Renegade (video game)

Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (Japanese: 熱血硬派くにおくん, loosely translated "Hot-Blooded Tough Guy Kunio"), released as Renegade in the West, is a beat 'em up video game developed by Technōs Japan and distributed by Taito for the arcades in 1986.In the Western version Renegade, the player controls a street brawler who must face four different gangs in order to rescue his girlfriend being held captive by a mob boss.In contrast to earlier side-scrolling martial arts games such as Kung-Fu Master (1984), Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun introduced key elements such as the belt scroll format where players can move horizontally and vertically in a scrolling arena-like space, a combat system incorporating combo attacks, the standard three-button control scheme, and a street brawling theme.[5] Compared to other side-scrolling games in its time, the combat system was more highly developed, with the player able to punch, kick, grab, charge, throw and stomp enemies.[6] The player controls a fighter (in the NES version, he is named "Mr. K" in-game, and "Renegade" in the instruction manual)[7] who must fight a variety of street gangs on the way to save his girlfriend from the gangsters.Unlike Technos' subsequent game Double Dragon, the playing field is limited to a series of three-screen-wide areas and does not scroll continuously.The first three stages (a subway platform, a harbor and a street alley) each take place in a single area where the player must face against a gang of seven underlings with their boss watching from the background.The fourth and final stage consists of two areas and only has one type of underling, a bald knife-wielding hitman who can kill the player with a single stab.Kishimoto recalled his experiences as a high school student regularly getting into fights on a daily basis, which was partly triggered by a break-up with a girl who dumped him.[8] In contrast to earlier side-scrolling martial arts action games, most notably Irem's Kung-Fu Master (1984), Kunio-kun greatly increased the amount of health available to the player and the enemies.[5] The use of an isometric perspective, combined with separate buttons for punching and kicking, also meant that the player character could no longer press up to jump like in Kung-Fu Master.Instead of the damsel-in-distress plot of Renegade, Kunio-kun instead featured the titular high school student, Kunio (くにお), standing up for his bullied friend Hiroshi.The Nintendo Entertainment System version, developed in-house by Technos and released in 1987 by Taito in North America, is a strong departure from the original arcade game; the first three stages each consist of a series of two-screens wide levels against a group of three enemies at a time, culminating in a one-on-one fight with the boss.Home computer versions were released for the Amiga, Apple II and IBM PC in North America and for the Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST and Commodore 64 in Europe.The Master System version, developed by Natsume and published by Sega in 1993, is based largely on the NES port rather than the original arcade, but with enhanced graphics and several improvements like new death cutscenes and a revamped ending.[6] Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun also introduced street brawling to the beat 'em up genre,[35] with the international version Renegade taking it further by adding an underworld revenge plot, proving more popular with gamers than the principled combat sports of earlier martial arts games.Technos was slated to release the Game Boy title Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun: Bangai Rantō Hen as a follow-up called The Renegades, but was eventually retooled as Double Dragon II and published by Acclaim.
Arcade version of Renegade , the Western localized version of Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun
Japanese sales flyer for Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun , displaying the main character and enemies
Master System port cover art
Developer(s)Technōs JapanPublisher(s)Designer(s)Yoshihisa KishimotoComposer(s)Kazuo SawaKunio-kunPlatform(s)ArcadeAmstrad CPCApple IIAtari STCommodore 64MS-DOSMaster SystemZX SpectrumThomsonPlayStation 4Genre(s)Beat 'em upSingle-playermultiplayerJapanesearcadessemi-autobiographicalhigh schoolBruce LeeEnter the DragonThe WarriorsKung-Fu Masterbelt scrollDouble Dragongame consoleshome computerOcean Softwareisometric perspectivespritesside-scrollingShao-lin's RoadMy HeroMat ManiaData Eastlaserdisc gamesCobra CommandRoad Blasterlaserdiscbreak-upHong Kong martial arts filmsaction gameshealthbōsōzokusukebanyakuzaKonamidamsel-in-distresshandshakeSuper Dodge BallRiver City RansomNintendo World CupNintendo Entertainment SystemIBM PCSoftware CreationsApple IIGSNatsumeArcade ArchivesComputer and Video GamesSinclair UserThe Games Machine (UK)Your SinclairZzap!64Retro Gamertable arcade cabinetcomputer gameComputer Gaming WorldVirtual ConsoleWii Points3DS Virtual ConsoleWii U Virtual Consolecombat sportsGame BoyDouble Dragon IIAcclaimTechnosMizuki KawashitaIchigo 100%CRC Press1UP.comPolygonCommodore UserThe Games MachineDennis PublishingWayback MachineBangai Rantō HenNekketsu Fighting LegendRiver City Girls ZeroRiver City GirlsRiver City Girls 2Super Dodgeball BrawlersRiver City Soccer HooligansSuper Dodge Ball AdvanceSuper Mad ChampCode ShifterArc System WorksBlazBlueGuilty GearJake HunterBattle FantasiaBirthdays the BeginningBrave Tank HeroDNF DuelDragon Ball FighterZGranblue Fantasy VersusPersona 4 ArenaUltimaxWiiWareFamily Table TennisFamily Glide HockeyFamily Pirate PartyFamily Mini GolfFamily Slot Car RacingFamily Go-Kart RacingFamily Card Games