Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun (1986). Play online

Summary

When I first saw Nekketsu Kōha Kunio‑kun – released in the West as Renegade – I was struck by how it turned the cramped, one‑dimensional fights of earlier arcade brawlers into a spacious, isometric arena. The three‑button layout (punch, kick, jump) feels oddly satisfying, letting you string punches, grab, charge and even stomp enemies in a smooth combo flow. Because the playfield scrolls both horizontally and vertically, each stage feels like a little pocket street rather than a simple side‑scroll, a design that Yoshihisa Kishimoto borrowed from his own teenage memories and martial‑film inspirations. The first three levels each span three screens, throwing a gang of seven thugs plus a boss at you, while the final stage shifts to a parking‑lot and interior battle against knife‑wielding hitmen and a gun‑toting mobster. Looking back, Renegade set the template for everything from Double Dragon to Streets of Rage, cementing the beat‑’em‑up formula that still powers modern co‑op brawlers.

Storyline

In the arcade beat‑’em‑up Nekketsu Kouha Kunio‑kun (known abroad as Renegade), the Japanese story follows Kunio, a hot‑headed student of Nekketsu High. Rival gangs repeatedly assault his classmate Hiroshi right outside the school, and each level begins with Kunio sprinting after the thugs. He battles through city streets and rooftops, confronting the gang leaders one by one. The climax takes place at the hideout of the boss Sabu, where Kunio finally defeats him. After the fight, Hiroshi and several classmates greet Kunio outside, shaking his hand in gratitude.

The Western localization rewrites the plot: the player is a street fighter who must take down four rival gangs to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend from a mob boss. After beating the final boss, the hero walks out of the building and is welcomed by his girlfriend, who rewards him with a kiss.