River City Ransom: Underground (Update 15)

River City’s streets run on fists, improvised weapons, and enough fast food to turn a scrappy high-school brawler into a walking wrecking ball. River City Ransom: Underground revives the loose, comedic side-scrolling beat ’em up formula with Alex and Ryan returning to investigate a kidnapping that leaves them framed and fighting through a city in meltdown. Its pixel-art neighborhoods, ridiculous enemy names, and exaggerated knockdowns preserve the NES-era charm, while the campaign expands the scale into a much longer, more modern adventure. The mood is rowdy and nostalgic rather than grim, built for players who enjoy clearing a screen full of goons with friends.

Combat centers on moving through interconnected districts, beating gangs, collecting dropped cash, and spending it in shops on food, books, and gear that raise attributes or teach techniques. Each of the ten story characters brings a distinct fighting style, and the enormous move list lets players juggle enemies, counter attacks, throw weapons, perform grapples, and uncover stronger combinations as they progress. Stages include environmental hazards, hidden routes, boss encounters, and plenty of reasons to revisit areas once new abilities or characters become available. Up to four players can cooperate online, turning the campaign’s crowded fights into gleeful chaos, while the separate arena mode supports competitive matches with teams, CPU fighters, and rule modifiers.

What separates Underground from a simple retro revival is its RPG-style stat building and huge roster: fighters can feel radically different depending on their natural strengths, learned moves, and shopping habits. The city offers 140 stages and 22 stores, giving it more of an exploratory, progression-heavy structure than a straightforward arcade brawler, though its old-school design can be demanding and occasionally deliberately cryptic. Arena combat also extends the package by allowing heroes and villains from the full 44-character lineup to clash outside the campaign. Fans of River City Ransom, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, or Streets of Rage-style co-op beat ’em ups will find plenty to enjoy, especially if they value depth and replayability over polished simplicity.