Kunio-kun

For Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, the first game in the series, see Renegade (video game).

Kunio

File:Kunio-kun game flyer.png Arcade flyer of Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, the first game in the Kunio-kun series.
Series	Kunio-kun series
First game	Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun
Created by	Yoshihisa Kishimoto
Voiced by	Ryō Horikawa

The Kunio-kun (くにおくん) series is a video game franchise started by Technōs Japan, the company that made the Double Dragon franchise. Million Corp., founded by former Technōs staff, purchased all of Technōs' assets (including the Kunio-kun game series) several years after Technōs went defunct. The first game in the series is fully titled Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (熱血硬派くにおくん), which roughly translates to "Hot Blood Tough Guy Kunio", with Nekketsu being the name of Kunio's high school. The kun suffix after his name is an informal Japanese honorific usually applied to young males.

The series originated in the arcades and the Famicom console; its title and its protagonist, Kunio (variously renamed "Alex" and "Crash Cooney" in the United States), were named after Technōs Japan's former president, Kunio Taki. Along with that, Kunio also later became Technōs Japan's main mascot, appearing on the company's logo in several games and television commercials. Although the original game was created by Yoshihisa Kishimoto — who later designed Double Dragon — many of the later games (particularly those under the Downtown Nekketsu moniker) were the handiwork of two men: Mitsuhiro "Yoshimitsu" Yoshida and Hiroyuki "Mokeke" Sekimoto.

A few of the early Kunio games for the NES were localized for the North American market. These includes Renegade, River City Ransom, Super Dodge Ball, Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge and Nintendo World Cup, which were heavily "Americanized" versions of the Kunio-kun games. Technōs Japan has released over twenty Kunio-kun titles for the Famicom, Game Boy, and Super Famicom in Japan. In addition, licensed ports of the games were made for other platforms such as the PC-Engine (through Naxat Soft), Mega Drive (through Pal Soft) and the Sharp X68000 (through Sharp). After Technōs went out of business, a company founded by former Technōs staff called Million purchased the intellectual rights for the games and characters.

List of games

Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun Original release date(s): May 1986 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1986 - Arcade 2006 - PlayStation 2

Notes: The first game in the series, in the original Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (熱血硬派くにおくん, "Hot-Blooded Tough Guy Kunio") the player takes control of Kunio as he fights against the various gangs who bully his friend Hiroshi at the start of each stage. The international version, titled Renegade, features changed graphics and dubbed voices that gives the game a more western-looking setting. The plot was also changed from Kunio beating gangs to avenge his friend to the main hero having to rescue his girlfriend. Released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan as part of the Ore-tachi Game Center Zoku lineup on January 26, 2006.

Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun Original release date(s): April 17, 1987 (JPN)	Release years by system: 1987 - Family Computer 2008 - Virtual Console
	Notes: Based on the Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun arcade game, the Famicom version was Technōs Japan's first game for the home console market. The final stage features a maze-like structure in which the wrong path leads to a previous stage. Released in Japan for the Virtual Console on March 18, 2008.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu Original release date(s): November 1987 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1987 - Arcade 1988 - X68000 2008 - PlayStation 2

Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu (熱血高校ドッジボール部) is the second game starring Kunio and the first sports game starring the character. In this game, Kunio leads his school's dodgeball team (Nekketsu High School) as he competes against the rival Hanazono High School, and then proceeds to compete against five international teams (England, Iceland, China, Africa, and America). Released in the United States as Super Dodge Ball, in which the Japanese teams became Americans and vice versa. A port for the X68000 was released on September 1988. Released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan as part of the Ore-tachi Game Center Zoku lineup on March 23, 2006.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu Original release date(s): June 26, 1988 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1988 - Family Computer 2003 - Windows PC 2008 - Virtual Console

Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu (熱血高校ドッジボール部, Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club) is the second Kunio game for the Family Computer. The game adds two new teams, India and the USSR. The US version of Super Dodge Ball has the main team as Americans and the final team to be the Soviet Union. Included in the Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 1 for the Game Boy Advance in 2005. Released for the Virtual Console in Japan on June 17, 2008.

Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari Original release date(s): April 25, 1989 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1989 - Family Computer 1990 - X68000 1993 - PC Engine 2007 - Virtual Console

Notes: Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari (ダウンタウン熱血物語, Tale of Downtown Nekketsu) is the third Kunio game and the first produced specifically for consoles. Kunio teams up with rival Riki in order to save Riki's girlfriend from the Reihō High School gang. The game is a side-scrolling beat-em-up which combined RPG elements such as buying items and equipment that would increase the player's stats or acquire new moves. Released in North America as River City Ransom and in Europe as Street Gangs. The X68000 version, released on April 1990, features a larger map with more areas and new bosses. The PC Engine Super CD-ROM² version, released on December 24, 1993 in Japan, features an arranged soundtrack in CD-DA format. The Famicom version was released for the Virtual Console in Japan on October 23, 2007.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: PC Bangai Hen Original release date(s): March 30, 1990 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1988 - PC Engine 2008 - Virtual Console

Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: PC Bangai Hen (熱血高校ドッジボール部 ＰＣ番外編, Nekketsu High School Dodge Ball Club: PC Extra Edition) is a special version of the original Dodge Ball which combines the graphics and teams of the arcade version with the emphasis on character-specific statistics and team formation. Features an arcade-style mode and a plot-oriented Quest Mode. Released for the Virtual Console in Japan on September 30, 2008.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Soccer Hen Original release date(s): May 18, 1990 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1990 - Family Computer, X68000 2008 - Virtual Console

Notes: The fourth Kunio game, Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Soccer Hen (熱血高校ドッジボール部 サッカー編, Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club: Soccer Edition) features Kunio and the dodgeball team helping Misako, the manager of the Nekketsu Soccer Club, as they participate in a national soccer tournament against other schools. Released internationally by Nintendo under the title of Nintendo World Cup, in which game was given a more worldwide theme. Released for the X68000 in Japan on October 1990. Released for the Virtual Console in Japan on October 7, 2008.

Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai Original release date(s): October 12, 1990 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1990 - Family Computer 1992 - PC Engine 2007 - Virtual Console

Notes: In Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai (ダウンタウン熱血行進曲 それゆけ大運動会, Downtown Nekketsu March: Let's Go to the Great Athletic Meet) features Nekketsu competing against three other teams (Hanazono, Reiho, and an inter-school union) compete in a series of four athletic events. Up to four players can participate. Released for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² by Naxat Soft in Japan on July 14, 1992. The Famicom version was released for the Virtual Console in Japan on December 4, 2007.

Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun: Bangai Rantō Hen Original release date(s): December 7, 1990 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy
	Notes: Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun: Bangai Rantō Hen (熱血硬派くにおくん 番外乱闘編, Nekketsu Tough Guy Kunio: The Further Brawls) is the first Kunio game for a portable system. Released internationally with changed graphics and music as a Game Boy version of Double Dragon II (unrelated to Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

Nekketsu Kōkō Soccer Bu: World Cup Hen Original release date(s): April 26, 1991 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy
	Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Soccer Bu: World Cup Hen (熱血高校サッカー部 ワールドカップ編, Nekketsu High School Soccer Club: World Cup Edition) is a Game Boy version of Soccer Hen based on the international version of the game (Nintendo World Cup).

Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zen'in Shūgō! Original release date(s): July 26, 1991 (JPN) Virtual Console: May 12, 2009 (JPN)	Release years by system: 1991 - Family Computer 1993 - Game Boy
	Notes: Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zen'in Shūgō! (ダウンタウンスペシャルくにおくんの時代劇だよ全員集合！, Downtown Special: Its Kunio's Period Piece, Assemble Everyone!!) is a follow-up to Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari in which the characters act out a period play. A Game Boy port was released on December 22, 1993 in Japan

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Kyôteki! Dodge Soldier no Maki Original release date(s): November 8, 1991 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy
	Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Kyôteki! Dodge Soldier no Maki (熱血高校ドッジボール部 強敵！闘球戦士の巻, Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club: Fierce Rival! Episode of the Dodge Soldiers) is a Game Boy specific version of Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: CD Soccer Hen Original release date(s): December 20, 1991 (JPN)	Release years by system: 1991 - PC Engine 2008 - Virtual Console
	Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: CD Soccer Hen (熱血高校ドッジボール部 ＣＤサッカー編, Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club: CD Soccer Edition) is a version of Soccer Hen released for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² by Naxat Soft. It was released for the Virtual Console on November 4, 2008.

Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey Bu: Subette Koronde Dairantō Original release date(s): February 7, 1992 (JPN)

Release years by system: 1992 - Family Computer 2009 - Virtual Console

Notes: Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey Bu: Subette Koronde Dairantō (いけいけ！熱血ホッケー部「すべってころんで大乱闘」, Go Go! Nekketsu Hockey Club: "Skate, Fall, Great Free-for-All Brawl") centers around Kunio's attempt to help out his school's hockey club. The game was planned to be released in North America under the title of Crash 'n the Boys: Ice Challenge, but was canceled. A teaser of the game was featured in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge. It will be released for the Virtual Console in Japan on August 18, 2009.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: PC Soccer Hen Original release date(s): April 13, 1992 (JPN)	Release years by system: PC Engine
	Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: PC Soccer Hen (熱血高校ドッジボール部 ＰＣサッカー編, Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club: PC Soccer Edition) is a version of Soccer Hen released for the PC Engine Hu-Card.

Bikkuri Nekketsu Shinkiroku: Harukanaru Kin Medal Original release date(s): June 26, 1992 (JPN)	Release years by system: Family Computer
	Notes: Bikkuri Nekketsu Shinkiroku: Harukanaru Kin Medal (びっくり熱血新記録 はるかなる金メダル, Astonishing New Records of Nekketsu: The Distant Gold Medal) is a sequel to Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku. It was released in North America under the title of Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge.

Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Dokodemo Daiundōkai Original release date(s): July 24, 1992 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy
	Notes: Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Dokodemo Daiundōkai (ダウンタウン熱血行進曲 どこでも大運動会, Downtown Nekketsu March: The Great Portable Athletic Meet) is a Game Boy-specific version of Koshinkyoku.

Shodai Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun Original release date(s): August 7, 1992 (JPN)	Release years by system: Super Famicom
	Notes: Shodai Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (初代 熱血硬派くにおくん, The Original Nekketsu Tough Guy Kunio) is the first Kunio-kun game released for the Super Famicom. It is a beat-em-up RPG set during the end of Kunio's second high school year as he and his friends take a school trip to Osaka.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: MD Soccer Hen Original release date(s): August 7, 1992 (JPN)	Release years by system: Mega Drive
	Notes: Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: MD Soccer Hen (熱血高校ドッジボール部 ＭＤサッカー編, Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club: MD Soccer Edition) is a Mega Drive-specific version of Soccer Hen. This is the only version where all the teams are playable in the 2 Player Exhibition Mode.

Nekketsu Kakutō Densetsu Original release date(s): December 23, 1992 (JPN)	Release years by system: Family Computer
	Notes: Nekketsu Kakutō Densetsu (熱血格闘伝説, Nekketsu Fighting Legend) is a tournament-style fighting game.

Kunio-kun no Nekketsu Soccer League Original release date(s): April 23, 1993 (JPN)	Release years by system: Family Computer
	Notes: Kunio-kun no Nekketsu Soccer League (くにおくんの熱血サッカーリーグ) is the Famicom sequel to Soccer Hen.

Bikkuri Nekketsu Shinkiroku: Dokodemo Kin Medal July 16, 1993 (JPN) – Game Boy

Notes: Bikkuri Nekketsu Shinkiroku: Dokodemo Kin Medal (びっくり熱血新記録 どこでも金メダル, The Astonishing New Records of Nekketsu: Portable Gold Medal) is a Game Boy-specific version of Shinkiroku.

Kunio-kun no Dodgeball da yo Zen'in Shūgō!! Original release date(s): August 6, 1993 (JPN)	Release years by system: Super Famicom
	Notes: Kunio-kun no Dodgeball da yo Zen'in Shūgō!! (くにおくんのドッジボールだよ全員集合！, It's Kunio's Dodgeball, Assemble Everyone!) is the Super Famicom sequel to the original Dodgeball for the Famicom.

