Honoo no Doukyuuji - Dodge Danpei 2

Honoo no Doukyuuji - Dodge Danpei 2 is a Japan-exclusive Famicom title that builds upon the popular manga and anime series Honoo no Toukyuuji. While the original Dodge Danpei game was developed and published by Sunsoft around 1992, this sequel's origins are murkier. It surfaced within retro gaming circles as a ROM bearing the "2" designation, but any official release details remain largely unconfirmed. For all intents and purposes, it plays like an extended or modified version of the first game, and some collectors treat it as a possible prototype, hack, or unlicensed follow-up rather than a full commercial product. The core action revolves around intense dodgeball matches, with teams of characters from the anime duking it out on an enclosed court. You control one player while the AI handles your teammates, switching control as the ball comes your way. Throwing, passing, and catching are the primary moves, but each character has a special super shot that can be charged and unleashed to bowl over opponents. The meter management for these power moves adds a layer of strategy. Defense relies on well-timed catching; a missed catch hurts your stamina. Although the Japanese menus can be a hurdle, the on-screen icons and familiar sports layout make the basics intuitive. Within the NES library, this odd sequel sits as a curio for dodgeball fans and collectors of Sunsoft oddities. It lacks the polish of Kunio-kun's Super Dodge Ball, but it has its own anime-infused charm. The niche appeal means it won't replace the classics, but if you've burned through other 8-bit dodgeball games and want to see what-if scenarios from the Honoo no Doukyuuji universe, this one might scratch that itch. Just go in knowing that its provenance is questionable, so treat it as a fascinating piece of Famicom gray-market history rather than a hidden gem.