Customer Reviews

River City Ransom

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

River City Ransom Ex is a radically enhanced version of the cult classic NES side-scrolling fighter that tries to be faithful to its progenitor roots. In River City Ransom Ex, you can still play as Ryan or Alex, but the game's real allure is customizing your own characters and recruiting a three-deep hoodlum posse of your own. Players can customize everything from characters' physical appearances to NPC A.I. to in-game physics.
Unfortunately, the original formula of super-deformed deviant tiny boppers and gameplay variety loses its charm amiss all the new enhancements and customizations. Many of the new techniques look cool, but they're way too powerful. Once you've earned enough money to buy a few techniques the game is essentially over. There isn't any incentive to build up and customize your characters at all. Despite the flaw, River City Ransom Ex is a decent addition to the handheld fighter genre, and if players can discipline themselves not to buy many of the all-powerful techniques, River City Ransom Ex can be a cool gaming experience.

The NES version of River City Ransom was an amazing variation on Double Dragon. RPG elements, the ability to block, a strange cast of characters, hardcore nudity (not really) and free smiles all worked to make this into a memorable title.

The GBA version has all that, but it stumbles in the RPG styled character customization. Atlus tweaked a bunch of the moves, which work together to destroy any challenge and balance the original game had. For example, Acro Cirrus in the NES version was just a flip that damaged enemies. You could beef up your stats, and it could be fairly strong. In the GBA version, it became the somersault of doom. You character will keep rocketing along damaging anything in their path. Once you get this ability, the game effectively ends since no enemy or boss can shut it down once you start pinballing around the stages.

The new purely cosmetic character customization features are interesting, losing the password system in favor of a save file is nice. The graphics are improved over the NES version and the music is faithful to the source material. If they hadn't messed around with the special attacks you can buy with no consideration to game balance, this game would've gotten a much better rating from me.

River City Ransom for the NES was a classic game. However, the port to GBA brought no effort into making this game better or functional for a handheld. Atlus Software looked to cash in on a popular title and spent the minimal effort necessary to create this cartridge.

I'm not going to criticize what RCR is as a game. But here's what I think you should be aware of before purchasing the GBA version.

- Poor menus. The game immediately begins with two choices, "Story" and "Manage Data." The Manage Data option doesn't even allow you to load a game...you first need to begin a new game and then load. I'd think this could have been improved.

- Screen errors. The game plays in sort of a letterbox mode, but your computer partner and opponents are able to appear below this black bar, and run around offscreen. I believe I remember this bug from the original, but it shouldn't have made it into this updated version.

- Dual-button jump. The GBA has 4 buttons A,B,L,R like the SNES...so I can't understand why I still need to push AB at the same time to jump. L and R aren't even used during actual gameplay. The GBA form makes dual-button moves trickier than a NES controller, and I wish Atlus would have considered that.

I do enjoy River City Ransom as a game, but the presentation and delivery makes me reconsider this purchase. It's sad to see developers offering no effort in the delivery of a title like this, instead choosing to sell the name and hope to cash in with fans.

very addictive game. the shops are fun and the stuff you can buy is really wacky. fun to play indeed! >w<

I never played the original, but this "newer" version is fun. The only downside is that even though there is a save option it only saves the money and items you have earned, not your progress in the story. Other than that, it has nice RPG elements (buying food and items at stores), and goofy dialogue. A must for old school gamers.

this game will be awesome! To this day I still hold RCR in high regards as one of my favorite games.

In NES:
You beat up evil gang members and "boses" to earn money, your safety, and to move on to a new section. There are a few different gangs, each dress differently and have different power levels. You can use various items as weapons. Such as trash cans, metal chains, sticks, metal poles, brass knuckles, and tires. You can "ride" certain weapons or an enemy when they are thrown. Once you clear out a section (such as an ally) no more gang members will return until you leave and re-enter.

As in most classic RPGs, you lose half your money if you die. If you are playing two characters, then each guy has his own cash that can't be given to the other.

