River City Girls

 PlayStation 4
River City Girls Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 54 Ratings

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  • Summary: Kick butt, take names, and pound punks in this all-new installment of the classic co-op beat-'em-up series!

    River City Girls stars Kyoko and Misako, two street-tough high-schoolers who must fight their way through the six regions of River City to rescue their kidnapped boyfriends, series    Kick butt, take names, and pound punks in this all-new installment of the classic co-op beat-'em-up series!

    River City Girls stars Kyoko and Misako, two street-tough high-schoolers who must fight their way through the six regions of River City to rescue their kidnapped boyfriends, series mainstays Kunio and Riki. Along the way, they'll utilize an arsenal of combos, counters, throws, and special attacks; battle an assortment of enemies; accept numerous side quests; level up with experience points; interact with NPCs (including guest stars from past River City games); and shop for a variety of items, food, and gear to boost stats and unlock new abilities. The girls can even wield weapons and recruit defeated foes to join them in combat!

    The one- or local two-player bare-knuckle brawling is complemented by spectacular 16-bit-style graphics and an epic synth-pop soundtrack (featuring NateWantsToBattle, Chipzel, Christina Vee, and Megan McDuffee!), while the story roars to life via glorious anime cutscenes and manga-style intermissions.

    Key Features:
    -Furious beat-'em-up action for one or two players!
    -Stunning pixel-art graphics plus anime and manga cutscenes!
    -Fantastic soundtrack featuring NateWantsToBattle, Chipzel, Christina Vee, and Megan McDuffee!
    -Six large city regions to fight through, complete with shops and side quests!
    -Loads of weapons, items, and abilities to power-up your heroines!
    -Guest appearances by classic River City characters!    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Cultured Vultures
    Sep 6, 2019
    90
    Though River City Girls may be called a side story in this universe, it has become one of my favorite games of the year.
  2. Worth Playing
    Apr 27, 2020
    85
    I'd classify River City Girls as a fun, anime-inspired romp that's worth the time if you're looking for a balance between the visceral satisfaction you get from pummeling enemies on-screen and some of the off-center humor one can find in pieces like "Scott Pilgrim vs The World." It has that kind of vibe, and it's a great change of pace from the more heavy-handed stuff out there.
  3. Video Chums
    Sep 5, 2019
    82
    As a huge fan of all things Kunio-kun, I must say that I'm extremely impressed with River City Girls. In fact, it may just be the best game in the franchise. Sorry if you're reading this, Kunio and Riki, but these girls proved to be more kickass than you are.
  4. Gamers Heroes
    Sep 2, 2019
    80
    River City Girls gives the beat-em-up genre a new lease on life with its solid combat, stellar spritework, and sprawling world. Those that can stomach some backtracking will find an adventure worthy of biffing a few baddies over.
  5. Metro GameCentral
    Sep 6, 2019
    80
    A fantastic scrolling beat ‘em-ups that shows exactly how the genre can be evolved and modernised, while also indulging in some gloriously retro presentation and throwbacks.
  6. RPGamer
    Sep 26, 2019
    70
    River City Girls brought me so much joy, and playing it with my roommate we beat it in two days without taking too many breaks. It’s fantastic to have a couch co-op game that takes all of the classic elements of beat-’em-ups and gives them an upgrade that feels modern and fresh. I can’t remember the last time I played a beat-’em-up that had both a fun and entertaining story, but was also great to play, even with its few frustrations.
  7. TheSixthAxis
    Oct 2, 2019
    60
    I wanted to love River City Girls. A modern side scrolling beat 'em up, from a proven developer like WayForward, with bright, bold visuals, and two kick-ass heroines should have been great. Instead, thanks to way too much repetitive grinding, River City Girls is a bit boring. Something I never thought I'd say about a game that has high school children hitting zombie cheerleaders with wrenches.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. aZombieDictator
    Sep 6, 2019
    10
    Way Wayforward has done an amazing job making another great game! Beautiful animations, fun gameplay, and tons of replayability! A worthyWay Wayforward has done an amazing job making another great game! Beautiful animations, fun gameplay, and tons of replayability! A worthy sequel to River City Ransom.… Expand
  2. Zoxen
    Jan 15, 2021
    10
    One of the BEST local CO-OP Beat em up expeciences, If tou have a friend or Brother i highly recommend
  4. CoconutChriss
    Apr 3, 2020
    9
    Such a fun beat'em'up - and it oozes style and fun on every corner. Lovely animations, great character designs, outstanding music, funnySuch a fun beat'em'up - and it oozes style and fun on every corner. Lovely animations, great character designs, outstanding music, funny dialogues... it is so easy to have fun with this brawler which doesn't take itself all to seriously. I see a lot of people complaining about the ending and the 4th wall breaking parts... but this is just a fun game, not less, not more. Catch a buddy and enjoy this lovely little adventure with Kyoko and Misako.… Expand
  5. XSajenX
    Jun 21, 2020
    9
    Me gusto mucho, el estilo y la aventura junto a la historia que no se toma muy enserio es una gran combinación, la dificulta me parece buena,Me gusto mucho, el estilo y la aventura junto a la historia que no se toma muy enserio es una gran combinación, la dificulta me parece buena, ademas de poder jugarse para 2. Es realmente adictivo… Expand
  6. ryuzo7980
    Sep 6, 2019
    4
    Shortest and cringiest adventure ever. City filled by degenerates forcing you to backtrack everytime with their dumb dialogues. This somehowShortest and cringiest adventure ever. City filled by degenerates forcing you to backtrack everytime with their dumb dialogues. This somehow pretend to be related with Kunio-kun.… Expand
  7. Mattocaster3
    May 18, 2020
    0
    So much of me wants to like this game, but it has mechanics that are so unfair, heavy stun lock for one, but I could live with that. You needSo much of me wants to like this game, but it has mechanics that are so unfair, heavy stun lock for one, but I could live with that. You need money in the game to get better items to be stronger, but when you die you lose most your money, and the enemies still get stronger, making a hard game harder and harder as you progress, I don't understand why you couldn't lose less money if none at all. Guiding the player, I don't understand, I have to pull out a walkthrough every 5 minutes as the map tends to not display where to go most times (even funny when the walkthrough also gets confused where to go!) Dialogue for the next task is sometimes spoken while in battle,confusing the whole ordeal further.

    Now, the straw that broke the camels back, habari is a boss you fight about halfway into the game, stun lock, and what you would call a bullet sponge, not challenging, frustrating! Like the most unfun part of any game I've played, so unfair and boring I can't see myself playing it again, love the fighting in the game, but the bad aspects over shadow the game so much it just becomes frustrating to play, even in coop    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best PS4 Game of 2019

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