"River City Girls"
"River City Girls"
Reviewed By: Carless Yen
Publisher: Arc System Works, Wayforward, H2 Interactive
Developer: WayForward
Director: Adam Tierney and Bannon Rudis
Composers: Megan McDuffee, Chipzel,
NateWantsToBattle, Dale North, Christina Vee
Designers: Nick Garcia, Kay Yu
Programmers: James Guintu, Hayden Sterling, David To, Kameron Beck, Midori "Murasaki" Sato
Artist: Rem
Platforms: Switch, PS4, Steam, Xbox
I usually don't put all that info above about every single person almost responsible. but we don't always get games like "River City Girls" either. Every one on this project deserves their names in lights, and here at Gamer Guys and Gals they are going to get those lights. You already know how this review is going to end by the first few sentences and that is okay. Nearly everything about "River City Girls" is perfection. I never give perfect scores, but there is no way I couldn't do so for this title. Wayforward delivers again. The whole team does really. I went into this game really a little worried. I grew up on River City Ransom playing it nonstop with my buddies Jared and Wes. We loved everything about it. Getting your guy so powerful, and just running through enemies destroying them all with your really fun move sets and weapon choices. So when i saw this was coming I worried a lot it would let me down. I was wrong and should have known better when I saw WayForward attached to it. Before I even start to really get into it. I'm just going to say it right out this will be in my game of the year considerations, and it's going to take something truly amazing to come out to take that crown from it along with game soundtrack of the year as well. The composers on this game just killed it. They change up a lot of the old music from the original to make it fresh, and add some really killer new music as well. I found myself playing levels over just to hear certain songs. I found the soundtrack on Youtube now so that's good. Hopefully I can grab one of those physical releases, before they sell out with a soundtrack.
The art style is amazing as well. All the really amazing characters look awesome. There are cameos as well, and they look really great to. There is hilarious comic strips and cut scenes and they are just beautiful to look at, and hysterical. The levels all 6 different parts of the city just vary so much, and keep it from looking or feeling repetitive. I just couldn't wait to find the next area, and see what it looked like. Every thing just looks so good. It took three years to make this game and it shows. It looks , plays, and sounds nearly perfect. Only issue I had was when you choose to go to the next area you have to hit the "X" button. That is also the main attack button so you found yourself leaving in the middle of a intense battle or while looting for coin. That is the only issue I found with entire game. That is a easy fix so I didn't hold it against them. There is no way I could let something so minor effect the score on a masterpiece like this,
The voice acting is also outstanding. You really love and get a kick out of every character. From the main characters to even the store keepers. I don't know how many times I laughed out loud to a cut scene or something said in game. They story is just outstanding as well. I was drawn in from start to finish. never have I played a beatemup that delivered on this end so well. I'd have to go all the way back to "Scott Pilgrim":or "Castle Crashers" to find a beatemup to even come close to this quality. Also I know it has nothing to do with "River City Girls" but can we get "Scott Pilgrim on physical or back in the marketplace where it belongs. I'm tired of seeing amazing classics like it just disappear where younger fans don't get to experience it. There is a physical release for "River City Girls: with Limited Run Games but the preorders stop on the 27th. Do not miss out on owning this and putting it in the hands of Digital marketplaces. "Scott Pilgrim" a perfect example of what you have to lose when you don't grab a physical copy. I hope they don't sell out before I can grab mine.
