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Downtown Special Kunio-kun's Historical Period Drama![1] (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: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zen'in Shūgō!?) is an action role-playing beat 'em up video game for the Family Computer (Famicom), both developed and published by Technōs Japan released on July 26, 1991 in Japan. It is a follow-up to Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari in which the characters act out a period play.

Just like Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari the game is easy to play, and the player is now offered a lot more freedom. The player is free to decide how their character grows, what techniques they will use and much more, giving the player infinite possibilities in gameplay and replay value[2].

A port was made for the Game Boy, released on December 22, 1993 in Japan, simultaneously with Nekketsu! Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes.

Development[]

Jidaigeki nes options1

First options screen, used for difficulty, message speed the speed of water currents and water effects.

According to Mitsuhiro Yoshida[3] (the game's director), the game sought to increase the number of special moves that the player had access to from Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari by revamping the inventory system, making special moves separate from the items. All moves in the game can be performed using the system's two buttons and beginners can succeed easily by using combos. The player is able to combine all these techniques to make advanced combos, thus the game is easy to pick up and play and difficult to master.

The game has a lot of items that can be equipped by the player which have different effects. The player also has access to a bigger map that allows them to traverse multiple connected areas back and forth. A new system for stat growth was implemented that makes characters stronger without the need of purchasing items at stores and it is possible to learn techniques while fighting.

Jidaigeki nes options2

Second options screen, which allows players to determine the strength of the enemies and how many enemies will appear.

The game includes multiple settings that allows the player to customize the game to suit their playstyle, including how their AI partner should fight, the game's difficulty, water effects and enemy stats. It was planned for the game to include an spectator mode (the CPU would control all characters) and a four player mode (the two other players took control of the enemies and bosses) but since they were never completed, they are only accessible with hidden commands.

The game's music is made of arranged Japanese folk songs and was composed by Toshiko Tasaki, who is currently employed in Acquire (a development company known for the Tenchu and Way of the Samurai video games).

Story[]

Jidaigeki nes plot

One of the game's intro scenes.

Translated excerpt from the manual of the Famicom version of the game. This is the story shown in DOUBLE DRAGON & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle

During the Edo period, Bunzō (Gōda) used to be the strongest street fighter. However, ever since the Torazō (Kumada) family began engaging in evil deeds, he has lost his power and even found himself bedridden with disease. While the Torazō family continued their wicked ways, a vagabond named Kunimasa (Kunio), entered the scene! He had come to repay the good turn he owed to Bunzō for his earlier kindness, but when Kunimasa arrived, he was instead met by Bunzō's only daughter, Okoto, and her stuck-up fiancé!

What's more, a mysterious duo suddenly appeared out of nowhere and kidnapped Okoto! To rescue her and save the Bunzō family, Kunimasa goes on an adventure with his sidekick, Tsurumatsu (Sonokawa).

Gameplay[]

Main article: Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari#Gameplay
Jidaigeki nes gameplay

Gameplay. At the top of the screen the game now shows the Willpower meter below the Stamina.

The game expands on the gameplay introduced in Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, with most of the systems revamped. Up to two players can play through the game (a maximum of four players can play together with a code). When starting the game, the player can select two separate modes, Kyōryoku (きょうりょく Cooperation) or Taisen (たいせん Battle). These determine if friendly-fire is enabled or not. The player can also switch who controls Kunimasa and his companion (Tsurumatsu at the beginning of the game). Pressing the Select button in this screen allows the player to rename all of the playable characters.

Just like in Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, the player is able to travel through an open world in a non-linear sandbox progression in a bigger world. Enemy clans will travel through the game's map at the same time as the player, in order to fight the clans the player has to reach them first. Defeating all enemies in a clan will have the boss spawn and when he is defeated the player has to travel through the map to find another enemy clan (or let the clan reach them first). If there are no enemy clans in an area the player is free to explore it and some areas are shopping districts, allowing players to stay at an inn or purchase items and equipment.

