A Look at ALL the Kunio-kun Technos Japan Sports Games | Kim Justice

Kunio-kun has had many fighting games, but also a lot of sports games -- everything from Dodgeball to Ice Hockey, Football to Basketball and plenty more besides. Here's a look at his sports escapades released by original creators Technos Japan -- including some great Japan-only NES games. Enjoy!
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0:00 Intro
2:04 Downtown Nekketsu Dodgeball Club / Super Dodge Ball (Arcade + Ports)
9:57 Downtown Nekketsu Dodgeball Club: Soccer Story / Nintendo World Cup (NES + Ports)
16:20 Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day! (Famicom + Game Boy)
21:20 Go-Go! Nekketsu Hockey Club Slip-and-Slide Madness (Famicom)
25:40 Surprise! Nekketsu New Records! The Distant Gold Medal / Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge (Famicom + Game Boy)
30:14 Kunio-kun's Nekketsu Soccer League (Famicom)
32:42 It's Kunio's Dodgeball, Assemble Everyone! (Super Famicom)
34:59 Nekketsu! Street Basketball All Out Dunk Heroes (Famicom)
37:49 Downtown Nekketsu Baseball Story: It's a Baseball Match! Kunio-kun (Super Famicom)
40:06 Nekketsu! It's Kunio's Beach Volleyball! (Game Boy)
41:35 Kunio's Nekketsu Dodgeball Legend / Super Dodge Ball (Neo Geo MVS)
#kimjustice #retrogaming #nesgames #kuniokun #arcadegames

[@Kim_Justice]

Thanks for watching this vid! What are your favourite Kunio-kun sports titles? Does anything here take your fancy? Have a hot-blooded shout about it in the comments.

[@josephbradshaw6985]

I have the SNES Dodgeball game working fine if you want my ROM. I'm USING snes9x-1.60-win32-x64 and the 1.0 translation included in the Goodnes batch of roms I downloaded eons ago. It doesn't seem like a great game though, like there doesn't seem to be anything in the menus that would make it play better.

[@justin43098]

I would always go to play a sports looking game and be disappointed it was this guy again... so none. Haha

[@tomkrawec]

My favourite titles are the ones you review

[@Igunaq]

I finished The Ice Hockey and Basketball games about 20 years ago on emulation. Such chaotic fun games.

[@CatFish107]

The nes titles were usually a good time when I was a kid. Now I want to go try all the ones I've missed. Thanks for the insights!

[@JohnnyBGoode9]

Kunio-kun is to sports what Road Rash is to racing.

[@RadikAlice]

As someone who loves Road Rash, I approve this. Sports with an (often sharp) edge

[@MiTBender]

I love Kunio-Kun! That artstyle is iconic.

[@Choralone422]

My best friend owned Super Dodge Ball on the NES. We played the heck out of it back in the day! It was so satisfying and at times funny when you would blast your opponents with the ball. On a CRT the flicker also didn't seem as bad as it does now on a modern LCD.

[@KrvaviAbadas]

I’m surprised this video didn’t bring up the 2020 Retro Brawler Bundle at all, the localization team Arc System Works hired for that project actually went through and translated EVERY game in it that wasn’t already in English. Including most of the sports games mentioned here. There’s a few quirks with it’s setup (the game that became Nintendo World Cup was entirely re-translated from scratch for obvious reasons, and it appears any builds for Crash & The Boys Ice Challenge are lost as that game is also an entirely new translation.) but i’d HIGHLY recommend buying it just for the sheer amount of localization effort put into it. I definitely wish the localization studio “Strangely Compelling Media” would get plenty more projects like it. (The closest thing they’ve done before and since was translating the “8-bit adventure” Steins;Gate game, which was an ACTUAL brand new Famicom game running on an emulator rather than just being retro-inspired.)

[@aj_bonerwicz]

Nintendo World Cup is probably my favourite Kunio-kun game, I had it as a child and played the absolute crap out of it.

[@tomkrawec]

One of the few games I played as a child on an actual NES, and one of my favourites.

[@uolstrit6440]

Is that the one that includes bouncing ball super shot?

[@aj_bonerwicz]

@@uolstrit6440 Yes!

[@RetroRulzMyTown]

Now THIS is a video I've been waiting for, I absolutely LOVE all the Kunio-Kun games. Honestly, the more people dive into his history, the better. I mean, I didn't even know about the baseball game!

[@Aboveup]

I really should take a journey through all of the Kunio-kun games. They always seemed to interesting, and this look through the sports titles is definitely selling me more on the idea of just going through with it.

[@alexandreturcotte6411]

The fact that Kunio sprites, even so early in the series, are so expressive and goofy, that makes my heart way warmer... I should really play those games one day. Thanks Ma'm Justice for this trip across Kunio kun's sport tenier under Technos.