Now we will go into the game a lot more. River City Girls stars Kyoko and Misako, two street-tough high-schoolers who must fight their way through the six regions of River City to rescue their kidnapped boyfriends, series mainstays Kunio and Riki. The girls are so funny and delightful, you won't want to step away from them until you finish, and even then you will be ready to go back in again after that. It follows the same game play as the original almost to a tee. You battle through areas defeating enemies who drop coins, you then use these coins to purchase food and personal items. All these items will upgrade your character making them stronger. The items only work once though as far as upgrading the abilities , but still deliver in recovering your stamina. That is main difference in the game in original you could just grind out coin, and buy things and make yourself a unstoppable force. That was a lot of fun to just run through the game with friends mowing down enemies. River City Girls keeps it pretty tough all the way to the end. I kind of wish at the end you'd get something to make you super strong for when you ran back through levels doing side quests, but I understand them not doing that as well. There are a ton of side quests to get a complete game so more than likely when you finish it you ill still have more to do , and buy. The Stats are
ST (Stamina):
SP (Special):
AT (Attack):
AG (Agility):
WP (Weapon):
LK (Luck):
When you purchase stuff it adds to these, and when you level up it does as well. You even learn new moves. There are a tons of moves you can learn from leveling up and also from purchasing them at a Dojo. Misako's Stone Hands or Kyoko's Dragon Feet you start with, and they use SP. The meter goes down when you use them, and grows as you hit and defeat enemies. You will also have guys surrender when your beating them up. You can recruit these characters to call in for help from time to time. They can really be useful in areas loaded with enemies. Pretty much every enemy an be recruited and have their own special attack when called in. The controls are pretty simple until you get into the many , many moves you can unlock. You have a light and strong attack, double tap a direction to run. You can also jump, and jump off walls. It performs perfectly in all the movements. I experienced no issues at all during my time with it.
There are so many cameos in this game as well. from the original game, Super Dodgeball, Double Dragon, and more. It was really exciting finding them hidden in there. I really need to wrap this up, but I just can't stop talking about River City Girls. As a reviewer it can get kind of stale.Playing things that feel the same over and over. When something like this jumps into your lap you remember why you do this. You remember why you love games and the gaming industry. I haven't felt close to this this year except for my time with Holmade Games "Purple Chicken Spaceman" both this and it will be in my head when it's time at the end of the year to talk about Game of the Year.Don't miss out on "River City Girls" especially if your a fan of Beatemups. as I close my review I also want to say if you have a young daughter you enjoy playing Coop games with introduce her to this. You can't have a better time gaming with some one then while playing a River City game. Also another really important last statement this is the type of female characters you want young growing women to identify with. Really strong female characters. I really applaud WayForward for going this direction, and think it deserves to be noticed and rewarded. We take a lot of pride in "And Gals" being in our name. and have thought about putting it first a lot of times, but it's a lot of things to change. This game does put the ladies first, and gives them the strength and power you like to see. So thank you River City Girls and thank you Wayforward for a unforgettable experience, and a game I'll remember the rest of my gaming life.
The art style is amazing as well. All the really amazing characters look awesome. There are cameos as well, and they look really great to. There is hilarious comic strips and cut scenes and they are just beautiful to look at, and hysterical. The levels all 6 different parts of the city just vary so much, and keep it from looking or feeling repetitive. I just couldn't wait to find the next area, and see what it looked like. Every thing just looks so good. It took three years to make this game and it shows. It looks , plays, and sounds nearly perfect. Only issue I had was when you choose to go to the next area you have to hit the "X" button. That is also the main attack button so you found yourself leaving in the middle of a intense battle or while looting for coin. That is the only issue I found with entire game. That is a easy fix so I didn't hold it against them. There is no way I could let something so minor effect the score on a masterpiece like this,
The voice acting is also outstanding. You really love and get a kick out of every character. From the main characters to even the store keepers. I don't know how many times I laughed out loud to a cut scene or something said in game. They story is just outstanding as well. I was drawn in from start to finish. never have I played a beatemup that delivered on this end so well. I'd have to go all the way back to "Scott Pilgrim":or "Castle Crashers" to find a beatemup to even come close to this quality. Also I know it has nothing to do with "River City Girls" but can we get "Scott Pilgrim on physical or back in the marketplace where it belongs. I'm tired of seeing amazing classics like it just disappear where younger fans don't get to experience it. There is a physical release for "River City Girls: with Limited Run Games but the preorders stop on the 27th. Do not miss out on owning this and putting it in the hands of Digital marketplaces. "Scott Pilgrim" a perfect example of what you have to lose when you don't grab a physical copy. I hope they don't sell out before I can grab mine.
