River City Ransom (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A complete playthrough of Technos 1990 NES game, River City Ransom.
Man I love this game. It's essentially Final Fight with RPG trappings and SD characters, and it's done by Technos. What else do you want?
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
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[@ezra4517]

I was 8 years old when my dad bought me this game. I'm 34 now... one of the greatest games I've ever played to this day.

[@justanordinarypigeon1489]

Would you be interested in the river city remake that's coming out in September? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXKYp3aMd8tpqZo

[@NelsonWin]

Have you ever beat it?

[@cocho4923]

I played in my cel great game

[@drkd7655]

Definitely

[@user-ou9ln4vl2n]

I was 10years old . I am now 36^^ this game is big hit in Japan.

[@calex3028]

I remember asking my dad for a different fighting game ( cant recall the name) and instead he bought this home. I was deeply upset and refused to play it. One day I popped it in and ended up playing for hours. It became one of my favorite NES games of all time. I can't tell you how many hours at a time i would play this. Only to hear my mom say get off the game and go outside! Gotta love the 80s and 90s

[@angelvalle9963]

You're dad is a legend

[@ACLMSC]

Double Dragon?

[@calex3028]

@@ACLMSC YES!!! That was the one!

[@michaeloffgrid]

@@calex3028 You got lucky! I like Double Dragon as much as the next guy, but River City Ransom is an amazing game!

[@ACLMSC]

@@calex3028 Haha! Double Dragon was the hot game at that time.

[@estebancebreros5432]

42:10 Hearing the Double Dragon theme when facing the twins is the most hype moment of this game. The nostalgia! 😃

[@kohlrak]

although i never understand why they sided with simon.

[@Nehfarius]

@@kohlrak Because, unlike Billy and Jimmy, THESE guys are BAD.

[@kohlrak]

@@Nehfarius I thought they were Billy and Jimmy, though.

[@Nehfarius]

@@kohlrak Naah, they're knockoffs. Their real names are Randy and Andy.

[@TheGenericNerd]

One of my all time favorite NES games!

[@trevb1976]

I love the ending. You rescued poor Cindy so she could finish her shopping. All is well in the universe.

[@kryptoart87]

I played it a million times and I could never get into the high school at 39:20. I didn't know you could upgrade skills lol i used to just wash my ass at the spa Alllll the time. I was 6 years old and found it hillllllarious. Good times.

[@MikeyMike-uu3fe]

wow...I didn’t know either

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

05:44 for 30 years this music has given me this really melancholy, nostalgic feeling that makes me long for the late 80s when time was so simple for 8-9 year old me

[@maggiecawley983]

I just call this a 1980s open world.

[@brandennelson4772]

Basically lol!

[@fawfulmark2]

I suppose. ...though Zelda did it first :P

[@mamertospower4898]

An open world game? It's completely straight forward but the path to the park (which is fully empty until a boss appears late in the game). This game is left, right and backtracking. A LOT of backtracking.

[@danfors1333]

It's not only left and right, there's lots of back alleys and different paths.

[@pabloflores1396]

Can't believe u played this BIH

[@Biggmofo]

This game is a gem. It’s ahead of it’s time. Rented it when I was in my early teens. And like 12 years ago I bought it in a retro game store pretty cheap. Funny thing is when I play this game I keep on running back and forth through all levels just for money, especially down the bridge (6:15) where the twins are, buying upgrades as fast as possible in the street before. Also beating opponents up with piggy back attack cracks me up XDXD.

[@vincentschuler2408]

Play this with my son these days and the piggyback attacks get him belly laughing every time, also throwing objects at each other always cracks us up, we enjoy just as much today as I enjoyed playing as a kid

[@chucksucks8640]

I like how this didn't try to over extend the graphic capabilities of the NES like double dragon. It made for smooth game play.

[@JerBuster77]

Looking forward to River City Girls in September!

[@tkedge2094]

just saw it today and it looked cool so i thought i should brush up on what the previous one is

[@nicochan5898]

The hype is real...

[@FuriousTH]

Go and get it now

[@NintendoComplete]

@@FuriousTH I already have! :)

[@SNARC15]

Just finished it and in the words of Sterling Archer...TOTALLY WORTH IT!

[@ininja32]

The theme song still runs through my head to this day.

[@NintendoComplete]

Man I love this game. It's essentially Final Fight with RPG trappings and SD characters, and it's done by Technos. What else do you want?

[@deeznutz8300]

5 fights .... after mojo level. BULLSHIT. not a fair playthrough

[@NintendoComplete]

Deez Nutz I don't see why not. They gave me the option to, so I did. Why is there a right or wrong way to it?

[@5tonyvvvv]

Check out, Masters of combat for sms

[@harryhapsh8214]

@@deeznutz8300 Nintendo complete is right

[@apexproductionz27]

No its DOUBLE DRAGON with rpg elements.

[@walterharris4681]

I rented and played this game for the 1st time on my 15th birthday back in 1990. It would be impossible for me to ever forget this game.

[@juliusquasar1565]

I wouldn’t envy whoever has to clean up all of that BARF.

