Kunio-Kun: Difference between revisions
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'''''Kunio-kun''''' ("Mr. Kunio") is the name given to the one-time mascot of Technos Japan Corp, a now defunct Japanese video game developer. He is named after Technos's former president, Kunio Taki. Along with his best friend/rival/sidekick Riki, and a variety of other characters cut from the same cloth, Kunio [[Beat'Em Up|fights lots of guys in the street]], competes in various sporting events (which are [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?|also pretty violent]]) and otherwise generally does what your typical Japanese high school student does.
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'
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
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
In 1991, a manga title
Kunio beat-'em-up games:
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** Looking to be continued straight in the MORPG, too.
* [[American Kirby Is Hardcore|American Kunio Is Hardcore]]: And so is Japanese Kunio, but the American boxarts ''have'' traditionally gone for a less [[Animesque]] approach.
* [[Badass]]: Kunio, Riki
* [[Badass Adorable]]: The characters can routinely qualify because they're often super-deformed.
** Or hell
* [[Badass Biker]]: Shinji and his gang.
* [[Bullfight Boss]]: Misuzu from ''Kunio-tachi no Banka''. Her boss music even has a bit of a Spanish flair to it.
** You're better off running away from her and hitting her with a stopping back kick in the arcade original, so this also counts.
* [[Canon Discontinuity]]: ''Target Renegade'', which is a sequel to the American version of the first ''Kunio'' game, and as such released only in America. In addition, the Game Boy Advance edition of the ''Super Dodgeball'' series inexplicably dropped the ''Kunio'' cast, even in Japanese.
** It's also been suggested that the ''Nekketsu Kouha'' and ''Downtown Nekketsu'' branches of the series may be [[Alternate Timelines]], as it's never really explained how they connect, and some things are different in them
* [[Chain Pain]]: Chains are a staple weapon of this series.
* [[Contemptible Cover]]: While the original [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 [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]]
** The upcoming MORPG looks to be an interesting case, featuring [http://img.online-station.net/_news/2010/0916/40849_0001.jpg art that is somehow both chibified ''and'' dark and edgy]!
* [[Dark Is Not Evil]]: Despite his roughed up appearance (complete with bandaged face), rowdy behavior, and tendency to scowl or sneer, Kunio is actually a very nice guy.
* [[Delinquent|Delinquents]]: The main characters and half the people you fight.
* [[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.
* [[Grievous Harm with a Body]]: A regular staple of mook fights in ''[[River City Ransom]]''. Extends to ''[[Video Game Cruelty Potential|the other player]]'' in co-op games!
* [[Huge Schoolgirl]]: Emphasis on the huge for Misuzu.
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** [[Continuity Nod|Interestingly enough]], Misako is also the manager of the school soccer team.
* [[Non-Action Guy]]: Hiroshi, whom you often have to either rescue, [[Escort Mission|escort]] or avenge in the games he appears in.
* [[One Hit KO]]: What makes the final level of ''Nekketsu Kouha Kunio
* [[Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs]]: Riki's trademark attack, the Mach Punch.
* [[Red Baron]]: Shinji is often known as the Blue Emperor.
* [[The Rival]]: Riki to Kunio. In some games, such as ''Renegade'' or ''Crash
* [[Roaring Rampage of Rescue]]: The Famicom of version of ''Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-
* [[Sarashi]]: Riki. Mostly in artwork.
* [[Scenery Porn]]: ''Kunio Online: Revenge of Yamada'' has incredibly colorful, detailed and dynamic environments. What's even better is that they're [[Continuity Nod|still the ones you remember]] from ''[[River City Ransom]]''!
* [[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
* [[Smug Snake]]: Toudou is protrayed as such, with a little mix of [[Rich Bitch|a rich jerkass]] due to being antagonistic towards Kunio, who has often bested him in sporting events. His father, who owns a big company, shows his respect for Kunio.
* [[Took a Level in Badass]]: Hasebe, who has done little more than serve as [[The Chick]] and Kunio's [[Unlucky Childhood Friend]] for almost the entirety of the series, displays martial arts talents for the first time ever in the upcoming MORPG.
* [[Trope Maker]]: The very first game, ''Nekketsu Kōha Kunio Kun''/''Renegade'', pretty much created the foundations for the beat-em-up genre as we know it, foundations which would be built upon by ''[[Double Dragon]]'' and the game's own sequels.
* [[Tuckerization]]: Kunio is named after Technos Japan's former president and other characters are named after staff members as well.
* [[Weapon of Choice]]: You'll never see Sabu without a firearm. He even has it handy in the [[Neo Geo]] version of ''[[Super Dodge Ball]]''!
* [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?]]: Because it is. So, so much so!
* [[World of Badass]]
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