River City Ransom

So, first time in quite a while I beat a NES game. I found this at a local comic book shop for cheap and got it since I had never played this classic.

River City Ransom

Overall:

River City Ransom is a Brawler/RPG on the NES. Ryan's (oddly the second player character you would probably not use in a single player game) girlfriend has been kidnapped by "Slick" who controls various gangs of high school students throughout the city. To get her back you have to fight through the city, defeat bosses, and get upgrades and new techniques to kick more ass. The game plays as a brawler but the damage you do depends on your stat for that type of attack, your speed on your agility stat, ect. The action is broken up by various malls that contain a variety of shops where you can purchase stat upgrades and get health restored (in this way the money the gang members drop acts as exp and money). It all leads to a final battle at the top of River City High School for the fate of your (friend's) girlfriend and the school itself.

Pros:

This is a unique little game in that while brawlers were common back in the day and RPGs certainly existed and became more popular later on, few games combined the two to the extent this one did(+0.75). Sure some brawlers would have minor RPG elements or you would have action RPGs, but each of those were mostly one or the other. So I give the game kudos for mixing both genres in an enjoyable manner. The game also has a quirky "So bad it's good" plot and dialogue that made it a cult classic in America(+0.50).

Another nice part of the game is the 2 player co-op available which changes things up a little bit since you and your friend are competing for the same amount of money and you can throw each other to high points or fight one another if the mood strikes you(+0.75).

The weapons are a nice addition and you get a variety to choose from that range from fairly fast with reach to slow and short range to spice up your standard brawler punch, jump, and kick mechanics (+0.50). You also get some neat unexpected interactions with them such as batting some thrown objects back at enemies if you have the lead pipe or being able to jump on rolling tires to run over your opponents(+0.25). The graphics, while not cutting edge by today's standards of course, are clear and you know what's going on the screen and it has a distinctive style that is recognizable(+0.50). +3.25

Cons:

The game is fairly short and even if you do go to max out your stats you're looking at only a few hour long game, less if you don't grind too much though being a NES game I suppose I can cut it a little slack in the length department(-0.25). Speaking of grinding, unless you're experienced with the game or similar ones to it, you'll probably have to grind for money a little bit more then you want to(-0.50).

Certain techniques are a little overpowered, such as the three that let you do three lightning quick punches, kicks, or weapon attacks and a lot of the food items you can buy aren't worth the money (and it's hard to remember what gives stat boosts to what unless you use a guide or write down a whole lot of stuff)(-0.25). The music isn't terribly memorable either(-0.25).

You do get a few annoying instant death pits but they're kept sparse(-0.25). Sometimes you feel like the enemies get some cheap hits in, especially when you're down and they pick you up and throw you around a couple of times before you can do anything(-.50). -2.00

Overall Rating:8.25/10

Closing Remarks:

This is a classic NES game I would recommend to anyone who owns a NES and enjoys brawlers and RPGs but doesn't mind a little more grinding then the average RPG. It's simple and fun and goofy enough to be something you remember and laugh at it in points but not so goofy that it gets on your nerves. It has a few hic-cups here and there and there is only so much you can do with 2 buttons and a D-pad but it's still an enjoyable game, even decades later.