[Update: Good news, everyone! It turns out that Arc System Works is indeed bringing the collection to North America under the nameSuper Technos World: River City & Arcade Classics(I’ve updated the headline, in case you were wondering).
However, there’s some bad news here. The games that I pointed out would need translation over here?Sugoro Quest++andDunQuest? Yeah, not getting translated. Says in the press release, “*Japanese language only.” However, that caveat isn’t listed behind theKunio-Kuntitles, so it sounds like they’re getting localized, which is a big deal in itself. So, yeah, still very exciting. Original story follows.]
Arc System Works has revealed theTechnos The World: Kunio-kun & Arcade Collection(thanks to Gematsu), a new compilation of some of Technos Japan’s lesser-known gems. More importantly, it’s bringing some titles that weren’t included in a few laterKunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown/River Citytitles that weren’t included inDouble Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle. It’s coming to PS5, Switch, and PC, on April 24. No word yet on a North American release.
It’s a pretty great list. I’ll go over some of them in a bit more depth, but before we get into the weeds, let’s go over what’s actually in the package.
Groovy. For theKunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown/River Citygames, you have baseball, a classic beat-’em-up, a puzzle game (seriously), and two flavors of dodgeball. While I’d say that the Super FamicomKuniogames are decent but not fantastic, the NEOGEOSuper Dodgeballis pretty spectacular. It uses a much brighter and more cartoon-y artstyle, which makes it even flashier and more over the top. It’s also something that has never been ported before.
Big ol’ mixed bag with everything else.China Gateis known inSaiyuu Goumaroku: Ryuubouyougi no Shouin Japan. It’s a strange beat-’em-up based somewhat onJourney to the West. It’s kind of short, but it’s interesting.Combatribesis in the same vein. It’s a ridiculously brutal beat-’em-up in the same vein as theKunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown/River City. you’re able to drive clown faces into the pavement.
DunQuestis a dungeon-dwelling action RPG, which is uncharacteristic for the developer. Similarly,Sugoro Quest++: DICENICSis something of a cross between an RPG and a board game.Xain’d Sleenais a run-and-gun sometimes better known asSolar WarriororSoldier of Lightover here.Shadow Forcefits their M.O. a lot better, as it’s an arcade beat-’em-up.
While there’s no word on whether or not we’ll see this collection over in the West. It may seem unlikely because many of the titles didn’t see release outside of Japan and would require different levels of translation, butDouble Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundledid the impossible and localized a tonne of olderKunio-Kungames, so all bets are off. I know for sure that I’d be thrilled to get my hands on it.
Technos The World: Kunio-kun & Arcade Collectionis coming to PS5, Switch, and PC on April 24.