Nekketsu! Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes Original release date(s): December 17, 1993 (JPN)	Release years by system: Family Computer
	Notes: Nekketsu! Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes (熱血！すとりーとバスケット ～がんばれＤｕｎｋＨｅｒｏｅｓ～) is the final Kunio-kun game for the Family Computer.

Downtown Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari: Yakyū de Shōbu da! Kunio-kun Original release date(s): December 17, 1993 (JPN)	Release years by system: Super Famicom
	Notes: Downtown Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari: Yakyū de Shōbu da! Kunio-kun (ダウンタウン熱血べーすぼーる物語 野球で勝負だ！くにおくん, The Baseball Tale of Downtown Nekketsu: Its a Baseball Match! Kunio-kun) is the third Kunio game for the Super Famicom.

Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka Original release date(s): April 29, 1994 (JPN)	Release years by system: Super Famicom
	Notes: Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka (新・熱血硬派 くにおたちの挽歌, The New Nekketsu Tough Guy: The Elegy of Kunio and Co.)

Kunio no Oden Original release date(s): May 27, 1994 (JPN)	Release years by system: Super Famicom
	Notes: Kunio no Oden (くにおのおでん)

Nekketsu! Beach Volley da yo: Kunio-kun Original release date(s): July 29, 1994 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy
	Notes: Nekketsu! Beach Volley da yo: Kunio-kun (熱血！ビーチバレーだよ くにおくん)

Kunio no Nekketsu Dodgeball Densetsu Original release date(s): 1996	Release years by system: Neo Geo
	Notes: Kunio no Nekketsu Dodgeball Densetsu (くにおの熱血闘球伝説), known in English as Super Dodge Ball is the final Kunio game released by Technōs Japan before the company went out of business. The game was never formally released in Japan and only saw limited release as an MVS-only Neo-Geo release in North America.

Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari EX (ダウンタウン熱血物語 EX) Original release date(s): March 5, 2004 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy Advance
	Notes: The first Kunio game produced by Million. Released in North America as River City Ransom EX.

Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 1 (くにおくん熱血コレクション 1) Original release date(s): August 25, 2005 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy Advance
	Notes: 2-in-1 compilation which includes the Famicom versions of Nekketsu Kõkõ Dodgeball Bu and Nekketsu! Street Basket

Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 2 (くにおくん熱血コレクション 2) Original release date(s): October 27, 2005 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy Advance
	Notes: 2-in-1 compilation which includes the Famicom versions of Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Soccer Hen and Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku.

Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 3 (くにおくん熱血コレクション 3) Original release date(s): February 16, 2006 (JPN)	Release years by system: Game Boy Advance
	Notes: 2-in-1 compilation which includes the Famicom versions of Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zen'in Shūgō! and Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey Bu: Subette Koronde Dairantō.

Super Dodgeball Brawlers Original release date(s): March 19, 2008 (JPN)	Release years by system: Nintendo DS
	Notes: Released in Japan as Chō Nekketsu Kōkō Kunio-kun Dodgeball Bu (超熱血高校くにおくんドッジボール部, Super Nekketsu High School Kunio's Dodgeball Club). Super Dodge Ball sequel developed by Arc System Works.

Nekketsu Dodgeball Bu i (熱血ドッジボール部i) Original release date(s): March 25, 2008 (JPN)	Release years by system: i-mode

Nekketsu Kōkō! Kunio-kun Online (熱血高校！ くにおくん オンライン) Original release date(s): 2008	Release years by system: Windows
	Notes: Online game developed by Windysoft which began closed beta testing in 2008.

River City Dodge Ball All Stars!! Original release date(s):

Release years by system: Microsoft Windows

Notes: Independently published Dodge Ball game developed by Miracle Kidz, a dōjin group formed by Mitsuhiro Yoshida and Hiroyuki Sekimoto, the original game designers of River City Ransom and most of the other Famicom Kunio games. The Japanese title is Downtown Dodgeball da yo Zen'in Shūgō!! (ダウンタウン ドッジボールだよ全員集合!!, "It's Downtown Nekketsu Dodgeball, Assemble Everyone!!") Trial downloads (in Japanese and English) are available on Miracle Kidz' official site.

