easily lend support in the form of direct ports of old games, is the recipient of some of Capcom's favor. It's an especially good week in Japan for Capcom fans, with both Rockman 3 and Mercs, the sequel to the classic Commando.We're very curious about this CD version of Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball-bu. It looks pretty much like a PC Engine version of Nintendo World Cup, but ... maybe it's got good music? Rockman 3 (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Senjou no Okami II (Mega Drive, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points) Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball-bu CD Soccer Hen (PC Engine CD-ROM, 1-4 players, 800 Wii Points) This week's WiiWare releases include a board game sort of like Pente and a WiiWare version of a Japan-developed entry in Gameloft's mobile Nights simulation series: Tokyo City Nights (1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) Saikyou Ginsei Gomoku Narabe (1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
VC Tuesday: Kunio and Koinu
Okay, so there are more WiiWare games in Japan this week than Virtual Console games, but the WiiWare games are boring. How boring? The most interesting games on the list are both puzzle games, and one of those is only noteworthy because it's super cute awwwww puppies.But the Virtual Console games are better. Sure, one of them is a shooter, an imperfect port of an arcade game, but the other is a Kunio game and a one-time NES pack-in! Virtual Console releases: Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball Bu: Soccer Hen (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Super Darius (PC Engine, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) WiiWare releases: Minna de Asobou: Koinu de Kururin (1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Saikyou Ginsei Mahjong (1 player, 500 Wii Points) Kappa-kun to Asobou: Kappa-kun no O-tanoshimikai (1 player, 600 Wii Points) Katachi no Game Maruboushi Kaku (1-3 players, 800 Wii Points)
Super Dodgeball Bargain
We were dismayed (but not surprised) when Aksys Games' Super Dodgeball Brawlers failed to ignite the sales chartz. In a DS Fanboy-run world, any new Kunio game would be the subject of massive in-store promotions, print, TV, and online advertising, and magazine covers galore. But in the inferior real world, it's just a cute DS game that reminds people of that one NES game they played on an emulator in college.In case you are among the group interested in Brawlers, but didn't have the cash together to pick it up, Gamestop has dropped the price to $20. This game for $20 is the best post-E3 news yet!%Gallery-14440%
River City Dodge Ball All Stars!!: The other new Kunio Dodge Ball game
If you neglected to pick up Super Dodge Ball Brawlers two weeks ago -- and we suspect you did, considering how few people are talking about the game -- you can still terrorize playgrounds with River City Dodge Ball All Stars!!Developed by doujin groups Miracle Kidz and Downtown7 (along with Famicom Kunio series creators Yoshimitsu Yoshida and Mokeke Sekimoto), this PC title was actually released several months ago in Japan, but the demo is still worth downloading and playing. Plus, there's an English version of the trial!The game doesn't suffer from the slow pace many have complained about with the DS release, and it even offers two speeds -- Normal and Retro. River City Dodge Ball All Stars!! doesn't, however, include some of the cool features introduced in Super Dodge Ball Brawlers, like the equipment shop, throwable items on the field, and the 8-player local wireless brawl mode. As its title suggests, the PC game comes with the added bonus of a roster filled with recognizable names from the River City Ransom cast! Smack people in the face as end-boss Slick! Dodge super shots as Zombies gang member Turk! Wear panties on your head as, uh, Panty!%Gallery-25040%[Via Insert Credit, Nico Nico Douga]
Undodgeable SDB screens from U.S., Korean releases
North American publisher Aksys has accompanied Super Dodgeball Brawlers' stateside release this week with an image bonanza of (Japanese) screenshots, character art, and other promotional assets, all of which we've conveniently collected for you in the gallery below.Apparently, lots of people are having trouble finding the game in stores, so here's an opportunity for you to flip past the screenshots quickly to approximate an animated match, imagining that you're really playing the game. We had no problem finding Super Dodgeball Brawlers ourselves, as most of the GameStops around our area kept two copies on their shelves.In related news, Fujitsu also plans to ship Super Dodgeball Brawlers to stores in Korea next week and has released a huge, 80-image-strong batch of Korean-translated screens, which, for some reason, includes shots from the staff credits and celebration scene that appears after a completed tournament. Perhaps they were accidentally released in Fujitsu's rush to get the word out -- the word(s) being "Kunio in Korea!"%Gallery-14440%
VC Friday: Ninja Dragon Games
A trio of games this week on the PAL Virtual Console (all of which would be dead to us if "Ninja Dragon Games" actually existed), including one we totally want, one that will probably be undeservedly overlooked in favor of the one we totally want and, um, World Games (Commodore 64), which we're entirely unfamiliar with.The former, obviously, is Double Dragon (NES), and although we plan to download Technos' landmark game with a quickness, we feel a bit bad for The Last Ninja (Commodore 64), which deserves some attention, if only for its amazing soundtrack. Check videos of all three out after the blue words, and marvel at how barrel jumping looks ... oddly compelling. Double Dragon -- NES -- 500 Wii Points World Games -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points* The Last Ninja -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points* * Only in Europe.
Abobo headed to the VC, thanks to Aksys
When they made the deal for Super Dodgeball Brawlers, Arc System Works apparently got the rights to Technos Japan's back catalog. Their name shows up as the publisher of all the Technos games available in Japan on the Virtual Console, including Nekketsu Kouha Kunio. Aksys Games has been the American publisher for every recent Arc game. That would seem to imply that Aksys could publish Technos's games on the American Virtual Console. The fact that it is actually happening strengthens our theory.The aforementioned Nekketsu Kouha Kunio, known over here as Renegade, has now been rated by the ESRB for U.S. release, published by Aksys, along with a Technos game that is more relevant to people who like good games: Double Dragon. Even more relevant: this opens the door for an American release of River City Ransom!
