Renegade retrospective: Shoulder-tossed in translation | NES Works

The NES's 1988 lineup begins with the debut of a gaming legacy. Renegade gave us both the River City/Kunio franchise AND the Double Dragon franchise, and given what lies ahead in the near future for both NES and Game Boy, we definitely need to have a look into the origins of these brawly species.
Special thanks this episode to Steve Lin and the Video Game History Foundation.
Video Works is funded through Patreon ( / gamespite ) - support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its KZbin debut! And be sure to check out the Retronauts podcast (www.retronauts.com), where I (and many others!) tackle a much wider array of classic gaming topics each week.

[@Musashi999]

The quality that separates NES Works, as well as your other series, from the usual retro game media you see on this site is the way you are able to contextualize the game of the week as cultural artifact. This retrospective is an excellent example of that. Lovely as always!

[@jasonblalock4429]

It's worth mentioning that last year, Arc System Works released a full collection of the early Kunio-Kun series for modern platforms, with all the original Japanese NES games, as well as their US variants - including both versions of Renegade. (Sadly, not the arcade version, as the collection is NES-only.) The cool thing is, every Japanese game was newly translated, plus the ROMs were updated to reduce flicker and remove bugs, so it's pretty great if you were a fan of Technos' physics-driven brawlers and sports games back in the day.

[@MaxW-er1hm]

That sounds fantastic!

[@Jayce_Alexander]

Thank you for another great episode, Jeremy. Renegade was a huge deal in Europe on microcomputers. Particularly the ZX Spectrum, but also on Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC. Its European-designed sequel, Target Renegade, was an even bigger hit, and for a while these two games arguably made Renegade one of the most popular gaming franchises in Europe - bigger than the likes of Super Mario Bros or Zelda, as Europe was very much microcomputer territory at the time, and consoles made up only a small part of video game sales until the 1990s. Unfortunately, when Renegade III came along, it bombed, effectively ending the European series of games, and now Renegade's European legacy has largely been forgotten, except among microcomputer enthusiasts. Younger generations are growing up with a generally more Americanized view of gaming history: importantly, the idea that Nintendo, Mario and Zelda dominated gaming in the 1980s. But they didn't do so everywhere! In 1980s Europe, Kunio, underneath his heavy disguise as a westernized brawler, was one of the biggest stars in video gaming. Bigger than Mario. For a little while, at least. ;)

[@JeremyParish]

The Double Dragon II GB video will definitely be getting into how much bigger Renegade was outside of Japan than inside, thanks in large part to the MANY microcomputer conversions it saw.

[@duffman18]

@@JeremyParish I really really hope that at some point you may do a "gaiden" episode or two on a bunch of Speccy or C64 classics. But you've already got literally the biggest retro game documentation program on your plate already so asking you to add even more to that is extremely selfish of me. But one day, perhaps? I've said it before in the comments several times how yeah in europe, the NES sold poorly, and everyone was playing microcomputers instead, we never had a video game crash like north america did And I've said it on videos like the Wizards and Warriors one, how the game design tropes of microcomputer games were transferred over to NES and Master System. And then later on even the SNES and Mega Drive. That' why there's a whole genre called "european platformers". They all had a legacy that went back to the microcomputer where side scrolling wasn't really possible on them so all levels were made of unmoving single screens. And the slow processing power made characters necessarily slow, unlike mario, and so platformers in europe were slow and deliberate. Today they'd be called puzzle platformers. But yeah it's fascinating that at the same time, europe and north america and japan were all making different types of games all for the same platform that all had very different design conventions and history and "etymology" for lack of a better word for these design tropes. They grew independently to fill the same niche It's like how old world vultures and new world vultures are not genetically related whatsoever, other than both being birds. They independently evolved to fill the exact same niche, and even have the same behaviours like mating behaviors and personality and stuff, because despite being unrelated the niche was the same and so they evolved to fill it like a puddle of water fits into a hole perfectly. And so "old world" platformers (european platformers) and "new world" platformers (america and japan) fill the same niche but had an entirely different history leading up to that point You could probably write a whole book on these differences and game design tropes and history of it. There probably already exists books about that, I'll go check on amazon. Maybe once I read one of them I can finally understand why in european platformers, a drop of water dripping on your head can kill you in one hit...

