River City: Rival Showdown

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 36 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
River City: Rival Showdown Game Cover
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River City Ransom has been updated with enhanced graphics, tightened controls, and online play in River City: Rival Showdown. In this single-player mode, players can craft their own story and unlock various endings by battling through three days of high school hostilities, while utilizing new special techniques and ultra moves to defeat adversaries. A 2D fighting game mode is also included for even more action-packed fun.

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Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews
graphics3 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The game is a well-executed remake of the classic NES title, expanding on the original's story and world-building.
  • The input issues have been fixed, making the controls responsive and enjoyable to use.
  • The game features multiple endings and a free-roam system that enhances replayability and player choice.
  • Some players experienced persistent controller issues, even after following recommended fixes.
  • The game feels smaller in scope compared to previous entries in the series, with fewer shop options and areas to explore.
  • The time limit mechanic can be frustrating for players who prefer to grind and explore at their own pace.
  • story22 mentions

    The story in this remake of "Downtown Nekketsu Story" is praised for being more fleshed out and humorous compared to the original, offering a free-roam system that allows players to engage in quests over a three-day period. While the narrative is engaging and offers new perspectives and storylines, some players find the time-sensitive quests and the need to replay for harder difficulties to be frustrating. Overall, it is considered one of the best in the beat 'em up genre, appealing to both fans and newcomers alike.

    • “Story-wise, it's the best beat 'em up game.”
    • “I love the fact that the story is better fleshed out and has even more humor than the NES version.”
    • “This game is a re-telling of Downtown Nekketsu Story (the Japanese version of River City Ransom) that drastically changes the gameplay when compared, but has a far more involved story that kept me pretty invested on my first playthrough.”
    • “Queen Hasebe is still unplayable in the story mode.”
    • “Since quests are time sensitive, you can miss certain events, which drags the 3 days out as you spend almost every hour searching for events.”
    • “Also, the difficulty and focusing on timed story elements can be frustrating.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics in the game are highly praised for their quality, with a significant overhaul that brings the vibrant world of River City to life, enhanced by detailed NPCs and a dynamic day/night cycle absent in the NES version. Players report smooth performance even on mid-range hardware, contributing to an overall positive visual experience.

    • “The graphics overhaul with NPCs brings River City, aka Yumemicho, to life.”
    • “Good graphics, great controls, and it has a day/night feature not present in the NES version.”
    • “Even my laptop runs it just fine (Ryzen 7 CPU with AMD Radeon graphics).”
  • gameplay3 mentions

    The gameplay retains much of the classic feel of the original while introducing positive changes, such as improved combat mechanics and quality of life enhancements. The game offers a refreshing retelling of the classic 1989 title, featuring new ultra moves and sprites, alongside a more engaging story that enhances player investment. Overall, it successfully balances nostalgia with modern improvements.

    • “The gameplay, the music, the quality of life improvements, the new ultra moves, new sprites, and the overall refreshing retelling of the classic 1989 original.”
    • “Everything with the gameplay I've seen so far has, for the most part, been kept the same, with a few positive changes made to things like the combat and other general quality of life changes that were made in Three Kingdoms.”
    • “This game is a retelling of Downtown Nekketsu Story (the Japanese version of River City Ransom) that drastically changes the gameplay when compared to the original, but has a far more involved story that kept me pretty invested during my first playthrough.”
    • “Everything with the gameplay I've seen so far has, for the most part, been kept the same, with a few positive changes being made to things like the combat and other general quality of life changes that were made in Three Kingdoms.”
    • “This game is a retelling of Downtown Nekketsu Story (the Japanese version of River City Ransom) that drastically changes the gameplay when compared, but has a far more involved story that kept me pretty invested on my first playthrough.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the enhanced storytelling and increased humor in the game compared to the NES version, highlighting that the comedic elements are more developed and engaging.

    • “I love the fact that the story is better fleshed out and has even more humor than the NES version.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that the game runs smoothly and performs well, particularly highlighting its impressive visuals on OLED displays.

    • “It runs great and looks fantastic on an OLED.”
    • “The game maintains a smooth frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
    • “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a seamless gaming experience.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its quality and contribution to the overall experience, enhancing the gameplay and complementing the refreshing retelling of the classic 1989 original.

    • “The gameplay, the music, the quality of life improvements, the new ultra moves, new sprites, and the overall refreshing retelling of the classic 1989 original.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its five distinct endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.

    • “With its offerings of 5 different endings, this game is tailor-made for replayability!”
    • “The variety of choices and paths you can take makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
    • “I love how every decision impacts the story, encouraging me to replay and explore different outcomes.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users report that the game's optimization is lacking, particularly highlighting issues with frame rates (fps) that are not resolved by adjusting Steam input settings. Overall, the consensus is that the optimization needs significant improvement.

    • “On the boards, they say it's an FPS issue regarding this problem, so let's stop pretending the fix is the Steam inputs; the optimization on this product isn't good.”
    • “The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the recommended requirements, indicating serious optimization issues.”
    • “I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, which makes the game nearly unplayable; the optimization needs a lot of work.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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