Play Honoo no Doukyuuji - Dodge Danpei (Japan) Online

Honoo no Doukyuuji: Dodge Danpei came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, developed by TOSE and published by Sunsoft. It was part of that wave of sports anime adaptations on the NES, though it stood out by focusing on dodgeball, a niche even then. The game captures the look and energy of the anime it's based on, with bright colors and character portraits that pop on the small screen.

You control Danpei, a young dodgeball player aiming to lead his team to the national championship. Gameplay is split between top-down exploration of towns to talk to NPCs and recruit teammates, and side-view dodgeball matches against rival schools. During matches, you aim throws with a targeting cursor, charge your power, and try to knock out opponents one by one. Timing catches and dodges is critical; mistime a move and you're out. The game moves at a brisk pace, and matches can turn quickly based on a few good plays. It feels satisfying to land a well-aimed super throw or pull off a last-second catch to stay in the game.