Cyndi has been kidnapped by Slick, and it is up to Cyndi's boyfriend Ryan and his brother Alex to rescue her.Cyndi has been kidnapped by Slick, and it is up to Cyndi's boyfriend Ryan and his brother Alex to rescue her.Cyndi has been kidnapped by Slick, and it is up to Cyndi's boyfriend Ryan and his brother Alex to rescue her.
- Directors
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDespite what a first-time player might think, the enemies aren't randomly generated. Each of the gangs has nine pre-defined members, each with his own specific name, appearance, and even different stats.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Gamesmaster: Episode #2.4 (1992)
Featured review
River City Warriors
This is another of my favorite video games of all time, favorite games for the NES, and favorite for the beat em up genre. Much like a long flowing river this franchise has really came a long way; at first at least in the States this game wasn't a big hit but as time went on it's became a sleeper cult gem and there have been plenty of follow up sequels and even a spin off series called "River City Girls". This game was even homage in the graphic novel miniseries/movie "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" and the video game based on it utilizes the same gaming mechanics as the NES game furthering it's homage. "River City Ransom" is an official landmark in the beat em up genre that's here to stay.
The game was a novelty at the time as the game was a combination of two genres as one, which are the action RPG and beat em up genre. This turned out a beautiful combination that just once again shows how you can still do more with both genres. The game to me was the closest we had to an NES video game adaptation of the movie "The Warriors" as the story in the game is a little similar.
The plotline is simple as you and your buddy must rescue your significant others but also save the city as it's under gangland occupation. Yeah, it's the kind of plotline you probably seen and heard from plenty of 80's and 90's action films, but that part of why I love it.
As a kid of the 80s and 90s, the action film genre was one of my biggest loves, so playing a video game that gives you the feel of actually being an action hero in a action movie was just mind blowing. And also simplistic plotlines and story are all you need sometimes in the action RPG and beat em up genre, because it at least lets you know immediately what your doing, you purpose, just straight to the point; as opposed to right now where some games even TV shows have this stupid need to overcomplicate things which by it's nature is just stalling crap.
Really like the music which is memorable as this game has plenty of track, one most notably is the one you hear on the first level and most of the game as well as the theme for the whole series. It's one of my favorite video game tracks of all time, really like how the track has kind of that tough gritty street gangster and warfare feel to it; it just motivates you to beat every opponent that dares to cross your path.
The gameplay is great, it's the kind you'd expect from the beat em up games, however they added a lot to it to make it more interesting than before, mainly the RPG elements involved. Like whenever you punch out and even defeat enemies, you see coins appear. From when you get further in the game your life goes up and you gain some new techniques to give you more variety and power in attacks. There are stores where you can buy some items to use and take with you.
Really like how the game has that Asian atmosphere which makes sense as this game is from overseas and the River City series is based in Japan. Most of those stores consist of Japanese Restaurant and Bakeries where you can buy an egg roll to refill your lost lives or even take with you a hum bow or sweet roll to eat when absolutely needed. Those things in a way make the game a little educational as it gives us a little glimpse into Japanese culture.
Really like the assortment of weapons you weld that are as numerous as any Jackie Chan film. From the conventional kinds like pipes which you can swing like bats or thrown at opponents, along with trash cans, tires but the most interesting kind is being able to use your opponents as weapons. When you knock them down on the ground, you can pick them up, swing them like any weapon or throw them at your opponent's doing damage.
I like that you even see some plot progression as you fight on and go from one place to the other, I wouldn't say it's anything too extraordinary now, but at the time it was somewhat mind-blowing seeing how a beat em up can not just feel more than just a simple fighting trek from point A to B, but actually a journey where you really feel like your in a big city that has plenty of places to go and plenty to do; all to get toward your end goal.
