Kunio-Kun is one of the longest running video game franchises in Japan. While most Westerners might know the series for giving us Super Dodge Ball and River City Ransom, the first game in the series released way back in 1986 in Japan and will be celebrating it’s 35 anniversary next year.
With such as old series, it shouldn’t be a surprise that something might not have come to fruition. One of the least known and rather interesting one was a Kunio-Kun RPG that would have been released on the Famicom.
This RPG was actually announced as part of a strategy guide that was published in Japan. When translated to English, the description of the game reads as follows:
“Nekketsu series – Part 4
RPG Kunio Kun (tentative title)
Wow, an RPG where Kunio-kun plays a big role is in the works! Set in Tokyo, this game features Kunio-kun and his friends battling it out against an army of delinquents. This standard RPG is chock-full of unique characters, puzzle solving, and Nekketsu drama! Kunio-kun and his friends set out on a great adventure filled with laughs and tears! It takes place in Shinjuku and Shibuya, so it’s pretty realistic! Currently, the script is being written with plans to release the game in the summer of next year. We hope you look forward to it!
v Planned enemy character. He looks pretty strong!
^ These kinds of enemy characters are appearing one after the other!”
While no reason for the game being cancelled has even been made public, there are some small details that is known. The script was being written by Masaki Wachi who is best known as the writer for Time Stalkers and Shining Force.
Like we noted at the top, Kunio-Kun did not slow down thanks to one cancellation. It’s still going strong and even released Downtown Special Kunio-kun’s Historical Period Drama! in July 1991. Some speculate this game would have seen a release in 1992, but the next installment in the franchise was Nekketsu Fighting Legend which released a mere 2 days before Christmas 1992.