The game's objective is to defeat all of the game's bosses. This requires fighting each of the enemy clans to make them appear. Once the final boss is defeated, the player simply has to return to the Bunzō family house to complete the game (no enemies will be around after the final boss is defeated). In a single player game, if the player controlled character is defeated they will be returned to Suruga (near the Bunzō family house) with half of their money lost. In a two player game if one player is defeated, he will re-appear on the next screen with his stamina recovered but lose half of their money. If both players are defeated they will be returned to the Bunzō family house near Suruga with half of their money lost.

Money[]

Jidaigeki nes shop

One of Omitsu's many shops. This one is a phamarcy.

Defeated enemies drop money (Japanese mon, 文) when defeated, which can be used in the games various shops:

  • Merchandise (よろずや): Players can purchase equipment and deadly techniques. There are different types of equipment such as kimono, gloves and shoes. Characters can equip more than one type of equipment, the only restriction being the inventory space. Equipment and techniques purchased must be equipped on the character who bought it.
  • Food Shops (だんごや dumplings, めしや cafeteria, うどんや and そばや noodle shop): These different shops sell dumplings, noodle soups and other assortment of food that will restore a character's stamina. Some are eaten in the shop while others are placed on the character's inventory.
  • Gambling Den (とば): The player can increase or lose their money by playing a betting game.
  • Pharmacies (くすりや): Players can purchase medicine, which goes on the player's inventory. These restore a character's willpower.
  • Inn (やどや): By paying 100 of their money, the player can restore their stamina and willpower completely.
  • Mystery Stores (なぞのみせ): The player can find various secret shops during the game that sell powerful equipment and items. Most of these stores are available immediately while others will only become available after the player defeats certain bosses.

Stats[]

Jidaigeki nes stats

Kunimasa's stats.

The game has the same stats from Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari and they function in the same manner. This time all stats max out at 127 with the exception of stamina and willpower, which max out at 255. In Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari it was possible to equip shoes that would raise some stats, in this game there are more items that can be equipped to raise stats. The stats that items increase can stack if more of the same item is equipped at once. There's an item in the game that can be used to double the stat bonuses of equipment.

Jidaigeki nes growth

Kunimasa's stat growth.

Instead of increasing stats by consuming items like in Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, the game features a separate menu to configure a character's stat growth. The character has a maximum of 100% to allocate to each style freely. Upon defeating 10 enemies, the character's stats will increase depending on how these percentages were placed. An item can be used to double the percentage increase on each level up.

Data[]

Jidaigeki nes save

Save screen.

The game uses battery backup saves and no passwords, though it is only possible to save one file.

Controls & Moves[]

Jidaigeki nes deathblow

The complete list of deadly techniques in the game.

The game shares the same controls as Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, but now there are a number of new moves:

  • Stomp: Pressing both buttons at the same time when standing in the same area as a fallen enemy will have the character jump slightly and stomp on the downed opponent, making additional damage.
  • Leg Grab: Pressing the B button near a downed enemy will have the character grab them by the legs. The player can use enemies as a weapon this way by pressing the A button, performing a spinning attack. Pressing the B button will have the character perform a Giant Swing, spinning the opponent around and then throwing them.
  • Sit: Pressing down in the directional pad while on top of a downed enemy will have the character sit on top of them. The player can proceed to punch or twist them by pressing the A or B button respectively. They are also able to jump and attack while they are still on top of an enemy.
  • Aerial Uppercut: Characters can perform a jumping uppercut by pressing the A button in midair, in a similar fashion to a jump kick.

The player also has access to a total of 24 deadly techniques, which they can purchase from shops and learn from the bosses they defeat while equipped with the Master Glasses (can be purchased at one of the Mystery Stores for 3000 mon). Some of these techniques can also be learned by fighting:

