STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY

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.

35%Game Brain Score

humor, replayability

story, gameplay

32% User Score Based on 22 reviews

Critic Score 50%Based on 5 reviews

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About

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY is a single player and multiplayer arcade hack and slash game. It was developed by Arc System Works and was released on November 6, 2019. It received neutral reviews from critics and negative reviews from players.

Reiho 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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32%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

The game features some clever and flashy combat mechanics, such as teleport kicks and timing-based parries, which certain players find satisfying once mastered.
It includes a unique team system allowing players to switch between three characters, each with their own moveset and abilities, adding some strategic depth.
The soundtrack is well-received, with upbeat and memorable music that fits the River City Ransom series style, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from repetitive and simplistic gameplay with minimal move variety, lacking RPG elements and satisfying beat'em-up features like grabs or combos.
Poor game design includes back-and-forth level traversal with no clear objectives, frustrating and unbalanced boss fights, and excessive, often unskippable, dialogue that disrupts pacing.
Technical and usability issues such as no controller support, possible game-breaking glitches, inaccessible walkthrough resources, and overall unfinished feel greatly hinder enjoyment.

story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The story is generally seen as weak and overly serious for its beat-em-up genre, with excessive and dull dialogue that hampers the experience. While some appreciate the inclusion of narrative elements, the plot is considered typical and short, offering little meaningful variation despite different endings. Overall, the story is viewed as lackluster and not a strong component of the game.
- “Though characters get stronger, there isn't much customization, and instead of offering extra content to test these improved characters, you play through the same quest again with different choices affecting events and endings.”
- “The story is typical for a Japanese-oriented spin-off with a time-travel plot and is somewhat short.”
- “The time spent with Kobayashi-san was fun but a bit repetitive; the franchise can do much better, but it's a neat little side-story nonetheless.”
- “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, not worth it.”
- “I'm all for story in brawlers if done right but this game has way too much dialogue.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay receives mixed reviews, with some players frustrated by simplistic combat and poorly explained mechanics like the "chase" feature, leading to a sense of mediocrity compared to other series entries. However, others appreciate the hidden depth from RPG elements, non-linear progression, and replayability, especially when playing cooperatively. Overall, it may appeal to dedicated fans but lacks the complexity and excitement expected from quality beat-'em-ups.
- “I suspect a big reason for many of the negative reviews is that people didn't know about the 'chase' mechanic: basically, when you put an enemy into a 'knockdown' state, but before they actually hit the ground, you can press the 'jump' button to have your character charge after them or teleport to rack up some extra damage.”
- “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.”
- “Hidden depths to gameplay mechanics, lots of replayability thanks to non-linear progression, good fun with a friend.”
- “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.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's music is praised for its strong, varied compositions that stand out compared to previous entries, featuring long and dynamic tracks reminiscent of classic themes. However, some players find the overall audio experience mixed, with music being a highlight amidst mediocre gameplay and occasional distracting sound elements.
- “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.”
- “This song, like the original RCR theme, is long and varied, with different instruments taking solos. It's tragic that it won't likely be remembered as one of the top musical themes in the series.”
- “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.”
- “As solid as Meghan McDuffie's score for River City Girls was, most tracks only ran for a very short time before looping. They were 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. 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).”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's humor is sparse and often falls flat, leaning more towards pretentious and serious tones rather than genuinely funny moments. While there are occasional silly elements, they are limited and not integral to the gameplay experience.
- “Simple, but flashy combat, some silly humor.”
- “It's not funny, it's not interesting, it's rarely ever useful to playing the game, it occasionally gets pretentiously philosophical about the utility of emotions, and it has no fast-skip option.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's unique team system provides initial interest, but limited variety and worldbuilding reduce long-term replay value. Additionally, the absence of leveling and stat enhancements may deter some players, though it is designed as a quick, replayable experience.
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are considered rough and less polished compared to River City Girls, with some quirky visual elements that feel unrefined. Additionally, the visuals lack classic River City Ransom RPG details, missing nostalgic touches that fans might expect.

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50%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY is a arcade hack and slash game.

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY was released on November 6, 2019.

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY was developed by Arc System Works.

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its story.

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons, River City Ransom: Underground, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, BlazBlue Entropy Effect, River City Girls 2 and others.

STAY COOL, KOBAYASHI-SAN!: A RIVER CITY RANSOM STORY

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