Super Dodgeball Brawlers sped up for American release
The only complaint we've heard about the Japanese version of Super Dodgeball Brawlers is that it is very slow compared to previous games, though you gain the ability to speed your characters up over time. Aksys Games, publisher of the American version, apparently paid attention to this criticism: according to IGN, who totally got to play the game already, Brawlers has been sped up, and this timing has had a positive effect on their ability to catch the ball.The items have also been rebalanced since the Japanese version, which now makes us glad we've waited. Just like Bangai-O Spirits, which will come with many new Treasure-created stages not found in the Japanese release, the American version will be the definitive Super Dodgeball Brawlers.%Gallery-14440%
DS Daily: Super Bangai-O Brawlers
There's a considerable number of DS games out there that we cherish, but Super Dodgeball Brawlers and Bangai-O Spirits must rank amongst our greatest obsessions.By a happy coincidence, both titles recently released within days of one another in Japan, so the next question is obvious: as the U.S. still has a couple of months to wait for these gems, did you buckle under the pressure and import either? If so, we'll be happy to place our extreme envy to one side for the time being, and listen to your impressions! We're nice like that, see.%Gallery-16997%%Gallery-14440%
Super Dodgeball Brawlers plays dirty
Hands-on impressions of Super Dodgeball Brawlers have been coming in since the game's release in Japan earlier this week, and while previews indicate that the game's "pacing" seems slow in comparison to the NES original, we're happy to hear that this design decision is in favor of a much deeper experience with stat-tweaking and buyable upgrades. Even without an online component, Brawlers already sounds like a title with a lot of replayability! All the special throws and jumping skills won't save you, however, when your opponent can pick up and toss a bomb at you, literally (0:50). As you can see in these two in-game videos -- complete with face-smashing sound effects -- a mess of potential weapons litter the arena, enticing you to abandon the gym pastime's dated rules. According to 1UP's preview, the Canadian team, in particular, has no problem relying on under-the-belt strategies rather than its own abilities.Why bother waiting to get beaned when you can just run across the chalked line and mollywhop whoever has the dodgeball? Head past the post break for another foul-play-filled Super Dodgeball Brawlers clip. %Gallery-14440%
Videos from 'that other Brawl'
Though Aksys published these Super Dodgeball Brawlers clips to keep the game fresh in our minds, the videos are also a reminder of the potential that playgrounds have to serve as battle arenas for our nation's youth. Imagine a utopia in which children of all creeds and races, rich or poor, can come together during recess and pummel each other with dodgeballs, crude weapons, and their own two fists. It is a dream we have worked our entire lives to realize.The Brawl Mode in Super Dodgeball Brawlers is a window to that dream, allowing up to eight kids to battle it out in a no-holds-barred, free-for-all game of Murder Ball. Adolescents are encouraged to swing lead pipes at each other, throw exploding rocks, and transform the dodgeball into a tire-hugging panda whilst a small yapper-type dog cheers them on. Wipe that proud tear from your eye and step past the break for another clip of elementary school children locked in gladiatorial combat.%Gallery-14440%See also: 2008's Biggest Blips: Super Dodgeball Brawlers
Guard your grill: Super Dodgeball Brawlers trailer
We estimate that about 95% of the people who're hyped about Super Dodgeball Brawlers's release are nostalgic fans of the original NES game, scarred veterans of the flickering playground. Publisher Arc System Works must have come to the same conclusion, as its latest promotional trailer introduces the return of the Kunio dodgeball series with "archival footage" of the 1988 title, positioning Brawlers as a modernized remake. Smart move!This minute-and-a-half-long video has a lot more excitement than the mini-clips we've featured the past two months -- it has florid lines of text flying around, chaotic scenes grabbed from the 8-player free-for-all battle mode, and some dude lifting a vending machine over his head. Expect Super Dodgeball Brawlers to hit Japan this March 19th (the February 21st date advertised in the trailer is from before the game was delayed).%Gallery-14440%See also: 2008's Biggest Blips: Super Dodgeball Brawlers
Super Dodgeball Boxarts
According to Amazon, Super Dodgeball Brawlers now has a release date: May 27th. That's pretty far away, but okay! We don't mind having just Dodgeball to play during what is usually a lull in game releases. That's totally fine. Also, take a look at that boxart! It uses the same artwork as the Japanese boxart (which is welcome), with the characters all rearranged and the background replaced with some purple lightning or something. Most interesting to us is the little "Kunio Series" label on the box. Since there aren't that many Kunio fans who wouldn't already know about this game, we totally take that to mean that Aksys is looking forward to continuing the series. Or they're just making us happy.See also: 2008's Biggest Blips
You can't dodge these Super Dodgeball Brawlers screens
We haven't really seen much on what is sure to be the sports game of the century: Super Dodgeball Brawlers. Actually, scratch that. We've seen so many different aspects of the game, we can probably already go insane within a mental playground constructed of the game itself. We will feel the agony of being crushed by a 225mph fast ball to the gut. In reality, we'll have just walked into a bus. Probably on the day it releases.But, we digress. There's always more to look at, more to appreciate about the game. These new screens in our gallery, for example (which come courtesy of JeuxFrance) are more the former: just more of the game to look at.%Gallery-14440%
