River City: Tokyo Rumble
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for River City: Tokyo Rumble
It’s a solid action game with a charming retro flavor that leverages RCR's foundation to construct both a new adventure and a different perspective on beloved game.
River City: Tokyo Rumble takes everything good about River City Ransom and improves upon it.
River City: Tokyo Rumble is the epitome of a 'safe' game. While the core mechanics of the gameplay are solid and the graphics are unintrusive, there's little here that stands out as being particularly exceptional. This is the kind of game that's fun to play every once in a while, but doesn't have any characteristics or memorable traits that'll keep you coming back again and again. We certainly give River City: Tokyo Rumble a modest recommendation, but only to fans of the genre or franchise that are looking to get a nostalgic fix. If you're new or indifferent towards brawlers, perhaps less expensive options like the excellent 3D Streets of Rage 2 might be a more fitting purchase.
Although Tokyo Rumble plays great and I had lots of fun with it, the gameplay on display has been done better, and recently. Both Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Double Dragon Neon have online and local co-op play in addition to considerably better graphics and sound. That said, neither of those games ever made it to the 3DS, so if you want to smack up some street scum on the go, it's easy to recommend River City: Tokyo Rumble. There's lots to unlock, it never stops being fun to whale on the other gangs, and despite the simple graphics, those classic character sprites show off more personality than a lot of more modern games' protagonists. If you're on the fence, I'd recommend trying the original River City Ransom on the Wii or Wii U virtual console, since this is a greatly enhanced version of the same thing. If you already have nostalgia for the series, feel free to add a couple of points to the score.
Thankfully that slapdash treatment isn't indicative of the game as a whole. The story mode is well put together and serves as a faithful homage to the classic. It's loving to the point of almost fawning, and it feels a little too willing to play it safe at times, but it's an enjoyable nostalgia trip regardless.
Shows its limits early on, with its rather repetitive combat, a level structure that needs improvement and the mixing of different graphic styles did not come out too well, but while those not interested in the genre should look the other way, any River City fan will be more than satisfied with this reincarnation of the thirty-year-old series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
River City: Tokyo Rumble is a fun throwback to the original's combo of beat-em-up and role-playing elements, even if it's an admittedly one-note experience.
River City: Tokyo Rumble is an unapologetic love letter to the beat-em-ups of yesteryear. While simplistically accessible and filled to the brim with nostalgia, it’s brought down by very limited options and some clunky controls.
