River City Ransom (USA)

In River City Ransom, players control two high school students, Alex and Ryan, on a quest to rescue Ryan's girlfriend, Cyndi, who has been kidnapped by the notorious gang leader, Slick. This classic NES title is a side-scrolling beat 'em up, but it uniquely integrates distinctive RPG elements.

The core gameplay revolves around navigating through various areas of River City, engaging in combat with numerous street gangs. Players can utilize basic attacks such as punches, kicks, and jumps, as well as throw enemies or environmental objects like trash cans and baseball bats. When enemies are defeated, they exclaim "BARF!" and disappear, dropping money. This money is crucial for progression.

A significant departure from typical beat 'em ups of its era, River City Ransom features a robust RPG system. Players can spend their earned money at various shops scattered throughout the city. These establishments include sushi bars, diners, book stores, bathhouses, and saunas. Purchasing food items helps restore health and can provide temporary or permanent boosts to character stats such as Strength, Agility, Stamina, Willpower, Luck, and Defense. More importantly, players can buy books to learn new and powerful combat techniques like Stone Hands, Dragon Feet, Grand Slam, Acro Circus, Javelin Man, Fatal Steps, and Southern Cross. These learned moves add significant depth and strategic options to combat.

The game supports a two-player co-op mode, allowing Alex and Ryan to tackle challenges together, enhancing replayability and cooperative fun. Despite being an NES game, River City Ransom offers a distinct "open-world" feel, permitting players to revisit previously explored areas to grind for money or discover secrets. It also includes a password system for saving game progress, a convenient feature for its time.

With its unique blend of action-packed brawling and character progression, River City Ransom has cemented its place as an iconic beat 'em up and remains highly regarded by fans.