GET READY FOR HOT-BLOODED ACTION IN THIS BUNDLE!

Technōs Japan was a game developer widely recognized during the 1980s and 1990s for its Double Dragon and Kunio-kun series of games. In the West, the few Kunio-kun titles that reached North America and Europe were renamed and given Western names and adjusted stories. However, over the years, the style, action, and depth of these games have sparked renewed interest in collections and new titles, such as the River City Girls series. Unfortunately, Technōs Japan closed its doors in 1996, but it is thanks to our partnership with Arc System Works that we can re-release the last two entries of the Kunio-kun series from the Famicom on physical cartridges for the NES®, nearly 30 years later.

Click below to navigate and see what comes with each release!

River City Ball & Brawl Bundle

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Get ready for hot-blooded action! For the first time outside of Japan, physical cartridges for River City Basketball and River City Fighting Legend are being released in the River City Ball & Brawl Bundle. Featuring Kunio and his friends, these Technōs Japan classics get a whole new translation in their first official Western physical release. The competition heats up in River City Fighting Legend as Kunio enters a 2v2 fighting tournament to prove his worth against various combatants. Then you enter the world of streetball in River City Basketball with Kunio and friends teaming up to play a tournament against teams across the United States. You can also invite friends for co-op or versus multiplayer action.

• First official cartridge releases outside of Japan

• Newly localized by Nathan Deren with translations by Jonathan Antonioli

• River City Basketball Collector’s Edition 8-Bit Cartridge

• River City Fighting Legend Collector’s Edition 8-Bit Cartridge

• Special edition collection slipcase

MSRP: $109.99 USD | €129,99 EUR | $154.99 CAD

Open pre-order window ends October 19th, 2025. Estimated to arrive by December 2025.
Click your preferred retailer below to place your pre-order!

NORTH AMERICA

EUROPE

River City Basketball - Collector's Edition

Kunio wins a trip to the United States on a quiz show and travels with his pal Riki and hot-tempered Godai. While there, they find Johnny, who invites them to join a basketball tournament. Never one to back down from a challenge, Kunio and friends set up at Niagara Falls and form Team Nekketsu to take on teams like the hip New York Kids, the carrier-bound Navy Seals, the psychic Florida Espers, the wranglin’ Texas Boys, the blazing Hawaii Fires, the buff San Francisco Rose, and the magical Las Vegas Gamblers. This version of Nekketsu! Street Basketball All-Out Dunk Heroes has been newly translated into English for its first physical release outside of Japan.

MSRP: $59.99 USD | €69,99 EUR | $84.99 CAD

Open pre-order window ends October 19th, 2025. Estimated to arrive by December 2025.
Click your preferred retailer below to place your pre-order!

NORTH AMERICA

EUROPE

River City FIghting Legend - Collector's Edition

Kunio finds a note on his locker at school one day announcing a fighting tournament held by the Saber Tiger association. Rising to the challenge, Kunio sets out to prove his strength and is joined by his pal Riki. The tournament pits Kunio and Riki against eight teams to decide which is the strongest. Along with Story Mode, you can also try the multiplayer modes. This version of Nekketsu Fighting Legend has been newly translated into English for its first physical release outside of Japan.

MSRP: $59.99 USD | €69,99 EUR | $844.99 CAD

Open pre-order window ends October 19th, 2025. Estimated to arrive by December 2025.
Click your preferred retailer below to place your pre-order!

NORTH AMERICA

EUROPE

Release Information

Series Release Timeline

May 1986

Technōs Japan releases Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (熱血硬派くにおくん) in Japan, which translates to “Hot-blooded Tough Guy Kunio”. Players take control of Kunio as he fights his way through various gangs that bully his friend, Hiroshi. It was known as a “belt fighter” with small waves of enemies facing off against the player. The game was a hit and saw cabinets in international markets under the title Renegade. The graphics were updated to be a bit more western, and voice-overs were added. The plot also changes to the lead character needing to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend.

April 1987

Based on their hit arcade game, Nekketsu Renegade Kunio-kun was Technōs Japan’s first home console game was for the Famicom. Some of the stages are restructured, including the final stage, which features a maze that can send the player back to a previous stage.

November 1987

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu is the first sports game featuring Kunio and friends. In this arcade title, he leads his school’s dodgeball team against other international teams such as England, the USA, Iceland, China, and Team Africa. It was later released to North America as Super Dodge Ball, with the Nekketsu team becoming Team USA, and Japan taking USA’s place. The console port would launch in 1988 for the Famicom and NES, adding teams from India and the USSR.