  • Mach Punch: Three rapid punches, Rikigorō's trademark technique. This technique can be purchased or learned during combat. This technique will replace a normal punch.
  • Mach Kick: Three quick kicks, Kunimasa starts the game with this technique. It can also be purchased and learned through combat, it replaces a normal kick.
  • Mach Strike: Three rapid strikes with any weapon, this technique can be purchased or learned during fights.
  • Mach Twist: The character does three rapid twists to a downed enemy. This technique can be purchased in shops. Tsurumatsu has the technique by default.
  • Mach Swing: A stronger version of the Giant Swing, this move is only available by using the Koganemushi code. None of the bosses and any of the shops have this technique.
  • Mach Stomp Stomp: The character will perform three consecutive stomps. This technique can be purchased and learned from combat. Tamekichi uses this move.
  • Screw: A somersault attack performed during a running jump, it is Yonosuke's trademark move. The character's jump will be shorter at the cost of having a powerful jumping attack. This move can be purchased or learned through combat.
  • Nitro Attack: Kinsuke's special move, performed by pressing the directional pad twice in the direction of the desired target. The character will warp right in front of an enemy and knee them in the face. This move is found in shops and can also be learned through fighting.
  • Hyper Guard: Damage done to the character will be deflected to the opponent if the attack is blocked. This is Heishichi's special move and it can be learned through combat or by purchasing it.
  • Tornado Kick: A spinning kick in a midair, performed by pressing the B button during a jump (if the player wants to perform a Tornado Kick with a running jump they cannot have Screw equipped at the same time). This is Tatsuji and Tatsuichi's trademark move. The technique can be purchased.
  • Warp Shot: Heilman's trademark super shot. Any thrown item will transport itself immediately to a nearby character. The technique is dangerous to use if weapon settings are enabled since the player will hit their companion if there are no enemies nearby. This technique can be purchased.
  • Human Drill: This technique is performed by pressing down in the directional pad twice. It can be done at any time, even while dashing or during a running jump. The character will spin in place and hit nearby enemies. This technique is Jinroku's trademark move and it can be purchased.
  • Human Helicopter: To perform this technique, the player must grab a downed enemy with the A button (so that they are on top of him) and press down on the directional pad twice. They will spin the enemy on top of them, making damage. This technique can be purchased in shops and is Asajirō's special move.
  • Human Torpedo: This move replaces a normal throw. After grabbing an enemy from the ground with the A button, throwing them (by pressing the button again) will send the enemy flying away like a projectile. This is one of Torazō's trademark moves. This technique can be learned randomly by fighting, it is not found in any shops.
  • Self Torpedo: Pressing the A button during a jump will have the character turn into a projectile like the enemies thrown with the Human Torpedo move. They will damage any enemy that they happen to collide with. Pressing the A button again during a jump will cancel the move. This move can be purchased in shops and is the other special move Torazō has.
  • Mach Punch II: An upgraded version of Mach Punch, the character will follow-up the second punch with an uppercut. This move will take precedence over the original if both are equipped at the same time. The technique can be purchased at shops.
  • Mach Kick II: An upgraded version of the Mach Kick, it shares the same properties listed in Mach Punch II and can also be purchased at shops.
  • Screw II: The upgraded version of Screw, the character will now continue rolling upon hitting the ground, becoming a literal wrecking ball. Pressing both buttons again during a jump will cancel the move. If both this move and the original are equipped together, this one will have priority. It can be purchased in shops.
  • Harite[4] Special: Performed by pressing the A button while running, the character will throw three rapid slaps while spinning. This will send opponents airborne when hit. This is Gonsaku's trademark move. It can be purchased in shops.
  • Dosu[5] Special: Yagorō's special technique, performed by pressing down twice while equipped with a dosu (the small daggers). It functions similarly to the Human Drill, but has more range. Though the technique can be purchased in shops, Yagorō will also teach the technique to a character for free when he is met a second time.
  • Head Butt Special: Bunzō's special move, performed by pressing the B button during a dash. The technique can be purchased at shops as well.
  • Massage Special: This technique is performed by grabbing a downed enemy with the B button (by the legs) and pressing up in the directional pad twice. The character will kick the downed opponent multiple times and really fast in the crotch. This is Hanshirō's trademark move. It can be purchased in shops.
  • Transformation Technique: Nizaemon's special technique, performed by pressing down in the directional pad and both buttons at the same time during a jump. The character will transform into the character he is directly facing. He will gain their stats and moves, including stamina and willpower. Pressing the button combination again during a jump will change the character back. The technique can be purchased in shops.
  • Big Bang: Tsurumatsu's trademark move. To perform the move, the character must be stunned and press up in the directional pad twice. The character will fart and a powerful explosion and flash will knock down everyone on screen. This technique cannot be purchased at shops.
  • Art of Yamada: Jūkichi's special move is performed by pressing up on the directional pad twice. All objects on the ground will levitate and pressing the A Button will throw them forward, hitting any enemy that gets caught in the way. This move cannot be purchased in any shops.

