River City Ransom

"Maybe the most underrated game ever............."

Until a few years ago, I hadn't heard of River City Ransom. For those who have heard of it though, you know it's been overshadowed by Double Dragon, a game that's not even as good as it. River City Ransom is a side scrolling fighter, not unlike Double Dragon, but there's much more depth and humor. One or two players battle through areas with different types of enemies, such as the "generic" guys or tougher guys. You can punch, kick and dropkick, and there are also tons of weapons to use, like sticks, nunchuks and rocks, to name a few. They also don't disappear after one hit. One neat aspect is that two players can also execute double team moves, such as one player giving another a springboard into an enemy. Surprising for a game of that time. The whole game has a humorous feel to it; the enemies are all funny, and they all have names as well.

Graphics: 9/10

The sprites are slightly bigger than in Double Dragon, but what puts them above that game is the reactions of enemies and facial expressions. A character's eyes bug out when he gets hit, or he crouches over holding his gut. Great stuff.

Sound: 8/10

Good as well, along with the sound effects.

Gameplay: 10/10

This is simply a very fun game to play. The controls handle well, and are easy along with that. Most enemies present a challenge without being cheap. The large assortment of weapons is a definite plus, along with the fact that they can be used over and over and can be carried for as long as you want. The enemies having their own names is a nice touch as well. When you stand next to a wall and throw your weapon at it, it comes back and hits you in the face, so points for that. The two player mode is lots of fun, especially when the action heats up. To sum it up, solid, simple, fun gameplay.

Replay: 9/10

This game hasn't lost any of its replay value after all these years. It's just as much fun now to take out three guys by chucking a rock at them as it was then. The two player mode is a new level of fun.

Overall: 9/10

Interestingly, this game seems to be finally getting the recognition it deserves 10 years after its release. At the time, however, little attention was paid to it, especially when the Double Dragon games were released. Don't be fooled. This is a great game, with more depth and humor than Double Dragon could ever hope for. If you haven't played this game, there's no reason why you shouldn't. Give it a try. If you get this game cheap, consider it a worthwhile investment.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99