River City Super Sports Challenge Original release date(s): February 4, 2010 (JPN)July 13, 2010 (USA)	Release years by system: Nintendo DS
	Notes: Released in Japan as Kunio-kun no Chō Nekketsu! Daiundōkai (くにおくんの超熱血! 大運動会) A sequel to Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku currently in development by Arc System Works.

River City Soccer Hooligans Original release date(s): May 27, 2010 (JPN)June 9, 2010 (USA)	Release years by system: Nintendo DS
	Notes: Released in Japan as Kunio-Kun no Chou Nekketsu Soccer League Plus - World Hyper Cup Hen. A sequel to Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Soccer Hen or Nintendo World Cup as it is known internationally.

Characters

The following is a list of characters appearing in most of the games, ordered by the games where they first appear.

Main characters

File:Kunio.jpg

Kunio as he appears in Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari EX. In the US version (River City Ransom EX), he is known as Alex.

• Kunio (くにお) - The protagonist of the series. Kunio serves as the guardian of Nekketsu High School against rival schools and is the captain of his school's Dodgeball team, although he excels at other sports (such as soccer and hockey). Kunio first appears in the original Kunio-kun, where he is described as a second year student at Nekketsu High School (in the Downtown Nekketsu sub-series, he is described as a third year student, establishing a loose continuity between later games). His birthdate is on November 27 (the same date as Bruce Lee 's birthdate) and has a blood type of AB. His surname is never revealed. In some games (such as Nekketsu Hockey Bu and Baseball Monogatari), he is the only student at Nekketsu to wear an all-white uniform, while at other games everyone at Nekketsu wears white. In the localized versions, he is known as Mr. K in Renegade, Sam in Super Dodge Ball, Alex in River City Ransom, and "Crash" Cooney in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge. While the protagonist of the series, Kunio also later became Technōs Japan's main mascot, appearing on the company's logo in several games and television commercials.

• Riki (鮫島 力, Samejima Riki) - Often described Kunio's eternal rival, Riki is the guardian of Hanazono High School and the second most recurring character in the series. In the original Kunio-kun, Riki appears as the first stage boss and serves as captain of the Hanazono dodgeball team. Nekketsu Monogatari was the first game where Riki teams-up with Kunio (although chronologically speaking, Shodai comes first). Since then, Riki's relationship with Kunio evolved from enmity to close friendship, and he appears in the later beat-em-ups as a secondary playable character. Riki's birthdate is on May 5 and is repeating his third year in the Downtown Nekketsu sub-series. In the localized versions, he is known as Jack in Renegade and Super Dodge Ball, Ryan in River City Ransom, and Crusher in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge.

Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun

• Hiroshi (ひろし) - Hiroshi is Kunio's best friend in the original Kunio-kun game. He enrolls into Nekketsu High School during his second year and gets picked on a lot by bullies. He becomes fast friends with Kunio after Kunio defends him from his tormentors. In the arcade version of Kunio-kun, he is beaten by a different gang at the beginning of each time, whereas in the Famicom he is kidnapped by Sabu (with no explanation given). In addition to the Nekketsu Kōha sub-series, he appears as a member of the Dodgeball Club in Dodgeball Bu, as well as in Soccer Hen and Hockey Bu, where he shares the same sprite as the Sonokawa character from the Downtown Nekketsu sub-series. He is the only character not to appear in the American versions of the Renegade games.

• Shinji - The leader of a bōsōzoku gang known as "Yokohama Funky" in Kunio-kun (where he is the second stage boss) and the "Blue Emperor" in Kunio-tachi no Banka (where he is a recurring boss). He also appears as a playable character in the Neo Geo version of Super Dodge Ball. His counterpart in Renegade is named Joel.

• Misuzu - A giant sukeban from the Taiyō Academy, an all girl school. She first appears as the stage 3 boss in Kunio-kun. She reappears as Sabu's bodyguard in Kunio-tachi no Banka and as a playable character in the Neo Geo version of Super Dodge Ball. Her counterpart in Renegade is named Kim.