Weapons[]

Just like in Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, a lot of areas have weapons scattered in the ground. A maximum of three weapons can be found in each area. There are less weapons in this game but they come in different varieties and have special properties.

  • Pebble: A small rock, has more range than a punch. It is the weakest weapon the player can find. Goes in a straight trajectory when thrown.
  • Bamboo Spear: This weapon has longer power and range than a pebble, but it's rare. Most enemies tend to carry it.
  • Dosu: A stronger version of the bamboo spear, yet even rarer. This weapon is required to perform the Dosu Special.
  • Wooden Frame: A big door frame carried in both hands. Though strong, when thrown it flies a short distance.
  • Tree Stump: When thrown, this object rolls along the ground and can hit anyone who collides with it.
  • Rock: The heaviest and strongest weapon, attacking with it is slow. It flies a short distance when thrown.
  • Barrel: A special weapon similar to the the ones listed above as it is carried with both hands. When thrown on an enemy, the barrel falls on top of them, making them unable to attack unless they shake the barrel off (by either being hit or running into a wall). It is also possible to jump inside a barrel, which can protect the player from hazards such as lava.
  • Cart: The other special weapon. When picked up, the character carries the cart behind him with both hands. Pressing the A button moves the cart in front of the character and pressing the B button raises the cart above his head, allowing the character to use it as a proper weapon. If the character is running the cart around in front or behind him, they can use the wheels to run over enemies and hit them while they are down. They can also carry other characters and objects on top of the cart.

Areas[]

Jidaigeki nes map

In-game map, showing the player's location and the possible location of enemy clans.

At any time during the game, the player has access to the game's map by pressing the B button while the game is paused. The player can also purchase a Map Cursor in one of the mystery stores that allows the player to immediately travel to any location in the game. The game is split up into ten areas which the player can access at any time. Players will never hit a dead end as they travel, one end of an area will simply lead them into a new area.

  • Suruga: The starting area of the game, where the player will find the Bunzō family house where they can switch companions, as well as various shops. To the left of the town is a field area that leads to Kawachi. Going right of the town leads to a bridge and the harbor. To the right of the bridge if the player climbs the mountain path they will reach Kōzuke, and the bottom path leads to Rikuchū.
  • Kawachi: The town to the left of Suruga has many shops. Going all the way to the left of the town will lead to Nagato. The player can also reach Tosa by going through a bridge on the first screen. Finally, the player can get to Esshū by going leaving south through the water.
  • Tosa: A mountainous area filled with water, it has three screens. Going to the right will lead to Kawachi while following the mountain path to the right will lead to Hizen.
  • Hizen: A big city with many shops and stairs that lead to multiple areas. A lot of these stairs lead to other areas of Hizen, but some exits will lead to Tosa, Nagato or Inaba.
  • Inaba: A mountain desert area with two screens. Leaving through the bottom left leads to Nagato, while climbing to the left exit leads to the second screen. In this screen it is possible to reach Hizen and Esshū.
  • Esshū: A waterfall area. Going left from the start area leads to a town and from there to the player can reach Inaba. On this screen it is possible to go down through the water fall to the second screen. If the player exits this screen to the right, they will climb the waterfall. Going all the way to the left will lead to Kawachi.
  • Kōzuke: This area with a sunset can be reached from Suruga. Esshū is accessible by going left. Going to the right through the wooden bridge leads to a second screen and from there the player can get to Rikuchū.
  • Rikuchū: The first screen in this mountain path is filled with lava. On the first screen there's a cave that leads to a mountain path near the sky. Jumping to the right leads to a town and going right from there leads to Ezo. Going left from the town returns the player to the first screen. By jumping to the left of the mountain the player will be in the area that leads to Kōzuke (with the bridge and waterfall). Jumping off the bridge leads to the first screen.
  • Ezo: An area covered in ice during nighttime. To the left of the first screen is the town in Rikuchū. The two exits in this screen lead to the same screen. Leaving the second screen through the bottom left exit will lead to Esshū.