Now we will go into the game a lot more. River City Girls stars Kyoko and Misako, two street-tough high-schoolers who must fight their way through the six regions of River City to rescue their kidnapped boyfriends, series mainstays Kunio and Riki. The girls are so funny and delightful, you won't want to step away from them until you finish, and even then you will be ready to go back in again after that. It follows the same game play as the original almost to a tee. You battle through areas defeating enemies who drop coins, you then use these coins to purchase food and personal items. All these items will upgrade your character making them stronger. The items only work once though as far as upgrading the abilities , but still deliver in recovering your stamina. That is main difference in the game in original you could just grind out coin, and buy things and make yourself a unstoppable force. That was a lot of fun to just run through the game with friends mowing down enemies. River City Girls keeps it pretty tough all the way to the end. I kind of wish at the end you'd get something to make you super strong for when you ran back through levels doing side quests, but I understand them not doing that as well. There are a ton of side quests to get a complete game so more than likely when you finish it you ill still have more to do , and buy. The Stats are
ST (Stamina):
SP (Special):
AT (Attack):
AG (Agility):
WP (Weapon):
LK (Luck):
When you purchase stuff it adds to these, and when you level up it does as well. You even learn new moves. There are a tons of moves you can learn from leveling up and also from purchasing them at a Dojo. Misako's Stone Hands or Kyoko's Dragon Feet you start with, and they use SP. The meter goes down when you use them, and grows as you hit and defeat enemies. You will also have guys surrender when your beating them up. You can recruit these characters to call in for help from time to time. They can really be useful in areas loaded with enemies. Pretty much every enemy an be recruited and have their own special attack when called in. The controls are pretty simple until you get into the many , many moves you can unlock. You have a light and strong attack, double tap a direction to run. You can also jump, and jump off walls. It performs perfectly in all the movements. I experienced no issues at all during my time with it.
There are so many cameos in this game as well. from the original game, Super Dodgeball, Double Dragon, and more. It was really exciting finding them hidden in there. I really need to wrap this up, but I just can't stop talking about River City Girls. As a reviewer it can get kind of stale.Playing things that feel the same over and over. When something like this jumps into your lap you remember why you do this. You remember why you love games and the gaming industry. I haven't felt close to this this year except for my time with Holmade Games "Purple Chicken Spaceman" both this and it will be in my head when it's time at the end of the year to talk about Game of the Year.Don't miss out on "River City Girls" especially if your a fan of Beatemups. as I close my review I also want to say if you have a young daughter you enjoy playing Coop games with introduce her to this. You can't have a better time gaming with some one then while playing a River City game. Also another really important last statement this is the type of female characters you want young growing women to identify with. Really strong female characters. I really applaud WayForward for going this direction, and think it deserves to be noticed and rewarded. We take a lot of pride in "And Gals" being in our name. and have thought about putting it first a lot of times, but it's a lot of things to change. This game does put the ladies first, and gives them the strength and power you like to see. So thank you River City Girls and thank you Wayforward for a unforgettable experience, and a game I'll remember the rest of my gaming life.
Pros: Beautiful art style (Comics,Characters, Cutscenes)
Really cool characters and bosses tons variety
Strong Female leads and characters
Maybe best soundtrack in a game of all-times
Limitless moves and items
Tons of replay
The areas, enemies, and bosses all unique
Really cool characters and bosses tons variety
Strong Female leads and characters
Maybe best soundtrack in a game of all-times
Limitless moves and items
Tons of replay
The areas, enemies, and bosses all unique
Cons: Need to change the next area button. Something other then the main attack button.
Overall: 10 River City Girls is the best beatemup of the year, and quite possibly all times. It delivers perfection with near flawless game play. beautiful art style, hilarious story and voice acting, and a soundtrack i'll be enjoying for years to come. Don't miss out on "River City Girls" you'll regret it.
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