You eat different foods and vitamins to regain health and up stats. Some foods can be carried along with you between towns, most have to be eaten right after ordered. You'll need to learn which foods are best for health and stat gain for the price.
To become a better fighter and learn special skills, read certain books. Not all books are worth the cost, though. There are also items such as shoes, which serve no real purpose.

Most of the mini bosses (the music changes when you are about to battle a mini boss, so you have a warning) regenerate if you leave the screen and go back. Quick cash!

Hopefully, the passwords (if there are any) will be MUCH sorter than they were for NES. That was the one and only major con! Of course, fighting the same enemies over and over can be boring... so find a weapon to wield or throw, even if it's another character. ^_~

I remember I was really little when I played this game. In Asia, who doesn't know this game?
I love it. One point is off tho because this game is toooooooo short. I finished the whole game in 2 hours.

i bought this game on the assumption that it was going to be indentical to the original. NOPE! the techniques bought are difficult to perform. if anybody remembers how the acro circus worked, it was like ryan or alex would jump and spin, hit the enemy and you could either kick or punch them. in this gba version, alex/ryan just spins and spins like a bowling ball! i mean seriously you can spin your way to the end of the game. i beat the game once like that. this game doesn't even play like the original. atlus tweaked this game too much for my taste. if you had good feelings about the original NES game, i don't recommend playing this one. i feel really gipped about buying it.

This game was originally released for the NES a while back, and now, it's for the Gameboy Advance! However, I've only played the NES version, so I'll give my ratings based upon that.

Plot: 5/5
This plot is very original. Some teenager named Slick has kidnapped Alex's (you play as Alex in the game) girlfriend, and has recruited a huge evil gang and taken over the River City highschool! It's up to you to fight Slick's massive gang head-on and rescue your girlfriend. Don't forget that you can do co-op mode, using two players to win the game! Each time you defent a gang member, you gain money to spend at restaurants to buy food (to replenish health), shoes (no reason; just looks cool) and a few others. Also, you can wield countless different weapons, such as trash cans, chains, even baseball bats!!! Or, you could just PICK UP A GANG MEMBER and chuck him at the others! Note: You can also do this with your teammate.

Graphics: 5/5
Wow, the graphics look so solid! You can tell different objects apart from each other, and you can actually tell houses from shops. Overall, great graphics! Also, many gang memebers look different from each other, which is realistic. They also say stuff before you knock them out.

Music: 4/5
Very cool theme music when you're running down the street, but might get a little boring after a few hours.

Controls: 5/5
Easy! You can walk, run, kick, jump, punch, jump-kick, use weapons and throw people. MOST (not all) of these moves require the A and B buttons. To run, simply double-tap a vertical direction on your control pad, but if you hit large objects such as a telephone pole while doing this, you'll lose health.

OVERRALL score: 5/5
This is really a great game, and I recommend it to anyone with a taste for gaming. There is also a password for each level. Write each one down so that way you won't have to start from the first area all over again. Well, have fun with this treasure!

Ok, let me try and explain this calmly,

THIS IS NOT A 2 PLAYER GAME!

I know it says it is, I know the original low tech 8 bit NES version was but

THIS IS NOT A 2 PLAYER GAME!

For some totally moronic reason the people who made this version in Japan decided not to make a 2 player co-op mode. Futhermore, the good people at ATLAS<publisher of many fine games> decided that a 2 player mode who take too long to program in on thier own, so once again

THIS IS NOT A 2 PLAYER GAME!

The reason there's even a link cable on the back is because you can swap "player data" between two game packs. But,

THIS IS NOT A 2 PLAYER GAME!

Ok, with that said, it's a brilliant game, REALLY GOOD. It's just really sad that

THIS IS NOT A 2 PLAYER GAME!

As far as I know it never will be, maybe if I (and everyone else who is angry right now) calls up ATLAS, returns thier game and explains why, someday maybe we'll see a real 2 player follow up to one of the greatest 2 PLAYER games of all time.