Characters[]

Jidaigeki nes charaselect

Kunimasa selects Kinsuke as his companion.

Characters from Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari and Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai appear in the game, along with some new characters and a few guest characters from Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu. Each character is portraying a role for the period play, so their names are changed.

Playable Characters[]

During the game either player or the AI can take control of Kunimasa, who is joined by a companion of the player's choosing. The player must first meet some requirements in order to recruit some of these companions, Kunimasa's ally at the beginning of the game is Tsurumatsu. The CPU AI can be completely customized in a separate settings screen, with options that determine which enemies they attack, if they use weapons, etc.

  • Kunimasa: The game's hero and protagonist, who is tasked with finding a cure to Bunzō's illness. The role is played by Kunio of Nekketsu High School.
  • Tsurumatsu: Kunimasa's sidekick, he is with him through most of the game. However, if the player recruits Jūkichi, he mysteriously vanishes from the Bunzō family house. This role is played by Sonokawa of Senridai High School.
  • Gonsaku: A leader of one of the family clans that the player will face, he can be recruited by the player when defeated. However, if some requirements are met and he is not Kunimasa's current ally, he will be found again in the map as a boss and cannot be recruited. These requirements might a combination of recruiting five characters after he is recruited or recruiting Hanshirō. It is possible to ignore Gonsaku completely until Hanshirō is recruited, then defeating him and recruiting him. His role is played by Nishimura, the banchō of Hakutaka Industrial High School.
  • Rikigorō: This role is played by Kunio's eternal rival, Riki of Hanazono High School. To recruit him, the player must be in single player mode and after fighting Yonosuke, their AI companion has to be knocked out. Rikigorō will then appear to assist Kunimasa. This can only happen if Jinroku as yet to be defeated.
  • Heilman: A foreigner who is part of the Jinroku family, his role is played by the Iceland dodge ball team captain from Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu. The player can recruit Heilman by defeating him twice.
  • Kinsuke: A member of the Jinroku family who is known for his speed. He is recruited when the player agrees to solve the misunderstand related to the Bunzō and Jinroku family. The role is played by Mochizuki, one of the Shitennō of Reihō Academy.
  • Bunzō: The head of his eponymous family and the father of Okoto, who has fallen ill. After giving him a medicinal herb from Yonosuke, he is cured and assists Kunimasa. The role is played by Gōda from Hōryō High School.
  • Hanshirō: A member of the Torazō family. When defeated, he joins the Bunzō family. Gonsaku will also mysteriously leave the Bunzō family if he has been recruited at this point. The role is played by Nedachi, a student of Hakutaka Industrial High School (like Nishimura, his name and likeness is taken from a Technōs Japan programmer).
  • Tatsuichi & Tatsuji: The twins that kidnapped Okoto, their roles are played by the Double Dragon brothers: Ryūichi and Ryūji of Reihō Academy. Only one of them can be recruited, upon defeating one of them the other will flee. If the player spares the defeated brother, he will join Kunimasa in a similar fashion as Rikigorō (in a single player game, the AI companion must be knocked down). The brother that fled will appear on the map alone as a boss.
  • Jūkichi: A mysterious individual who appears in front of Kunimasa and asks to become his friend. Once recruited, Tsurumatsu mysteriously leaves the Bunzō house. Jūkichi leaves again when Tsurumatsu rejoins but returns again for some reason at the same time as Kinsuke. The role is played by Yamada, who by this time is a student of Meian High School.