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

The countdown to NES Works: River City Ransom begins here then.

[@JeremyParish]

I wonder if humanity will survive that long.

[@Mikey-zj8bn]

River City Ransom was the best game ever I'm really surprised it never got a sequel, yes I know that SNES game but it's not the same

[@FloatingSunfish]

@@JeremyParish I certainly hope so! Too bad we can't stop ignorant people from infecting themselves and others. :/

[@Unquestionable]

@@Mikey-zj8bn I mean it has a lot of sequels and remakes but obviously they didn't hit the US in a timely manner. The GBA version is especially interesting as it almost comes across like an extensive fan mod. And of course River City Girls plays like I would have expected a sequel to.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

It's one of my favourite games of all time, 'tis all. And I love River City Ransom: Underground, as it's a continuation to the "American Continuity", if you'd like, of the River City series.

[@Mr._Sandman]

The other day, I confused the word 'Yakuza' for 'jacuzzi'... _Now, I'm in hot water with the Japanese mafia!_

[@JeremyParish]

HEYOOOOO

[@Nayue]

OH MY GOD The Cromartie High School clip... Dude, you're awesome.

[@johnsimon8457]

I remember dropping a coin into into the arcade and walking right off the train platform, thinking this game was a kind of brawling platformer... game over in ten seconds!

[@Seafoamgaming]

I'm kinda surprised you didn't mention the US version's infamous ending, or lack of one: Despite all the regional edits and such, they just gave up on including an ending, and thus the second you kill the final boss it jumps to the credits very abruptly: the Japanese version has a proper ending. Still, this was a very enjoyable episode, and this happens to be one of my favorite NES games. It's just the perfect length and very enjoyable indeed.

[@FloatingSunfish]

It was probably too hard to localize the ending, but in retrospect it is pretty weird that they would give up right at the end. Probably schedule issues.

[@jasonblalock4429]

Sadly, that wasn't too uncommon back in the day. If it didn't hard cut to the credits, you'd just get some brief "Congraturations! A hero is you!" type message and nothing else.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I remember beating this game, after defeating the final boss, it jumped straight to the credits, and that was it, no epilogue, nothing, just the credits. This game was made by Taito and developed by Technos. Taito was the one gaming publisher that made “Bubble Bobble” for the NES, along with arcade classics like “Space Invaders”, one of Taito’s arcade games greatest of all time, plus a boatload of Taito’s arcade hits like “Elevator Action”, “Colony Six”, “Jungle Hunt”, and more, including the forgotten classic “Space Cruiser”. But “Renegade” is no exception. Technos developed the game, and Taito published the game, and ended up releasing on the NES by early 1988.

[@FloatingSunfish]

Wow, so the whole beat 'em up genre was based on real life, and by a former *_punk_* no less!

[@Mikey-zj8bn]

O yea? Just finding out about this you sould check out the game river City Ransom

[@FloatingSunfish]

@@Mikey-zj8bn I'm actually a huge fan of beat 'em ups even though I'm not that good at them. 😅 While I knew that Renegade started the genre, it was a surprise that it came from a former punk in the video game industry.

[@Belzeboobies]

It's really funny, and not the only case. Like, the first otome game is also kind-of based on the life of her creator, being basically a soap opera of being bullied by her peers, and her would-be husband telling her he couldn't live without her

[@jessragan6714]

I wonder if he ever "barf!"ed in a fight.

[@Musicradio77Network]

That’s why beat ‘em up games started it with “Renegade”, a classic NES game from Taito, makers of the classic “Space Invaders” in 1978 along with “Bubble Bobble”, another great classic for both the arcade and NES. I played this game and it was a lot of fun beating people out in the streets. I remember what happened when you lose a life, it would say, “Get lost, punk!”, “Beat it, scum!” and “You giving up already!”

[@Patrick502]

This game was at my neighborhood grocery store growing up. It was a big hit and everybody was talking about it at school. The arcade is fun and still holds up today.

[@Unquestionable]

And once again the highlight of my week hits it out of the park. As a child I was absolutely in love with the genre with Double Dragon and River City Ransom being among my favorites of the generation. As I got older and learned about Kunio and it's insane amount of spin offs I couldn't help but fall in love with it all over again. While I would have happily watched Jeremy go on for an hour about Renegade/Kunio/Double Dragon this hit all the important bits.

