Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story
- November 7, 2019
- Arc System Works
Despite what its title might suggest, Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story really doesn’t have much of a story to tell.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreReiho High School's Big Four is a group of students feared by all other schools among the students there was one who reigned, garnering the title of 'Mr.' from even his classmates… His name was Kobayashi. He fought Kunio under Yamada's orders and lost.... However, Kobayashi knew he hadn't fought giving all he had. What on earth is he planning? Depending on your choices you may find the answer.
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Reviews
- The game features great sprite work and enjoyable music, reminiscent of classic Kunio games.
- Combat mechanics can be fun once mastered, with unique character abilities and a team system that adds depth.
- The game offers a quick playthrough with replayability due to multiple endings and a focus on speedrunning.
- The overall design is poor, with frustrating boss fights and a lack of meaningful exploration or progression.
- Gameplay is overly simplistic, with only one attack button and no grapples or blocking, leading to repetitive combat.
- Excessive dialogue and a convoluted plot detract from the experience, making it feel more like a chore than a game.
- story9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being overly serious and filled with excessive dialogue, detracting from the overall experience typical of beat-em-ups. While it features a standard time-travel plot common in Japanese spin-offs, the narrative lacks depth and engagement, leading to a repetitive gameplay experience with minimal impact from character choices. Overall, the story fails to elevate the game, leaving players wanting more substance and variety.
“The plot is... where to begin... okay, if you have only played River City Ransom, the zombies gang leaders were actually the localized version of the rough and tumble school council members of the bad guy school.”
“He actually had a really good story arc in the excellent remake of RCR on 3DS called River City Rival Showdown, wherein he may have been a bad guy but he wasn't fully... you know, whatever forget it.”
“At worst, a plot like that should be hilariously stupid, but this game takes it dead seriously.”
“However, none of that really amounts to anything but different conversations, and with this game's dialogue and story as dull as they are, it's not worth it.”
“The story is typical for a Japanese-oriented spin-off (time-travel plot of weirdness) and the game is kind of short.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san" has been criticized as some of the worst in the Kunio franchise, featuring simplistic combat mechanics and a lack of engaging features typical of better beat-em-ups. While it includes RPG elements and boasts a solid soundtrack, the overall experience is deemed mediocre, with many reviewers recommending players stick to the original "River City Ransom" for a more enjoyable gameplay experience.
“In series tradition, this game does have some sort of RPG mechanics, initially tucked so far away that one may not even realize.”
“It may be 'built for quick replay' but you can beat the original River City Ransom in about half an hour anyway and it actually has fun and interesting gameplay features instead of just a load of nonsense.”
“Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san is the latest in the River City series; the game itself has different gameplay compared to River City Girls and River City Ransom Underground, so it might seem a little clunky at first.”
“Some of the worst gameplay in the Kunio franchise.”
“The moment this game's deeper mechanics are no longer needed to win, it becomes much more like the worst beat-em-ups.”
“Combat mechanics are very simple (no grabs!). Avoid it at all costs if you like good beat 'em ups.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its quality and variety, with standout tracks that enhance the experience despite the gameplay being described as solid yet repetitive. While some compositions are short and loop frequently, the overall score is enjoyable, though it may not be memorable within the series. However, the integration of dialogue with the music can be distracting for players.
“To help you through the solid-but-one-note gameplay, the game does live up to the Kunio pedigree in one regard: it has some fantastic music.”
“At least the music and sprite work is nice.”
“As solid as Meghan McDuffie's score for River City Girls was, most tracks only ran for a very short time before looping, not composed to be much longer since more individual areas had their own music.”
“This song, like the original RCR theme, wails on long and varied, as different instruments come in and take solos, and it's tragic that it won't likely be remembered as one of the top musical themes in the series.”
“Hearing the boss' constant dialogue mixed in with the music was giving me a headache (you have to fight 30 yellow enemies to get the fight in the first place).”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely criticized for its lack of comedic elements, with a plot that is taken too seriously rather than embracing a hilariously absurd tone. Players find it unfunny and often pretentious, detracting from the overall experience without providing any engaging or useful content.
“The humor in this game is brilliantly absurd, making even the most ridiculous situations feel entertaining.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the clever puns and witty dialogue throughout the game.”
“The game's quirky characters and their hilarious interactions kept me engaged and entertained from start to finish.”
“It's not funny, it's not interesting, and it's rarely ever useful to playing the game.”
“It occasionally gets pretentiously philosophical about the utility of emotions.”
“There is no fast-skip option for the humor, making it even more tedious.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is hindered by a lack of variety and engaging worldbuilding, despite its original team system providing initial interest. While designed for quick play, the absence of leveling and stat enhancements may deter some players, contributing to a negative difficulty curve that affects long-term enjoyment.
“Some people will dislike it because of the lack of leveling and stat enhancements compared to previous titles, but it's meant to be a quick game with replayability.”
“The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough, and I found little incentive to dive back in.”
“While the initial experience is enjoyable, there isn't enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
Critic Reviews
Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story Review
Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story is a mundane beat 'em up that's held aloft by a couple clever ideas. The combat is fun at first, but the doldrums set in long before completing the first of potentially many play-throughs. Some fights, particularly the finale, definitely could've used a few tweaks. Still, figuring out the fastest route to the end is really cool. It gives the adventure a tinge of replay-value. However, unless you "have" to play every game in the River City Ransom canon, then this won't catch your interest.
50%Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story (Nintendo Switch)
Sadly lacking all the options seen in previous entries, Stay Cool Kobayashi-san! may entertain longtime Kunio-kun fans but others will find it bare bones and forgettable.
40%Stay Cool, Kobayashi-sai!: A River City Ransom Story (Switch) Review
Not All Stories Are Worth Telling.
50%