Supporting Characters[]

  • Okoto: Bunzō's daughter, who is in love with Kunimasa and is kidnapped by Tatsuichi and Tatsuji. Her role is played by Hasebe, the Vice President of the Reihō Academy Student Council. This is the only game in which she acts as a damsel-in-distress.
  • Sankichi: An aid of Bunzō and his right hand. Sankichi is played by an original character.
  • Asajirō: An ally of Bunzō who is set to marry Okoto. His role is played by Tōdō, the Student Council President of Reihō Academy.
  • Yonosuke: A friend of Rikigorō, the only reason for Kunimasa to challenge him is to get Rikigorō to befriend him. However, once the problem with Jinroku is settled, Yonosuke gives Kunimasa the herbal medicine to help Bunzō.
  • Lao Chen: The shopkeeper of a mysterious store with really powerful and useful items. The role is played by the captain of the Chinese team in Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu, who has the same name.
  • Omitsu: The woman in charge of all restaurants, pharmacies and inns in the game. She is dating Rikigorō. The role is played Riki's girlfriend Mami, a student of Hanazono High School.
  • Technos-Tei: A bald man that appears to be narrating the story when the game begins and the player enters a new area.

Enemy Clans[]

  • The Ginpachi Clan: A temperamental clan who is quick to anger. They are weak but attack violently. After Jinroku is defeated, Ginpachi and his clan will return to the map and remain around until the final boss is defeated. The role of Ginpachi is played by Sawaguchi, Nishimura's follower and lackey from Hakutaka Industrial High School.
  • The Gonsaku Clan: Though a powerful clan, they prefer to do running attacks and run away if they are weak. They get confident and aggressive if they get a hold of a weapon.
  • The Ichibee & Rokubee: A clan led by two people, they target weak opponents. They are not that strong physically so they prefer using weapons. They will attempt to escape if they are at a disadvantage. Ichibee and Rokubee are played by Kamijō and Yamamoto respectively, the outsiders from Kagemura Academy.
  • The Heilman Clan: This clan fights in close quarters, their members are slow but powerful. They specialize in strong punches and throws.
  • The Kinsuke Clan: A fast fighting clan, they move quickly and do not jump. They run after their opponents if they attempt to back away.
  • The Tamekichi Clan: An enigmatic clan that is difficult to decipher. They will attack suddenly and without warning. They attack at a quick pace and have strong kicking power. The role of Tamekchi is played by Taira, a student of Reihō Academy and a member of the Shitennō.
  • The Heishichi Clan: A smart clan that strong with weapons, they fight by the book. They are strong and rarely make mistakes. Other than using weapons effectively they place their jump attacks well to keep their opponents at a distance. Kobayashi, the leader of the Shitennō and a student from Reihō Academy, plays the role of Heishichi.
  • The Jinroku Clan: A clan that prefers fighting with their bare hands, their punching power is strong. They have good stamina and defense and prefer mid-range fighting. Onizuka, who was the Student Council President of Reihō Academy before Yamada and was once the leader of the Shitennō, plays the role of Jinroku.
  • The Hanshirō Clan: This clan is made of fast fighters with high kicking power but they prefer to use weapons. They prefer to attack from a distance.
  • The Yagorō Clan: The strength of this clan lays on weapons, once they possess one they become extremely aggressive. It is an aggressive clan even when unarmed, but is more dangerous if they have a weapon. They tend to attack with dosu. Gōda's friend Godai from Tanibana High School plays the role of Yagorō.
  • The Nizaemon Clan: A clan with high will power and strong punches. They abuse the Giant Swing whenever they have the chance. The role of Nizaemon is played by Matsudo, a student of Reihō Academy who is the president of its science club and was the Student Council President before Onizuka.
  • The Tatsuichi & Tatsuji Clan: A dangerous clan with high speed and kicking power. They close the distance quickly, leaving little room to maneuver and escape.
  • The Mysterious Clan: A clan with high defense, strength and stamina. Its fighters will take anything thrown at them.
  • The Torazō Clan: A strong clan who uses a combination of weapons and hand-to-hand combat, but their strength lies in the use of throwing weapons. The role of Torazō is played by Kumada, a student of Torashima Industries IV High School who joined together with Nishimura, Sawaguchi, Godai and Gōda in Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai as part of the School Union team.

Codes, Secrets & Bugs[]

Other than game's many mysterious stores, the game has various codes and secrets as well as many bugs.