[@JeremyParish]

You're in luck-there'll be a follow-up to this in about a month.

[@jasonblalock4429]

If you're a Kunio-kun fan, you might enjoy "The Friends Of Ringo Ishikawa." It's an odd little one-man indie project that's basically "What if River City Ransom, but a melancholy drama about misspent youth?" It has very similar gameplay to RCR, with some amazing pixel art, but it's more of a juvenile delinquent life simulator without the kidnapped girlfriend plotline or other overt action game tropes.

[@magus2342]

If you want to hear Jeremy and his colleagues go on for an hour about this, might I suggest perusing the Retronauts podcast?

[@josephD32]

Although I never completed it as a kid, I remembered really enjoying this game. I feel like the ending to this video though missed out on the the opportunity to say good bye using the in-game "Get Lost, Punk!"

[@Musicradio77Network]

I remember this game. This was by the same people who did the “Double Dragon” series called Technos Japan, and then later published by Taito who also made other great NES games including arcade ports of “Bubble Bobble”, “Operation Wolf”, “Arkonoid”, which was a “Breakout” clone, “Legend of Kage”, “Elevator Action”, “Sky Shark”, and “Demon Sword”, the direct sequel to “The Legend of Kage”. Taito was also the company that made arcade classics like “Space Invaders”, the best game ever where you can shoot lots of aliens before it goes down and shoots you and gets caught. The NES never did a home port of “Space Invaders”, but it was only released on the Atari 2600 in 1980 where it gives you a variety to choose from.

[@thefrozengoat]

Fresh cup of coffee, comfy chair, and (oh!) a new NES Works! Great start to the day!

[@fireflocs]

I always love watching the Kunio franchise get the love it deserves. Kunio for Smash!

[@agentchris1482]

I remember DD2 had the same attack setup too!

[@one7decimal2eight]

My dad brought this home from the video rental store, making it the 1st game we ever rented. Just that concept was mind blowing to a 10 year old.

[@backinthedaygamer]

Back in the day I didn’t care for this game, largely bc Double Dragon was so much better. But it really grew on me and I do a play through once a year or so. As you get older you appreciate the origins more. You know what I’m talking about lol

[@One_Missing_Worker]

Huh, the warriors as a dark inverse of the rose-tinted 1950s. Neat.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Which, considering River City Ransom comes across as having a Rebel without a Cause, West Side Story-ish 50s setting, is weird.

[@rsmith02]

@@TheSmart-CasualGamer Japanese biker gangs and toughs in the '70s and '80s liked that kind of style and adapted it for themselves.

[@dumpnchase]

My friends and I played this game so much. It was one of our favorites.

[@johnnygrind77]

I wasn't able to complete this game until I saw a video on which pathway to use for the last stage's maze. After learning the pattern, I was able to complete both the NES and Famicom versions.

[@landeny65]

This was one of my favorite games

[@nachobeards]

I realize this is NES works but I don't get to say this very often: the ZX spectrum of the game was pretty good, and we enjoyed playing it quite a bit.

[@Duke_Togo_G13]

Renegade and River City Ransom are the two best from Technos. I still play them to this very day.

[@RalphBarbagallo]

Lol. I got this for my birthday in 88 because Double Dragon was still not out (delayed past the Summer). I hated it but was stuck playing this game for months. I remember calling the Nintendo Game Counselors because I couldn’t make it through that final maze area. The guy on the phone incredulously responded, “just jump kick!” Which became an in joke with my friends when bagging on bad enemy AI in games-“did you jump kick?”

[@alk7934]

In the second euro spinoff Mr. K goes back in time to lay down the law on those pesky dinosaurs.

[@svankensen]

Been watching your older episodes. They are pretty good, but I must say you have improved in every aspect. So much I could point a bunch of improvements, but it would take an essay to catalogue them and explain their combined effect. Keep up the good work, and thanks for doing this.

[@hamitpahpool1787]

Playing Target: Renegade on the zx spectrum with only the keyboard was a pretty upsetting way to spend ones childhood.

[@MercuryCDX]

Starting the best year of the NES with the beginning of the most legendary beat-em-up/rules-breaking sports franchise, and following up with Data East's most marketable mascot.