I really like the sense of humor this game has as it really doesn't take itself seriously, after all your controlling characters that look almost like characters from the "Dick Tracy" comics. As you see your hero characters with the square jaws alone with heads and bodies to make them look more heroic. And the bad guys all look mean and some ugly as though they could be more editions to Dick Tracy's rogue gallery. I like seeing the expressions when you bring on the hurting to your opponents, it's kind of funny as they seem like funny expression of pain that you might see like from the "Three Stooges" comedy shorts. But also, just the absolute crazy and even absurd violent nature of the game, after all your are using other guys as weapons.
For beat em up genre fans or even retro game fans in genre, this city is worth visiting to see where it all began and like a flowing river continues.
Rating: 4 stars.
The game was a novelty at the time as the game was a combination of two genres as one, which are the action RPG and beat em up genre. This turned out a beautiful combination that just once again shows how you can still do more with both genres. The game to me was the closest we had to an NES video game adaptation of the movie "The Warriors" as the story in the game is a little similar.
The plotline is simple as you and your buddy must rescue your significant others but also save the city as it's under gangland occupation. Yeah, it's the kind of plotline you probably seen and heard from plenty of 80's and 90's action films, but that part of why I love it.
As a kid of the 80s and 90s, the action film genre was one of my biggest loves, so playing a video game that gives you the feel of actually being an action hero in a action movie was just mind blowing. And also simplistic plotlines and story are all you need sometimes in the action RPG and beat em up genre, because it at least lets you know immediately what your doing, you purpose, just straight to the point; as opposed to right now where some games even TV shows have this stupid need to overcomplicate things which by it's nature is just stalling crap.
Really like the music which is memorable as this game has plenty of track, one most notably is the one you hear on the first level and most of the game as well as the theme for the whole series. It's one of my favorite video game tracks of all time, really like how the track has kind of that tough gritty street gangster and warfare feel to it; it just motivates you to beat every opponent that dares to cross your path.
The gameplay is great, it's the kind you'd expect from the beat em up games, however they added a lot to it to make it more interesting than before, mainly the RPG elements involved. Like whenever you punch out and even defeat enemies, you see coins appear. From when you get further in the game your life goes up and you gain some new techniques to give you more variety and power in attacks. There are stores where you can buy some items to use and take with you.
Really like how the game has that Asian atmosphere which makes sense as this game is from overseas and the River City series is based in Japan. Most of those stores consist of Japanese Restaurant and Bakeries where you can buy an egg roll to refill your lost lives or even take with you a hum bow or sweet roll to eat when absolutely needed. Those things in a way make the game a little educational as it gives us a little glimpse into Japanese culture.
Really like the assortment of weapons you weld that are as numerous as any Jackie Chan film. From the conventional kinds like pipes which you can swing like bats or thrown at opponents, along with trash cans, tires but the most interesting kind is being able to use your opponents as weapons. When you knock them down on the ground, you can pick them up, swing them like any weapon or throw them at your opponent's doing damage.
I like that you even see some plot progression as you fight on and go from one place to the other, I wouldn't say it's anything too extraordinary now, but at the time it was somewhat mind-blowing seeing how a beat em up can not just feel more than just a simple fighting trek from point A to B, but actually a journey where you really feel like your in a big city that has plenty of places to go and plenty to do; all to get toward your end goal.
I really like the sense of humor this game has as it really doesn't take itself seriously, after all your controlling characters that look almost like characters from the "Dick Tracy" comics. As you see your hero characters with the square jaws alone with heads and bodies to make them look more heroic. And the bad guys all look mean and some ugly as though they could be more editions to Dick Tracy's rogue gallery. I like seeing the expressions when you bring on the hurting to your opponents, it's kind of funny as they seem like funny expression of pain that you might see like from the "Three Stooges" comedy shorts. But also, just the absolute crazy and even absurd violent nature of the game, after all your are using other guys as weapons.
For beat em up genre fans or even retro game fans in genre, this city is worth visiting to see where it all began and like a flowing river continues.
Rating: 4 stars.
helpful•00
- hellraiser7
- Mar 15, 2023
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- Also known as
- River City Ransom EX
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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