Sankichi's Amulet[]

After Bunzō is cured and joins, returning to his house will have Sankichi gift Kunimasa with an amulet, which raises Defense by 20. The amulet has another effect that is never told by the game. The character equipped with the amulet will be ignored by enemies. The player can willingly make the game harder or easier by deciding which player or if the AI companion equips the amulet.

Koganemushi[]

Jidaigeki nes koganemushi

Kunimasa renamed to Koganemushi.

Switching a character's name to こがねむし Koganemushi, will grant them all of the game's deadly techniques, 990200 mon and a map cursor that doesn't take the player's inventory. This is the only way to learn the Mach Swing technique. This secret only works in the Famicom version.

Stat Growth Bug[]

Jidaigeki nes statbug

Stat growth maxed.

When Kinsuke leaves Bunzō's house for the first time, a glitch in the stat growth screen will have the Defense stat growth by 128%. By removing points from here, the player will have an infinite amount of points which they can allocate to all stats (for a maximum of 250%) this will allow the character to easily maximize their stats.

4-Players Mode[]

At the mode select screen, place the cursor on Kunimasa and hold either left or right on the directional pad, then press the B button and Start at the same time. If the player hears the sound when the character's level up the code will have worked. Now a third and fourth player can control enemies and bosses.

Spectator Mode[]

This code is also performed at the mode select screen by placing the cursor on Kunimasa. Hold down on the directional pad and press B and start simultaneously. The sound when mon is collected will play. Now when players enter an area with enemies, the CPU will take control of the player characters.

If the 4 Player code is activated first and the CPU code is used, it is possible for players to control the enemies and fight Kunimasa and his companion while they are controlled by the CPU.

Re-releases[]

Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zen'in Shūgō! has never been released outside of Japan, so all re-releases are exclusive to that region.

The Famicom version is one of two games available in Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 3 for the Game Boy Advance (the other game included in the collection is Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey Bu: Subette Koronde Dairantō. Developed by Miracle Kidz and published by Atlus, it was released on February 16, 2006 only in Japan. No graphical or gameplay changes were made to the game, but the game's save option doesn't work.

The game was re-released three times on three different Japanese mobile phone web services. Known as the Luxury Edition, this version of the game was released on August 10, 2007 for the i-appli service, on September 12, 2007 for the Yahoo! Mobile S!Appli service and on January 10, 2008 for the EZAppli service.

The Famicom and Game Boy versions of the game were re-released multiple times digitally on Nintendo systems. The Famicom version was released by Arc System Works for the Wii Virtual Console on May 12, 2009. On July 10, 2013 it was released for the 3DS Virtual Console. Finally, it was released for the WiiU Virtual Console on December 4, 2013. The Game Boy version was ported to the 3DS Virtual Console on June 7, 2011.

The Famicom version is also featured in the Nintendo 3DS compilation Kunio-kun Nekketsu Complete: Famicom Hen, released on December 8, 2016. This version of the game is also included in Kunio-kun: The World Classics Collection, released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows in 2018.

Dōjinshi[]

Jidaigekispsp gameplay

Gameplay showing four enemies on screen at once, three characters controlled by the player and one controlled by the game's AI.

Fans of the game created a remake for PC, titled Downtown Special Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zen'in Shūgō! (ダウンタウンスペシャルスペシャル くにおくんの時代劇だよ全員集合!, or Jidaigeki SPSP). This version of the game doesn't have the technical limitations of the Famicom version (such as the minor loadings that appear before entering a new area, which are masked by having Technōs Booth Storyteller speak). Up to four players can play the game together, facing four enemies at once and it is also possible to play the game with an AI partner just like in the original (with up to three players). A versus mode which supports up to eight players and a time attack mode where multiple players must defeat a gang of enemies as fast as possible is also available.

The game can be downloaded here. The game can be customized with multiple mods as well, which can be downloaded here. More mods for the game can be found on this site.

Fan Translation[]

Jidaigeki nes translation

A screenshot of the translation, with Kunimasa shortened to Kunio.