[@Magnus1718]

I love the soundtrack of this game. I always felt like I was in the ’50s

[@chanceaaronblack2792]

Really freakin' cool to learn the origins of some the best games ever.

[@absolutezeronow7928]

The start of NES Works 1988! Nice. Will get that Kunio-kun collection for Switch eventually.

[@odemata87]

oh man this takes me back. loved this game. after this it was only natural to enjoy double dragon

[@SECONDQUEST]

Omg I cannot wait for Karnov!

[@josepantoja6571]

I used to own this as a kid. Loved it too.

[@themcc1879]

As a kid growing up in the NES days I never heard of this game or even saw it. Playing this as an adult it is almost immediately obvious why. The controls and cheap deaths just make you want to throw it out the window. I could see how this game wasn't for sell in my town.

[@johnsimon8457]

From the video it looks like jump kick is the only viable attack; just punching will leave you open. The difference between a good brawler and a bad brawler is subtle. I’m going to have to play the arcade version and see if it’s that similar to the NES port.

[@retrograde889]

Dang how can you get me this excited over nes works

[@alexakira888]

The game to introduced the concept of a "Madam" to my single digit existence.

[@MrTableDesk]

I was pretty young when I first played this. I remember, because of that beach level, I thought that this was how Californian street gangs looked. I was also young enough to think the main character was my dad, because his name was Mr.K. God I was a dumb kid, lol.

[@Fragenzeichenplatte]

Lots of teasing about upcoming episodes! Good.

[@BillyTBum]

I actually had no idea that Renegade was the source of Double Dragon. Everything I know about this game comes from Seanbaby bashing it >.>

[@Larry]

Is the NES version of Renegade a port of the Master System version, rather than the Arcade game? as they both contain extra levels not seen in the arcade game. Taito did that with Rainbow Islands and Chase HQ too.

[@JeremyParish]

Renegade for NES was released about five years before the Master System port, and they were developed by different studios, so I'm guessing not.

[@jonnyeh]

Fascinating, I always wondered where the genre originated.

[@Technosphile]

Me: “NES Works is back!!” Jeremy Parish: “NES Works is not back.” Me: :(

[@JeremyParish]

Better to rip off the bandage up front than mislead you with false hopes...

[@bryce13950]

It would be phenomenal if you would put together a playlist of all of your works videos in chronological order. Having the console separated playlists are great, but it seems like they are recorded almost like a story where you mention what you are doing next in a different work, and you talk about going back and forth between the platforms. Being able to play from beginning to end would be a very nice little thing to do.

[@MoluskToeCheese]

Love your channel Thanks for all the hArd work!

[@dientimuri3956]

I remember renting this game in the early 90s. I never could manage to avoid getting shot by the final boss and was so aggravated at how cheap that was after how difficult it was just getting to him (I didn't know about the jump kick, after all). On the bright side, it did mean that the final boss's crossbow in the original Final Fight didn't come as a surprise. It seems like it had all but become a trope of the genre by then that the final boss cheats.

[@Riz2336]

So this is where the beat up style game pretty much started, don't recall playing that one ever

[@Mercuriusfm]

Very informative episode

[@jamesmoss3424]

I remember seeing this game on ads on comic books. 😀👍🎮

[@JeremyParish]

It really is the kind of cover painting that was just born to be included in comix.

[@jamesmoss3424]

@@JeremyParish it's true. 😀👍🎮

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

The original belt-scroller! I've seen people claim Chuck Norris on the 2600, but that game lacks a lot of the elements that made belt-scrollers. Renegade is it! (Though not as good as many that would come later, obviously.)

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Isn't Kung Fu the original Belt Scroller?

[@JazGalaxy]

Actually, renegade is not a “belt scroller” , As you put it, because renegade notably does not scroll. Every screen is it’s own set. Victory in one said immediately takes you to a new set.

[@todesziege]

@@JazGalaxy Renegade does scroll (in two directions), but the levels are only a couple screens or so wide.

[@waderoberts3701]

I really enjoy the music in this game.

[@mikeschmidt3382]

I saw Renegade, I clicked immediately!

[@RetroHousecr]

Great review as always and killer social comment, keep it awesome Jeremy

[@timmckernan8135]

Fascinating!!

