River City is buzzing with excitement again as fierce female protagonists Misako and Kyoko rampage through the city to rescue their boyfriends, Kunio and Riki. Determined to let nothing stand in their way, they punch and kick their way through, gaining new skills, consuming power-ups, wielding powerful weapons, and executing combos, throws, and special attacks that leave enemies crying for their mothers—all in a whimsical pixel-art style! The thrilling action is punctuated by motion-comic story panels, anime cutscenes, multiple endings, and a captivating synth-pop soundtrack. This edition of the game offers touchscreen or Bluetooth controller support for solo play (Bluetooth controllers are needed for 2-player co-op) and features River City's newest shopkeeper: Crunchyroll-Hime!

STUNNING PIXEL-ART GRAPHICS

The pixel-art graphics in River City Girls pay a stunning tribute to classic beat 'em up games. The sprites are vibrant with personality and rich in details, showcasing the developers' expertise in pixel art. Smooth animations bring the action to life, while backgrounds with destructible objects and humorous signs invite exploration. The retro pixel-art style plays a significant role in evoking nostalgia for arcade beat 'em ups, offering a visual feast for genre enthusiasts.

ENGAGING COMBAT SYSTEM

The core of any great beat 'em up lies in its combat system, and River City Girls excels with its responsive and rewarding mechanics. Featuring an intuitive control scheme of light and heavy attacks, players can chain moves into combos for a satisfying experience. The heroines can learn new moves like air dashes and grapples, adding depth to the combat. Weapons like baseball bats and katanas add variety, and players can recruit defeated enemies for special assisted attacks. The fighting mechanics are easy to grasp yet nuanced enough for seasoned players.

OUTSTANDING SOUNDTRACK

An upbeat chiptune soundtrack is essential for capturing the old-school vibe, and River City Girls delivers with an outstanding score filled with catchy melodies and energetic beats. Renowned chiptune artists like Megan McDuffee and Chipzel have contributed, along with vocal theme songs by Cristina Vee and NateWantsToBattle. This level of musical talent results in a consistently engaging soundtrack that rivals genre classics. These tunes will linger in your mind long after you stop playing.

ENJOYABLE CO-OP GAMEPLAY

Beat 'em ups thrive as multiplayer experiences, yet many modern iterations fail to recreate the cooperative fun of classics like Double Dragon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. River City Girls revives the joy of teaming up to defeat foes with a friend. Allowing both players to freely move anywhere on screen resolves many issues seen in older games. Lifting and throwing partners leads to unique and entertaining combos. Exploring the world and unlocking new moves with a partner is a blast, making River City Girls a top-tier co-op beat 'em up.

RICH IN CONTENT

River City Girls offers a wealth of content, ensuring countless hours of gameplay. There are 5 expansive districts to explore, complete with branching paths, hidden secrets, and side quests. Shopkeepers provide gear and items for character advancement. Multiple endings and New Game+ offer replay value after completing the main story. Unlocking new playable characters like Kunio and Riki adds even more diversity. This game could have been divided into multiple releases in past decades. The abundance of content provides excellent value for its price.

RETRO YET MODERN

River City Girls masterfully captures the nostalgic essence of retro beat 'em ups while incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements. The anime cutscenes and motion comic story panels evoke a time when games were rich with such flair. It also borrows the best elements from genre classics like Double Dragon and Final Fight while discarding outdated mechanics. Cameos from iconic characters spark nostalgia for fans of classic Technos games. Despite its retro influences, intuitive controls, fluid gameplay, and co-op ensure it plays like a modern game. River City Girls exemplifies how to rejuvenate a classic genre for both retro enthusiasts and newcomers alike.