River City Ransom

Almost anyone who is even remotely interested in videogames has heard of Double Dragon. For many it is one of the most beloved games on the NES and has been immortalized in numerous comic books, cartoons and even a full-length feature film. Judging by all the attention that Double Dragon has received over the years, it must certainly be the best fighting game on NES, right? Wrong. The title of ‘Best Brawler on the NES’ goes to a lesser-known cult classic by the name of River City Ransom.

I really wish this game would make a comeback on the GBA, or have an updated sequel, a la Super Dodgeball. If you haven't played this one yet, go find yourself a ROM or an old cart so you can experience the joy that is beat beating the tar out of the folks Cross Town High School.

So River City Ransom is a classic, cult-followed, NES brawler that's still as deep and engaging as it was in the 8-bit era, and is made even better today by its arrival on the Virtual Console. There are very few other co-op capable NES titles that are still this accessible and fun after all these years, so you'd be very wise to find a friend and put down 500 Wii Points for a download of this one. (And good luck saving your girlfriend.)

OK, so it's not up to par audiovisually with a game like Streets of Rage 2. Big deal! River City Ransom can take on any 16-bit fighting game and emerge victorious in the long haul. Screw the 16, 32, and 64 bit revolution! Few games for any of these formats exhibit the omni-enticing play that RCR and the NES deliver.

In definitiva, credo che abbiate già capito che questo gioco ha stregato subito il sottoscritto dal momento stesso in cui l’ha comprato una decina di anni fa! Io lo uso ancora ogni tanto per ricordare i pomeriggi e le serate trascorse davanti alla televisione con i miei amici ma anche perché no, per sfogarmi un po’ e scaricare le tensioni.

When Game Informer readers paged through the last issue, and noticed that River City Ransom didn't make our Top 100 Games of All Time list, a low, guttural groan could be heard through every corner of this great country. RCR was among the best-loved NES titles out there, and perhaps the system's most popular beat-em-up.

The backgrounds offer some simple but attractive scenery including bright city skylines and scenic canals. The bottom of the screen displays colorful dialogue, most notably "BARF!!" when a thug is defeated. Perhaps the game's most innovative feature is how you earn and spend money to restore your life, raise your attributes, and acquire new moves. There are four shopping malls, each with a different set of stores. When using the gym sauna, you see your character's bare ass, which looks hilarious. River City Ransom provides a password save, but this thing is huge! I'm not sure I could write it down without making a mistake. It's also possible to find yourself "stuck" and unsure how to proceed, which happened to me and my friend George. Despite its minor flaws however, River City Ransom is a quality two-player beat-em-up that has withstood the test of time better than most.

Those who didn't grow up with this title may not be quite as charmed with it as old fans, but many of them will still enjoy it. The RPG-infused brawling may seem a little thin today, meaning River City Ransom will probably become a cult classic for the second time.

The Generic Boys giving you trouble? Can't seem to get across the Clark Street Bridge alone? Well my friend, Technos has give you the solution. Just holler for your best NES buddy and the two of you can take'em on at the same time! It's the roughest, toughest, two-fisted, put up your dukes street brawl ever-River City Ransom!

The lack of any real 2-player action will most likely be a huge downer for a large group of people. Whether or not you can accept this major change will likely decide on how much enjoyment you'll get out of the cart. If it's not too big of problem, you'll find the same amount of enjoyment here that you did back when you first discovered the game. Very little has been changed in the gameplay area. If by some chance you've never been given the opportunity to play through the original, this is a great way to start.

Overall, the game kicks ass. It is simple, cartoonish, and funny, but still has many functions in the game that are more advanced than the serious games of this time. Clearly, no NES collection is complete without this game. I'd buy it myself, but that's the beauty of long term borrowing -- Sooner or later they forget.

If you heard and believed the hype that this is one of the greatest NES games of all time, you may be disappointed. If you are looking for an entertaining, option-loaded, two-player simultaneous beat ‘em up you are in business.

All nostalgia aside, this is a fun, if fairly repetitive beat 'em up that will likely seem a bit dated to younger fans.

However, prospective buyers should be forewarned that the absence of the original’s co-op mode is a significant blow against the replay-ability of this title, and the relative shortness of the overall game. Still, good classic fun, and a decent booster shot to the old gamers who pine for the games of yesteryear.

Sadly there is a big flaw for that idea, the game is short, too short to be able to raise well your character before reaching the end.

Apesar dos pesares, o potencial do jogo ainda é enorme. Ele oferece MUITA diversão para quem ignorar seus terríveis problemas técnicos e uma certa dificuldade de compreender sua profundidade nos primeiros minutos. A aventura dura cerca de duas horas, mas o jogo pode ser repetido centenas de vezes sem perder a graça, exatamente como o original. "River City Ransom EX" é uma boa aposta para saudosistas, mas, sem os olhos de quem já conhece as qualidades da série, a diversão pode acabar em desapontando.

Há apenas uma fase, na qual todos os inimigos devem ser enfrentados para se chegar na porta que dará acesso à luta final. Mas, para abrir a porta, será necessário antes comprar um livro na biblioteca, que lhe ensinará o segredo.