[@ricksloan5588]

I used to love Renegade as a kid. Could never beat that large woman tho. Great vid.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I played “Renegade” for the NES and it was fun. I beat the entire game since I was a kid after I finished the final boss, it goes into the credits, but there’s no epilogue or backstory after that.

[@CircsC]

Aww I was hoping 88 was starting up

[@dieinfire920]

There’s not kinky “one true route” on stage 4 to reach the end. Taking one of the routes after going to the bar, you’ll skip the Misuzu/Kim battle altogether, and proceed to stage 5.

[@aznluvr7]

Finally another NES works. More of these you bum! I love your chronological retelling, since I started playing in 1988 I am ignorant of all of this and I need your help dude!

[@JeremyParish]

Sorry, NES Works won’t be starting up again in earnest until I get the 1987 book together, and I haven’t even started on the layout for that.

[@smokinjoesgaming2090]

Damnit you're always making me buy games

[@lightspeedmurphy7546]

I didn't know that Renegade got released twice in Japan

[@LordChozo]

Ooh, I can't wait for the NES port of One for the Vine next episode!

[@JeremyParish]

Tony Banks and I are equally confused by this comment

[@LordChozo]

@@JeremyParish "Next time on NES Works: This is he, God's chosen one, who's come to save us from all our oppressors."

[@thecunninlynguist]

rented this as a kid and absolutely hated it...cause I couldn't get passed the first stage, hahaha. I was so mad I wasted that weekend.

[@duffman18]

I loathed games that did that. Rare always did it with their games. Chuck in a section early on that was nigh on impossible so that you had to buy the game outright to be able to have the time to practice it and beat it, instead of renting it over and over which gave Rare no continuing income source. So like the turbo tunnel in Battletoads. Designed to fuck you up so you buy the game If any game I rented was like that, I simply refused to rent it again. One tricky problem I had when I was a young kid was that I was stupid like all kids are. I had a mega drive and I'd played street fighter 2 in the arcade a fair bit and heard about it constantly so I wanted to rent it. And trust me I must have rented a game at least 5 times that was the _WRONG_ game, because I was only 5 years old and couldn't read apparently., I rented a mega drive game called Street Racer instead. But literally every time, I remember this very strongly, I'd get the game home and was excited to play street fighter then I turned it on and NOOOOO not _AGAIN_ I accidentally rented Street Racers _AGAIN_ and _AGAIN_ I also accidentally rented Streets of Rage 2 like 10 times accidentally while intending to rent street fighter 2, but at least steeets of rage 2 is one of the best games ever also and actually I prefer it to SF2. And Street Racer is a fun arse game in its own right, has a battle mode, it was the closest thing we had to Mario Kart on the mega drive But damn my inability to read as a 5 year old I also attempted to rent Mortal Kombat 3 a couple dozen times and either accidentally or more often cos MK3 was all rented out and no copies avaiable, I had to rent MK2 instead. Oh the fun times of going to Blockbuster. I miss it so much

[@jasonblalock4429]

@@duffman18 In slight fairness, the Turbo Tunnel really wasn't that much more difficult than the rest of the game. Yeah, it's the first big difficulty spike, but after that Battletoads is just a nonstop series of kicks straight to the player's face. If anything, the tunnel is just a warmup for the parade of sadism to come.

[@Jordan3DS]

Oh hey, it's the first Kunio game!

[@Aqua_Xenossia]

I’m impressed that you didn’t make the opening line a reference to the Styx song. That’s some serious willpower, seeing as how the jokes write themselves on that one.

[@KesorodaBlk]

2:08 I turned away from the screen, and I hear Smash Bros. 64 Compass alarm. Do you!

[@bradharrah3339]

I don't remember where, but there's a door/stairs in the background that allows you to skip some of the game. Am I remwmbering correctly. It blew my mind.

[@TVsMrNeil]

The Double Dragon characters Billy and Jimmy are actually bosses in River City Ransom, right?

[@JeremyParish]

The penultimate bosses are the "Dragon Twins," but I don't remember if they're actually named individually.