• Sabu - The leader of a yakuza gang known as the "Sanwakai". He is the gun-wielding final boss in the original Kunio-kun. He returns as the main antagonist in Kunio-tachi no Banka, where he hires a Kunio look-alike named Ken to frame him for a hit and run accident. He is also a playable character in the Neo Geo version of Super Dodge Ball. Sabu is the only character not to change his name, nor his appearance, in Renegade.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodge Ball Bu

• Shinichi

• Kōji

• Mitsuhiro

• Heilman

Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari

• Mami (島田 真美, Shimada Mami) (Cyndi in River City Ransom) - 2nd Year High School Student of Hanazono High. Her birthdate is October 15 and her Blood Type is A. In River City Ransom, she is Riki's girlfriend who is kidnapped by Yamada when he and his gang took over River City. She is also the cheerleader of the Hanazono team.

• Hasebe (長谷部 和美, Hasebe Kazumi) (Roxy in River City Ransom) - 3rd Year Student of Reihou High School. Her birthdate is March 1 and her Blood Type is O. She is the girlfriend of Yamada in River City Ransom and provides helpful hints to Kunio and Riki throughout the game. It is said that she, Kunio, and Yamada used to attend the same school together before Kunio transferred to Nekketsu High.

• Sonokawa (園川 薫, Sonokawa Kaoru) (Harry in River City Ransom, Conan in River City Ransom EX)

• Kamijō (上條 恒男, Kamijō Tsuneo) and Yamamoto (山本 憲之, Yamamoto Noriyuki) (Benny and Clyde in River City Ransom)

• Sawaguchi (沢口 靖夫, Sawaguchi Yasuo) (Moose in River City Ransom)

• Nishimura (西村 成孝, Nishimura Naritaka) (Rocko in River City Ransom, Baldy in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge)

• Kobayashi (小林 政男, Kobayashi Masao) (Thor in River City Ransom, Monty in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge)

• Mochizuki (望月 駿, Mochizuki Shun) (Turk in River City Ransom, Wheels in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge)

• Taira (平 清文, Taira Kiyofumi) (Mojo in River City Ransom)

• Kinoshita (木下 忠, Kinoshita Tadashi) (Blade in River City Ransom)

• Gōda (豪田 剛, Gōda Tsuyoshi) (Ivan in River City Ransom, Sprecks in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge)

• Onizuka (鬼塚 崇, Onizuka Takashi) (Otis in River City Ransom)

• Godai (五代 奨, Godai Susumu) (Tex in River City Ransom, Clint in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge)

• Ryūichi (服部 竜一, Hattori Ryūichi) and Ryūji (服部 竜二, Hattori Ryūji) (Randy and Andy in River City Ransom) - The Hattori Brothers. They are also known in the series as the "Double Dragon Twins" due to not just their resemblance to the Billy and Jimmy Lee, the protagonists of the Double Dragon games (being twin brothers, having the same special moves, and having the Double Dragon Theme song played whenever they appeared), but also because of their names (Ryuichi and Ryuji can be translated as "First Dragon" and "Second Dragon"). They are the strongest fighters of Reihou Academy and are the fiercest opponents of Kunio and Riki. Aside from River City Ransom, the twins appeared in other Kunio games either as bosses or representing Reihou Academy.

• Yamada (山田 大樹, Yamada Taiki) (Slick/Simon in River City Ransom, Skip in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge) - The final boss of River City Ransom. His reason for kidnapping Mami was to lure out Kunio and defeat him in order to become the franchise's new main character. In other games, Yamada plays more of a comical sidekick to Todou. Yamada, along with Kunio and Hasebe, used to attend the same school together before Kunio moved to Nekketsu High.

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodge Ball Bu: Soccer Hen

• Misako (みさこ) - A student of Nekketsu High, Misako is the manager of the school's Soccer Club in Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Soccer Hen and asks Kunio for his help. In Kunio-tachi no Banka, she is Kunio's fighting partner.