[@unrealggecko]

Small correction on the basketball game, the top hoop is actually 4 points, so you get 10 if you hit all 3. Fantastic video though! Love this series my favourite Kunio game might just be Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu, the 2 on 2 fighting game on the Famicom.

[@SultanSamet]

Holy shttt!!! I always kind of felt that there is a similarity to some games shown here and i saw some of them in my lifetime, but i NEVER knew that this is a series?! A-MAZING. We really need a modern "classic collection" with the original japanese versions just translated.

[@Jiren261]

Funny enough i just watched the wrestling Bios video on WWF Superstars and he has a portion about this character as the company that made superstars made these games.

[@b2ac3y3]

Same, I was wondering if the idea came from it for this one 😂

[@csikocska]

I remember I played so many NES games on a Famiclone game console in my childhood. Those NES games were commonly in yellow cartridges, we called "video games in yellow cases". Among the many 8-bit Nintendo games, my brother and I came across games in which you could slap the characters in the enemy team controlled by the A.I. 🙂 Despite the language barrier, we really enjoyed the Kunio-Kun games of soccer, ice hockey and basketball. I remember the great moment when I humiliated all CPU team in ice hockey game. 😄 I played through River City Ransom on Retroarch last year, I enjoyed that action game with many kind of equipments and foods. Maybe I will play some Kunio-kun sport games again with English translation (if that's available). 🙂

[@THENAMEISQUICKMAN]

I totally forgot Scott Pilgrim had a band named after Crash 'n the Boys. Now that I think about it, it also had another band named The Clash at Demonhead.

[@arostwocents]

Oh wow I thought Kunio started off as a Brawler! Really interesting to find out that was the spinoff and dodgeball was the original! Good video. 👍

[@MrBoBoTom]

I really love this channel, highlights alot of cool obscure stuff.

[@anactualmotherbear]

I've had this set in my playlist for a few days now and I am finally watching it after RndStranger/Famidaily has released the last episode on Kunio-kun's series on the Famicom.

[@faenethlorhalien]

So happy to see another gaming video, Kim. Don't get me wrong, as a complete outsider, I have really been enjoying your Puro and western wrestling videos of late too.

[@Unquestionable]

I love Kunio so it's always a treat to see videos on any of the titles. I grew up playing a lot of the titles so I'm thrilled the series has been getting a lot more love the last few years.

[@gr8gmr]

I love Super Dodgeball (NES) and the Battle Royal feature in Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day.

[@kayDawgTV]

Very good video. Always well thought out, well edited, timed and insightful. Thank you for your hard work Kim.

[@angelriverasantana7755]

Absolutely beautiful video as always, Kim! I've been a lifetime fan of Kunio and been a fan of your videos since I was a 6th grader, so this is a delight to watch

[@sppspharmdude]

Man, being a sucker for volleyball games I'm curious about kunio beach volleyball. Liked the dodgeball game for the ds, hopefully I'll see you cover that one in the future.

[@RetroRulzMyTown]

Same here actually, but as Kim said, it's as generic a volleyball game as it gets.

[@dieinfire920]

Have you played Spike V’ Ball for nes? They are made by the same company technos, so that gives you an idea on how would have been a Kunio version of that game on nes. The game boy beach volley game is pretty bad gameplay wise, too choppy and sluggish. We need someone to make a hack of super spike V’ball to turn it into a Kunio game!

[@goatbone]

@@dieinfire920 Great game. It did feature the double dragon boys. I wonder if they would have included Kunio Kun if he was known outside of Japan.

[@VahanNisanian]

You forgot to mention that the Volleyball title has Super Game Boy enhancements. It even said so on the packaging. And will there be a look at Kunio Beat-em-ups?

[@neverbeforeseen160]

fantastic video!

[@theclovercross]

This was great! Thanks~

[@steuph1976]

Even better than this video which was awesome as usual, was the realisation I had when I lamented « I wish there was an easy way to play all these games » and then it occurred to me that « OH I CAN ! » (well the NES ones and the arcade Dodge Ball)

[@heavysystemsinc.]

I'm curious why "riki Kunio' was omitted here. It was also an atheltics game, but just so happened to use fighting. BTW, I have almost a complete collection of the famicom Kunio series for famicom on real carts. I trhink as a series, it's one that has so much character and exploration of gameplay within the confines of the 'sports' the devs decided to tackle. I'd have loved to see this idea continue...Kunio versions of American Football, Golf (ninja golf for 7800 but with kunio>) swimming, etc. The possibilites were endless with the prospect of sports + kunio wild craziness...I think even other activities could've made for insteresting kunio games. For instance, Kunio Shopping...dealing with rival gangs while trying to pick the perfect gift for a friend...idk...it was so open and wild.

[@dieinfire920]

I have a complete famicom set, but I don’t have any of the nes cartridges. About other sports, I think tennis would have been a good choice. Studio Almanic, the ones who developed Kunio Tachi no banka for SFC, wanted to use the same engine of that game to release a motorcycle game using Kunio characters, but for some reason they couldn’t do it so they released without any reference to Kunio.