[@PaulSoth]

@@JeremyParish Ryūichi and Ryūji, or Randy and Andy in Americanized versions. kuniokun.fandom.com/wiki/Ry%C5%ABichi kuniokun.fandom.com/wiki/Ry%C5%ABji

[@Musicradio77Network]

It’s Bimmy, not Billy.

[@thestripedmenace]

Next episode: KARRRRRRRRNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVV

[@patrickwdoyle]

Amazing cultural analysis! I laughed out loud when you mention the castle doctrine! I’ll dox my profession by mentioning that doctrine is criminal and therefore varies by state with western and southern states have no duty to retreat while midwestern and northeastern states limit justifiable circumstances by differing amounts so it is overly broad to infer how Americans generally interpret the circumstance. However, if your character is trying to kill the boss the self defense doctrine applies

[@7thangelad586]

“The original Rumble in the Bronx-“ It deserved a fitting Bronx cheer.

[@absoluteego]

what is the word said at 1:59 "spent as a ----"

[@xXMalakianXVII]

"spent as a punk"

[@MaxW-er1hm]

Love me some (some , not most) Kunio-kun. Glad for the multi carts I have which have most of them on nes and gb. Love love love the "hot blooded" hockey game. Gives blades of steel a run for its money even if it ramps up (too?) hard after a few matches (those invincible teddy bears , ugh) Rampage is okay... it's no River City. It's easier and better on gb then nes. I enjoy Rampage -it's about on a par with the okay Dragon Knife , just not MUCH meat on the bone. But it's fun...more so then the Kunio Kun where you do the 100 meter dash....

[@oobgarm1]

I remember strongly disliking this as a kid. The characters all had weird-looking faces and it was easy to get overwhelmed and defeated. I have much more appreciation for it these days, especially considering how much I enjoyed Double Dragon. Looking back on this title really shows how much the genre has evolved for the better.

[@JazGalaxy]

I think part of the problem with the renegade was that double Dragon followed it so quickly that renegade was rendered immediately obsolete. Double dragon was better in every way.

[@JeremyParish]

Yeah, there was more of a gap between the two in Japan, but they came about five months apart here. There was a generational difference between the two, and it didn't do Renegade any favors.

[@CircsC]

Now this is a good deep cut. Everyone else on youtube points to Double Dragon as the first of the genre. THIS is why I subscribe.

[@BGcam]

This is such an amazingly informative video series that depicts a holistic view of not only the game development, but the culture surrounding it as well, and I’m super impressed by it. Especially appreciated the connection of the castle doctrine, the cultural relevance of the racially prejudicial prison-industrial complex, and the nods to Cromartie High School!

[@JomasterTheSecond]

KUNIO KUN GANG WHERE U AT BOTTOM TEXT

[@charlesgrybosky1916]

This is why I watch this channel. I had no idea of the history behind Renegade. In my youth I gave it a pass as I thought it was a Double Dragon clone. I had no idea it invented a lot of the tropes that DD used, and had a completely different look and storyline from the Japanese version. This is also my favorite video game channel to watch with my 12 year old son (along with Video Game Historian) as it gives him an idea of where video games have come from.

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

I can't believe, with all the overhauling they did for this game's English adaptation, they left the beating up of women in it. I thought that was considered completely uncool for NES games in the 80s (see Medusa in Castlevania III being changed to the "Snake Man Sentinel", although that may also have been to remove her visably bare breasts).

[@DanielBurapavong]

Keep up the great work, Jeremy. I love the chiptune version of the Neon Genesis Evangelion "Next Episode" song which you use for your outro. BTW, I now live part-time in the Triangle. Did you ever meet up with fans/followers/subscribers pre-COVID? Would have loved to get coffee with you or something.

[@JeremyParish]

No one ever suggested it, actually, but I'm not averse to it, if America ever gets back to the point that we won't die on a ventilator from eating at a restaurant.

[@DanielBurapavong]

@@JeremyParish That would be amazing. My wife and I are here for the next four years while she completes her residency at UNC. Hopefully, we can connect safely at some point in the future.

[@jessragan6714]

Renegade and its spin-off River City Ransom illustrate the importance of localization. They recently released those games along with their Japanese counterparts in a collection for the Switch, and the Japanese version of RCR, despite being translated to English, falls flat with this American. The references go way over my head and the personality is largely absent.