Hacker Jim Price, with translator Faraday and script writer Willbill released an English translation of the game on September 3, 1998 as members of Dynamic Designs, named Technōs Samurai: Downtown Special![6]. The game's font was changed to accommodate the English text and icons from the Famicom Final Fantasy games were used to identify equipment. Some palettes were also changed. The translation takes the Working Design's "Will it play in Peoria?" approach by streamlining the plot[7]. The names of some characters and techniques were shortened as well.

Legacy[]

Dnj gameplay

Versus mode gameplay.

A sequel, Downtown Nekketsu Jidaigeki, was released by Arc System Works in 2015. It's a Japanese exclusive.

Other media[]

Trivia[]

  • The Game Boy version of the game was released simultaneously with Nekketsu Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes, while Downtown Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari: Yakyū de Shōbu da! Kunio-kun was released a week earlier. All three games allowed players to participate in a contest and the winner would win an exclusive Kunio-kun wristwatch.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Famicom[]

Game Boy[]

External Links[]

References[]

Kunio-kun series
Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun series Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun / Consumer version / SPNekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun: Bangai Rantō HenShodai Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kunShin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka / River City Girls ZeroSuper Dodge Ball (Neo Geo)Riki DensetsuRiver City: Tokyo Rumble
Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu series Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club / NES / PC Bangai HenNekketsu High School Dodgeball Club – Soccer Story / PC / CD / MD / World Cup HenNekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu: Kyōteki! Dodge Senshi no Maki​Go-Go! Nekketsu Hockey Club Slip-and-Slide MadnessKunio-kun's Nekketsu Soccer League
Downtown Nekketsu series Downtown Nekketsu Story / EX / Rival ShowdownDowntown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day! / DX / ~All Stars Special~Downtown Special Kunio-kun's Historical Period Drama! / Downtown Nekketsu JidaigekiSurprise! Nekketsu New Records! The Distant Gold MedalKunio-kun no Dodgeball da yo Zen'in ShūgōDowntown Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari: Yakyū de Shōbu da! Kunio-kunRiver City: Knights of JusticeRiver City Melee: Battle Royal Special / Mach!!Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom StoryKunio-kun no Sangokushida yo Zen'in Shūgō!
Super Nekketsu series Super Dodgebal BrawlersRiver City Super Sports ChallengeRiver City Soccer Hooligans
Other games Nekketsu Fighting LegendNekketsu! Street Basketball All-Out Dunk HeroesKunio no OdenNekketsu! Beach Volley dayo: Kunio-kunNekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (pachislot)River City Dodge Ball All-Stars!!Nekketsu Kōkō Online: Yamada no FukushūDowntown SMASH Dodgeball!Downtown Nekketsu Dodgeball
Spin-offs Target; RenegadeRenegade III: The Final ChapterSuper Mad ChampSuper Dodge Ball AdvanceNijiiro Dodge Ball Otome-tachi no seishunRiver City Ransom: UndergroundNekketsu Kōkō Huŏbàn-kei Tŏng Kōryaku!Nekketsu Kozúqiú-zhéngbǎn Shóuquán Shŏu YóuRiver City GirlsRiver City Girls 2
Crossovers CODE SHIFTERSuper Baseball 2020Super Smash Bros. UltimateMighty Fight FederationThe Battle Cats
Mobile Games Nekketsu Dodgeball Bu iNekketsu banchō fīa-henNekketsu Taisen Kunio-kun XKunio-kun no Nekketsu Dodgeball ALLSTARS!!Kunio-kun no Nekketsu Street
Compilations Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 1Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 2Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 3Kunio-kun Nekketsu Complete: Famicom HenDOUBLE DRAGON & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle
Unreleased Games Kunio-kun RPGCrash 'N' the Boys: Ice ChallengeNekketsu Kunio-Kun ZukanNekketsu Yakyuu KozouCrash 'N' the Boys: BaseballKunio-kun Polo / Kart RacingNekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun: Kowloon no TsumeKunio no Bike Racing: Nekketsu Bari Bari KouttotaiDowntown Nekketsu Monogatari 2River City Nightmares
Other media Ore wa Otoko Da! Kunio-kunNekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (4koma Manga Kingdom)Kunio-kun! Nekketsu Game!Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (TV series)Ā, Nekketsu Kantai Gayuku!Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun: Rantō Enbu-hen
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