• Takashi (たかし)

• Masa (まさ)

• Gen'ei (げんえい)

Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku

• Tōdō (藤堂 護, Tōdō Mamoru) (Todd in Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge, Titus in River City Ransom EX) - A man of extreme wealth, he organizes the many tournaments in Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku, Crash n' The Boys Street Challenge, and Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu in an effort to humiliate Kunio. In all three games, he is Yamada's superior. In River City Ransom EX, he appears as a mysterious character who knows about the happenings of River City and of Yamada.

• Sugata (姿 三十朗, Sugata Sanjūrō) (Cheese in Crash n' The Boys: Street Challenge, Gary in River City Ransom EX) - 2nd Year Student of Nekketsu High. Like Hiroshi, he is a friend of Kunio and looks up to him for inspiration. He becomes a major character in Downtown Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari as the leader of the Nekketsu High Baseball team.

• Nanase (七瀬 遥, Nanase Haruka)

• Momozono (桃園 里美, Momozono Satomi)

• Saotome (五月女 光, Saotome Hikaru) (Nate in Crash n' The Boys: Street Challenge)

• Maeda (前田 亨, Maeda Tōru) (Rick in River City Ransom EX)

• Yoshino (吉野 光明, Yoshino Mitsuaki) (Dove in Crash n' The Boys: Street Challenge)

• Hayasaka (早坂 良麻, Hayasaka Ryōma) (Knors in Crash n' the Boys: Street Challenge, Jesse in River City Ransom EX)

• Aihara (藍原 静, Aihara Shizuka)

• Kumada (熊田 重蔵, Kumada Jūzō) (Barns in Crash n' The Boys Street Challenge, Ted in River City Ransom EX)

• Hayami (速水 武士, Hayami Takeshi) (Milo in Crash n' The Boys: Street Challenge)

• Kirishima (霧島 裕子, Kirishima Yūko)

Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey Bu

• Yōichi - He is the team captain of Nekketsu High's Hockey Team. He seeks Kunio's help in improving and strengthening the Hockey Team and win the championship.

Bikkuri Nekketsu Shin Kiroku

• Johnny

• Raphael

• Jimmy

Nekketsu Kakutō Densetsu

• Toraichi and Toraji - They head the tournament in Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu waiting to fight the strongest opponents in the game. Also called the "Double Tiger Brothers" because of them being both twins and wear Tiger Masks in combat. After the player defeats them, the Double Tiger Brothers would congratulate them, only to be attacked and badly beaten later on by the Hattori Twins.

• Yokoyoko - An original character. The player takes the role of Yokoyoko when using the game's Character Creation system. His moveset and style varies upon the data entered by the player, such as Birthdate and Blood Type.

Downtown Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari

• Tachibana (立花 辰巳, Tachibana Tatsumi)

• Rika (浅野 里佳, Asano Rika)

• Kuniko (芦野 久仁子, Ashino Kuniko) (Shel in River City Ransom EX)

• Murasaki (紫 小次朗, Murasaki Kōjirō)

Kunio-tachi no Banka

• Ken - Kunio's lookalike. He is hired by Sabu to frame Kunio for a hit-and-run accident that landed the latter and Riki into jail at the beginning of the game.

• Kyōko - A student of Hanazono High, she is Riki's fighting partner in the game. There is conflict that she is Riki's girlfriend, which contradicts his relationship with Mami in River City Ransom.

Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari EX

• Himada (火間田 翔, Himada Shō) (Rex in River City Ransom EX)

• Saori (豪田 砂織, Gōda Saori) (Abby in River City Ransom EX)

• Shōko (Jenny in River City Ransom EX)

Manga

A gag manga based on the video games was produced titled Ore wa Otoko Da! Kunio-kun​ (おれは男だ! くにおくん). The manga was illustrated by Kosaku Anakubo and was serialized in the monthly anthology CoroCoro Comic from 1991 to 1996, lasting 11 collected editions. Ore wa Otoko Da! was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for children in 1995.

External links

• Kunio-kun series portal at Arc System Works
• Miracle Kidz - A dōjin soft developing team founded by Mitsuhiro Yoshida and Hiroyuki Sekimoto, the original developers of the Downtown Nekketsu series
• Yoshihisa Kishimoto's personal website