[@Titleknown]

"For Americans, gang culture is less a rebellion against cultural conformity than it is the result of a system designed to fail minority groups and force them into extreme circumstances of poverty," ..Didn't expect to see that kind o class analysis here, but it's always welcome!

[@swankidelic]

Agreed. I can’t believe this video is only 11 minutes long. This brief section touches on so many different topics, like cultural differences reflected in localization, differences in gang culture and depictions thereof, etc. Analysis of Renegade and it’s Japanese counterpart could be a giant, sprawling Hbomberguy style video essay.

[@tbx76]

People of every race join gangs and engage in criminal activity. It's not simply a "system that fails minorities" . That's unfair to say that about minorities!

[@Fragenzeichenplatte]

@@dansmith1661 Gangs push for single-parent households through NGOs? WTF? Is this a joke? And what algorithm prevents you from sayings gangs or foreigners or Mexican?

[@Fragenzeichenplatte]

@@av4010 Oh wow. Tim Pool, PragerU, whining about Antifa, uploaded videos with names such as "Birth Control Pills Are Shrinking Women's Brains". Yuck.

[@TheWarmotor]

I very much enjoy your videos, very insightful and well-researched. Occasionally though, I'm reminded that our political inclinations are likely diametrically opposed... I own several firearms myself, and I take solace that the law says the only legal requirement for me to use lethal force in my own home is that I reasonably believe my family is in danger of physical harm. I don't intend on being a victim, and I want the women and children in my life to be safe and feel safe. It's ok to have a differing opinion, that's another right that we're always in danger of losing, I respect yours and will fight to preserve your right to disagree.

[@professors84]

This is the epitome of “bad game that I really enjoy” for me

[@Jaspertine]

BEE R

[@ArcadeIsMyLife1]

Ocean was aptly named since they made an ocean of crap. River City Girls by Arc System Works would have been nice if it included an online co-op option but at least with the Book Super Converter I can play it on PS4,PC,and Switch with a real SNES controller because D-pad and auto fire but even auto fire doesn't make River City Girls any easier.

[@eddievhfan1984]

I know it's probs gonna annoy some people to mention it, but I can't look at the blue-uniformed delinquents with pompadour hair and not think... "Josuke?" EDIT: Also, that last reference? YASSSSSS.

[@JeremyParish]

Renegade/Kunio-kun predates the debut of the JoJo series by a year, and Josuke’s intro by six.

[@eddievhfan1984]

@@JeremyParish Beyond true, although in the JoJo universe, the hair-inspiring incident happened roughly at the same time this game came out, and it's often mentioned in the chapter how the pompadour look in delinquents was about a decade out of style. I just couldn't help but notice the retroactive parallels.

[@JeremyParish]

JoJo drew on the same subculture that inspired Kunio-kun, which was loosely outlined in this episode. The look may have been dated in the late ’80s, but you'll find tons of manga and anime from this period (and beyond) that use that particular ducktail style as shorthand for delinquents and criminal goons.

[@eddievhfan1984]

@@JeremyParish Ah. I thought it was in-vogue in the 80s, but dated by 1999, but it was already a stock trope by then? I am educated now.

[@mcbfilms22]

Damn, I like this game, but man, it is pretty ugly. Have you seen the Mastersystem port? It’s actually quite nice looking, and looks like a totally different game (unlike the Double Dragon ports). I can’t think of another port, for both systems, that has so much graphical disparity, except for maybe Ghostbusters.

[@radracer8889]

Parish usually makes a greater effort to veil his political bias than is seen in this video. I disagree that gang activity is essentially different in both countries and can’t be interpreted as a form of rebellion against traditional mores in the NES adaptation . The classic middle school novel “The Outsiders” comes to mind. Great video per usual.

[@JeremyParish]

Sounds like I'm slacking with my other videos, then.