[@eSPy86]

Great video! I'm mostly just familiar with the famicom versions of these games so it was nice to see all the other systems for comparison.

[@dieinfire920]

I’m a big Kunio-kun fan, having fangames also under the belt. My fave is the first football game and the hockey game. Although they are easy, it’s still a lot of fun!!! I’m confused, you said the neo geo super dodgeball wasn’t released in Japan, but I had it (I had to sell it because of covid). In the baseball game you can actually fight the characters on the field, just like in any beat’em up. The nes/famicom super dodgeball has an exclusive song, the vs 2 player mode song, and it’s for me the best song of that soundtrack and easily top 5 Kunio songs of all time. There’s also the bean ball song but I don’t remember if that one appears in other dodgeball ports. The pc-engine dodgeball has a mode where you fight teams until you discover the team that are composed by aliens disguised as humans. On the 3ds Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun special, there’s a mode where you unlock character from the various famicom kunio games, including the sports games. So despise the 8bit super dodgeball having slightly different size and sprite style, some of this characters are still available to unlock and choose.

[@tomproctor8406]

What a wonderful video. These games always perplexed me as a kid. The controlling one player melted my brain when playing football. I never knew about the basketball ones, fantastic. Kim, your videos are always top-notch, and you cover games seldom covered by anyone else. Cheers, pal.

[@TheDumontShow]

@Kim_Justice, first of all thank you for all the content you ever done. I have been a subscriber since almost the beginning of your channel. Secondly, I never realized how many Kunio Kun games there were, let alone sports games featuring him. I will play the ones you recommended very soon. Once again, thank you for the amazing work you do with your content.

[@combatking0]

There's one that's easy to miss - a Kunio Kun game which straddles the thin line between electronic gaming and card games. Kunio Kun Football (or "Soccer" if you're so inclined) on the Barcode Battler II. I have all of the non-holographic cards and will be translating them at some point in the future. However, the holographic cards (which are needed to complete the set) are vastly out of my price range at the moment, so I'm saving up to get them.

[@ChloeArgo]

Loved it!

[@mrsein]

Exactly what I needed!

[@MimosaSector]

Such a great video.

[@doniapriangga3420]

thanks for video ❤

[@khalmarri]

Thank you. ❤

[@2g772]

Make a continuation of this video including remaining games up untill now please i have played DS version of these games too they are really fascinating

[@billcook4768]

Don’t have time to watch right now, but I’m super excited for this one.

[@davidsaintcyr3384]

wow these games rock! cant believe i never knew about them

[@mdjey2]

Dodgeball club soccer story was my first football video game that I played and no other football games not even modern games beats it. Music is so much better than Soccer League. Dunk Heroes another superb entry. Nothing says basketball than stealing opponents hoop and dunking on third.

[@mattiusg]

This is your second upload that didn't show up in my feed (but shows as a suggested link under other videos)? Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Tried re-subscribing, yet no change. :(

[@MN_-]

hell yea i love the kunio games

[@chrishensley5384]

Super Dodge Ball on the NES!

[@antwango]

Gonna play all these Kunio games on me RGB30!!!!

[@TheYanster]

Would love to see Kunio and Riki in Smash

[@jaynotmusic]

You do some flipping proper research Kim. Great stuff

[@jaymorrison8419]

Technos cared not about hardware limitations

[@josephbradshaw6985]

I've played most of these but couldn't quite find the fun. I agree with the SNES Dodgeball game, I have my translation working just find, but man it's a tough one. I can usually find the fun in just about any decent game, I'm not a hater, just not for me I guess. EDIT: Well shit I might have to check out that basketball game for the NES.

[@neilthomas6042]

Although most were Japan only, I never played any kunio-Kun games.

[@TANKCATBATTLECATS]

Excuse me I was brought here by a certain cat game do you know the way back there? Edit: it is battle cats, the game is collaborating with it as of 12/4/23.

[@faenethlorhalien]

Although they are not retro, I would also add to the list of Kunio games the two River City Girls games. You rescue them after finishing the first game and they're playable characters from the start on the second one. Excellent modern pixel art games, by the way. Kay Yu is the god of pixel art animation.

[@angeleocorrodead]

As mascot kunio kun > mario.

[@nick-playercharacter8583]

balls

[@patrikfernstrom7607]

Super dodge ball on neo geo is fun indeed, but the constant zooming of the camera is a really bad design flaw 😵‍💫

[@philharmonic2251]

The performance on the nintendo world cup sequel (shown just before sfc dodgeball) looks awful. Sub 15 fps by the looks of things. I have memories of playing the original with my brother on his nes when we were kids, never knew there was a sequel, but looks we may have been better off with the original, if the fps is anything to go by!