Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: River City Girls
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: WayForward
Genre: Adventure, Arcade, Fighting, Multiplayer
Price: $29.99
Also Available On: Switch, Steam, XB1
When Nekketsu koha Kunio-kun (roughly translated as "Hot Blood Tough Guy Kunio") made its way to arcades in 1986, not even its biggest fans thought it would have legs. Even as developer Technos Japan had high hopes for it (going so far as to name its principal protagonist after company president Kunio Taki), it seemed to carry a one-off vibe. After all, it was a side-scrolling beat-em-'up that, for the first time, employed four-direction movement and required multiple hits to dispatch enemies. It turned out to be a commercial smash, prompting the release of a port to the Nintendo Family Computer the next year and serving as the kickoff point of an immensely popular franchise.
That the Kunio-kun series is still alive and kicking three decades and three years later despite one industry challenge after another speaks volumes of both the loyalty it has engendered and the quality for which it stands. Now owned by Arc System Works, titles in the intellectual property – which has branched out into seemingly disparate genres, including a variety of sports – boast of outstanding technical and artistic polish, uniquely quirky plots and premises, and engrossing gameplay designed to generate high replay value.
River City Girls is no exception. Featuring a lush color palette and rock music consistent with its retro sensibilities, it turns the hero narrative upside down by having familiar high-school characters Misako and Kyoko do the heavy lifting vice usual leads Kunio and Riki. After learning of their boyfriends' kidnapping, they're spurred to action — from detention, no less, in an obvious nod to their kickass predilections — out of Nekketsu High School, and deep within River City. The result is a rollicking ride that never feels fabricated or forced. To this end cutscenes and interactions laced with humor propel the narrative and help the presentation forge ahead.
Combat mechanics are excellent, in no small measure complemented by easy-to-master and lag-free controls. Difficulty ramps up over time, but never unfairly, and with an eye towards encouraging gamers to collect experience points and currency (earned from encounters) for use by Misako and Kyoko in raising stats, learning new moves, and purchasing battle-purpose gear and equipment. And while River City Girls has a clear end (Save Kunio and Riki!), it's far from linear; side-quests abound, and the attainment of their objectives yields accessories that provide percentage boosts to abilities and skills. It even has collectibles by way of Sabu statues and cats; finding all will net more bonuses, not to mention unlock the real final boss fight.
For all the open-world options, River City Girls isn't overly long. In single-player mode, it should be good for around 10 hours or so. That said, it earns its keep in cooperative mode. As with every other classic beat-em-'up title, it finds itself reaching new heights when enjoyed by two gamers who band together in beating up all the bad guys on screen. The shared experience can likewise smoothen any rough edges produced by grinding, and by the occasionally uneven pace. In any case, it proves well worth its $29.99 price tag. Highly recommended.
THE GOOD:
THE BAD:
When Nekketsu koha Kunio-kun (roughly translated as "Hot Blood Tough Guy Kunio") made its way to arcades in 1986, not even its biggest fans thought it would have legs. Even as developer Technos Japan had high hopes for it (going so far as to name its principal protagonist after company president Kunio Taki), it seemed to carry a one-off vibe. After all, it was a side-scrolling beat-em-'up that, for the first time, employed four-direction movement and required multiple hits to dispatch enemies. It turned out to be a commercial smash, prompting the release of a port to the Nintendo Family Computer the next year and serving as the kickoff point of an immensely popular franchise.
That the Kunio-kun series is still alive and kicking three decades and three years later despite one industry challenge after another speaks volumes of both the loyalty it has engendered and the quality for which it stands. Now owned by Arc System Works, titles in the intellectual property – which has branched out into seemingly disparate genres, including a variety of sports – boast of outstanding technical and artistic polish, uniquely quirky plots and premises, and engrossing gameplay designed to generate high replay value.
River City Girls is no exception. Featuring a lush color palette and rock music consistent with its retro sensibilities, it turns the hero narrative upside down by having familiar high-school characters Misako and Kyoko do the heavy lifting vice usual leads Kunio and Riki. After learning of their boyfriends' kidnapping, they're spurred to action — from detention, no less, in an obvious nod to their kickass predilections — out of Nekketsu High School, and deep within River City. The result is a rollicking ride that never feels fabricated or forced. To this end cutscenes and interactions laced with humor propel the narrative and help the presentation forge ahead.
Combat mechanics are excellent, in no small measure complemented by easy-to-master and lag-free controls. Difficulty ramps up over time, but never unfairly, and with an eye towards encouraging gamers to collect experience points and currency (earned from encounters) for use by Misako and Kyoko in raising stats, learning new moves, and purchasing battle-purpose gear and equipment. And while River City Girls has a clear end (Save Kunio and Riki!), it's far from linear; side-quests abound, and the attainment of their objectives yields accessories that provide percentage boosts to abilities and skills. It even has collectibles by way of Sabu statues and cats; finding all will net more bonuses, not to mention unlock the real final boss fight.
For all the open-world options, River City Girls isn't overly long. In single-player mode, it should be good for around 10 hours or so. That said, it earns its keep in cooperative mode. As with every other classic beat-em-'up title, it finds itself reaching new heights when enjoyed by two gamers who band together in beating up all the bad guys on screen. The shared experience can likewise smoothen any rough edges produced by grinding, and by the occasionally uneven pace. In any case, it proves well worth its $29.99 price tag. Highly recommended.
THE GOOD:
- Outstanding audio-visual presentation reminiscent of classic beat-'em-ups
- Deep and engrossing non-linear gameplay
- Superb cooperative mode
- Solid addition to the Kunio-kun franchise
THE BAD:
- Uneven pace
- Grinding required
- Side-quests can lead to time-consuming backtracking
RATING: 8.5/10
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