[@radracer8889]

Jeremy Parish I think an analogy about how the protagonist on RE2 “is the real bad guy” may warrant a break in chronology in your N64 series before November

[@KuraIthys]

It's funny sometimes looking at localisation of these kinds of games when you're neither American, nor Japanese. Especially because 95% of the time the localisation for English-speaking countries that aren't America is still the American localisation. (for obvious reasons mainland Europe gets it's own localisations if they bother with it at all, simply because it has to be translated anyway. but where the effort isn't made to provide a translation, usually, again, it's an American localisation that is used as a base.) In many cases this extends to not even fixing spelling from the American release. This is in spite of the fact that the UK, Australia and New Zealand all tend to use UK spelling (with some minor local variations, but nothing compared to the US/UK differences.) - can't speak for other places where English is used though. Such as South Africa, Singapore, and places like Jamaica and so on. Anyway, point is, it just seems to be assumed that anyone in Europe will understand what are often VERY American references. On the other hand, when there _are_ actual specific localisations, that can be interesting too. Terrible as the voice acting is, I was quite amused and impressed that The last Story and Pandora's tower at least go UK specific localisation with local voice actors... This is hardly ever the case though... And while it's reasonable to assume that yes, we DID understand American references better than Japanese ones back in the day, it's still the case that there are a lot of common cultural touchstones that Americans would understand easily that are a bit more baffling to the rest of us. Just goes to show that localisation is something that only happens some of the time. Then again, regarding cultural issues... If you look at PAL exclusive titles vs US exclusives... Sure you see some obvious local things. For instance, there a PAL only SNES port of Cannon Fodder, and there are a whole set of Asterix & Obelix and Tintin games that only got European releases... (some releases are even more specific - the PAL release of Starcraft 64 literally only exists in Australia.) But what's more interesting to observe is that Europe was getting things like Dragonball Z and Sailor moon games many years before the US was getting them... You compare European exclusives of japanese games to what released in the US and you find far more anime themed and overtly japanese themed things throughout the late 80's and early 90's...

[@Greatchefkevon]

I was originally going to post this on the Mega Man Legends review, but I think you should start being a bit more judicious with your audio editing. The jump kicks in this game were super annoying to have to hear for over the course of the entire review and, like the dialogue bits in MML, started to end up competing for attention over your voice Probably a small complaint in the scheme of things but I think it's worth noting

[@JeremyParish]

I actually re-tuned this episode to tamp down the jump effects. You may be more acutely sensitive to high-frequency sounds.

[@JazGalaxy]

Great video. I think “Punk” is maybe the wrong word to use here. It’s not a punk that the game was going for as much as the Outsiders, greaser, 50s era Street tough vibe. I think when we say “ punk”, it makes people think of western late 70s and 80s punks and punk music, which this isn’t meant to evoke.

[@JeremyParish]

The word "punk" has existed for hundreds of years and is frequently used in a broader sense of "ruffian" or "hoodlum" than to specifically to describe a short-lived music scene. This is a spurious complaint.

[@JazGalaxy]

Jeremy Parish Wow, what a dick-ish, pretentious response to a comment that was a complement followed by a jocular Discussion Statement.

[@JeremyParish]

Mom always said "fight pedantry with pedantry."

[@FloatingSunfish]

1:17 Yikes, beating up regular women in a video game? This *_definitely_* won't fly by today's standards... 😅

[@JazGalaxy]

I actually think it was less likely to exist 30 years ago than it is now. I think people would actually go for it in the current climate. With the difficulty of renegade, the girls would win Farmor then you.

[@Mikey-zj8bn]

@@JazGalaxy this, back then Im suprised it wasent edited with what happens to final fight....

[@MrKanjidude]

It really is sad how things have gotten. Having both male and female enemies would be the most equal way to go.

[@jastiksk8crw]

I appreciate your professional work and have for a ling time, a man after my own heart. But it hurts my heart when you insert opinions on the real world... Whether i agree with you or not, there's a reason I have a game room and play gam es...

[@JeremyParish]

Ok. Don’t watch my videos anymore. Video games ARE part of the real world, and I’m not in the business of coddling people who want to cover their ears and hide from reality.

[@jastiksk8crw]

Im as in touch and awake as they get, I want the world to be good for everyone and keep my rights by dealing with the source of the problem like i think you do. Sorry that came off the wrong way but when you inserted that it made me want to comment, but there really isnt a place to discuss this is there? Keep doing what youre doing, youre doing a good job and doing more than most. The good vs evil business is tough and we're all involved on this slippery slope watching the news.

[@jastiksk8crw]

Im not stirring for a reaction, we can walk away from this with you knowing I appreciate your content and notice your passion. See you on the other side, thanks for what you share.