April 1989

Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari (ダウンタウン熱血物語) was the third Kunio-kun entry and the first specifically developed for home consoles. In this game, Kunio teams up with Riki to save his girlfriend from a rival gang. This side-scrolling beat ‘em up combined RPG elements such as buying items, gaining equipment, and acquiring new abilities. It was released on the NES® as River City Ransom in North America and as Street Gangs in Europe.

May 1990

Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Soccer Hen (熱血高校ドッジボール部サッカー編) was developed and released during a period of heightened interest in football/soccer as a sport in Japan, with the 1990 FIFA World Cup that was hosted in Italy that year. The game launched on the Famicom and features Kunio and his dodgeball team helping out Misako, the coach of the soccer club, as they participate in tournaments against other schools. It would later be released in North America as Nintendo World Cup and given a new direction with the thirteen school teams now replaced by thirteen national teams from around the world. A port for the Game Boy was released in April 1991.

December 1990

The first portable console entry of the Kunio-kun series was Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun:

Bangai Rantō Hen (熱血硬派くにおくん番外乱闘編). Players take control of Kunio, who must avenge his friend Hiroshi after Yuki Munakata, heir of Munakata Industries, beat him up. Riki can also join as the second player via Link Cable. The game is similar to Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, with some differences in the gameplay. The game was released internationally as Double Dragon II, with the Lee twins now as the protagonists, and much of the story and background were changed to fit their story.

July 1991

The very long titled 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！), which translates to Downtown Special Kunio-kun's Historical Period Drama!, is a follow-up to Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, where the characters all act out in a period play in feudal Japan. The game offers the player more freedom in character customization. Playing the role of the wanderer Kunimasa, Kunio sets out to return the kindness provided by Bunzo (Godai) and save his family. This title was never released outside of Japan until it was released as part of the DOUBLE DRAGON & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle.

February 1992

Only released in Japan, 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」 , which translates to Go-Go! Nekketsu Hockey Club: Slip-and-Slide Madness, launched for the Famicom. This time, Kunio and his friends help out the hockey club by joining and doing their best to bring glory to the team and save it from being disbanded.

June 1992

When Surprise! Nekketsu New Records! The Distant Gold Medal (びっくり熱血新記録！はるかなる金メダル Bikkuri Nekketsu Shin Kiroku! Harukanaru Kin Medal) was being planned; there was news that other developers had received the rights to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. As such, the team felt the need to be completely different from those games. Once again, Kunio and friends compete against other teams of five in various events. These include 400m hurdles, hammer throw, swimming battle royale, long jump, and judo fighting. For its North American release, it was renamed to Crash 'n' the Boys: Street Challenge, which also renamed the characters and redid the story.

August 1992

Having combined beat ‘em up and RPG elements, the first Kunio-kun game on the Super Famicom would end up leaning heavily on the role-playing side. River City Renegade (初代熱血硬派くにおくん Shodai Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun) is set in Osaka, where Kunio and his classmates are on a field trip when they end up getting involved in an incident between two gangs: the Osaka Alliance and the Osaka Union. In this title, the character sprites are now proportioned like in the original arcade game rather than using a “chibi” art style. The game would see a re-release and English translation when it was included in Super Technos World: River City & Technos Arcade Classics, released in 2025.

December 1992

Developed by Technōs Japan’s Niigata studio, Nekketsu Fighting Legend (熱血格闘伝説 Nekketsu Kakutō Densetsu) was inspired by the studio's love of pro wrestling, who would go together to watch shows during its development. The Double Tiger brothers that appear in-game are inspired by Mitsuharu Misawa’s depiction of Tiger Mask, a professional wrestler. The team wanted to capitalize on the recent popularity of fighting games. The game is a 2 vs 2 arena tournament fighter with each character possessing their own abilities and stats. It saw a re-release as part of DOUBLE DRAGON & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle in December 2018.

December 1993

The last Famicom entry of the series would come with Nekketsu! Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes (熱血！すとりーとバスケット～がんばれＤｕｎｋＨｅｒｏｅｓ～), developed and published by Technōs Japan. Kunio ends up winning a game show, which sends him on a trip to the USA with Riki and Godai in tow. There, they meet up with Johnny (previously from Surprise! Nekketsu New Records! The Distant Gold Medal), who convinces the boys to enter a 2-on-2 basketball tournament. Due to the Super Famicom overtaking the Famicom, distribution for the game was limited, and it became a rarity among collectors. It was re-released on the Game Boy Advance in August 2005 as part of the Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 1 and then on the DOUBLE DRAGON & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle in December 2018.

Late 2025

The last two entries of the Kunio-kun series from the Famicom era are put into a collection in Retro-Bit Publishing's River City Ball & Brawl Bundle featuring new translations and retitling of River City Basketball and River City Fighting Legend. Pre-orders have opened in September to end in October. Orders are expected to be delivered in December 2025.