[@xXC0deZer0Xx]

I owned this game when I was in grade school on NES, forgot the name of the game and just seeing it again today. It's been at least 20 years. #memories.

[@monos33]

As a kid i didn't know that you had to read books to gain skills (i'm french canadian) so it was harder and harder and finally impossible. Great game !

[@ObesityStupidity]

I'm russian and I played Japanese version when I was 4. Somehow I learnt how to gain skills)

[@michaelhoule2134]

What a amazing game. I loved this game when I first rented it as a kid. I knew the video store owner so he let me take it for free so I played it for a week solid. Thank god for Nintendo Power, I would of been so lost without NP back then. Thank you for taking the time to play and upload this gem of a underrated game.

[@Sparkledash1]

I can imagine that Segas Yakuza Series got certain inspirations from this game. You have an open world, constant brawls, shops where you can eat sushi and buy items, etc. All Elements you can find in Yakuza.

[@jubae5760]

This was one of the best NES games ever.

[@rextar9961]

Finished the "remake" of this game now with lore I find this game so nostalgic 😅

[@retiredtillsixteen418]

Damn.. I missed this game so much.. When i had it... It was all written in japanese.. So i couldnt figured out the game name.. But finally i have found it!! 😭😭

[@ps-lover8380]

Me also had the Japanese version at the time

[@damnburger7351]

Same

[@mr.magnum1867]

yeah me too. later i got a famiclone with the japanese version (the version I played way back when) but on the title screen it said "hot blood story" i did some research to see if there was a translated version but once i searched hot blood story i found that it was actually the japanese name for river city ransom

[@viggagotoku720]

All my time was playing this same, with another name River city *BRAWL* 16 years ago Played with the PS1 chipped with 360 nes games

[@skyywalker35]

I finally found it! Been looking for this game for ever, couldn't remember the name. I used to rent this game all the time from blockbuster. I think one day I "lost it" and was unable to return it. Wow, the memories.

[@justanordinarypigeon1489]

I know it's an old comment but they're doing a remake coming out this September. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXKYp3aMd8tpqZo

[@Prysma_as]

Same, was looking for so long

[@fjeezy1305]

The controls and forgiving enemy hit boxes made this one of my favorite NES beat-em-ups. The RPG elements are another huge factor. The letterbox with subtitles was pretty original too.

[@AgitadorX]

Played this game thousands of hours with my sister. One of the best NES games.

[@BonelessVisual]

finally i found this, back in the days i just play it all day long on my friends house! time flies.

[@NelsonWin]

39:18 Ivan: "you want in? First survive my head butt.." Alex: "Nah, man... your head butt is "Trash"

[@oldstylegaming4655]

Just one word... "BARF!"

[@giorgiogazzola5972]

Drink beer, fart on salads.

[@NintendoComplete]

Your towel is ineffective.

[@rumuelnathanael8043]

Mamaaaa!

[@milkcarton6654]

never owned it at the time but rented it plenty of times. I have a very vivid memory of the first rental especially. I was 11 or so. I had sugar pie that night. In Top 3 nes games for me probably.

[@Accipiter22]

I loved this game, I played it with my dad constantly growing up!

[@mrnabby4178]

Finally found this game.i've grown up with this game.Every afternoon we used to play this game with my best friend.Oh boy wht happened with you?Why stopped talking with me.This game is carrying sweet memories of my childhood.The sweet memories of our friendship.I think everything will be normal again.

[@themaster6255]

I must admit, this was my favorite NES game back in the day.

[@Derekivery]

I just realized the end was all the gang members becoming honor students. REALLY?

[@idontknowwhattosay6014]

They had to Give It A good Ending But Just Why🤔

[@charlenefulton1452]

I could never get to the end when i was a kid and when i saw the ending im like..so thats how it ends? Really? Lol

[@NintendoComplete]

It's so 80s like that.

[@HyunRalphJeong]

This brings me back so much memories... I played this in Japanese when I was a kid and couldn't understand anything lol

[@jf7888]

One of my favorite games as a kid.

[@KK-eg3em]

I was 9 years old when I last saw this much of this game. I just turned 41.

[@hyshade5132]

If someone gets that strong from hugging a teddy bear just once, I'd be Thanos right now, lol.

[@bluewolf8873]

Still one of my favorite games to this day!!!

[@Deedric_Kee]

I loved playing this growing up, was the absolute best 'Nintendo game I ever played 🤘

[@waldoheraldo-faldo1191]

All the hours of my life playing this lol

[@P1983sche]

Double Dragon theme at the end was alway my favorite.

[@archdelux26]

BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED ON NINTENDO!

[@movieclipz5034]

wow you beat the game in 46 minutes? I could never get into the high school. :( one of my all time favorite NES games though. The 'physics' blew me away back in the day.

[@NintendoComplete]

Oh I know. It was awesome on so many levels! And that time only comes from playing it so many times that I know it inside and out :D

[@sengcha6853]

Same here, me and my lily bro could never get into the high school and literally tried everything. The door never opened for us. Maybe we got a bad version or glitch.

[@mikehikes710]

@@sengcha6853 exact same story here. Me and my little brother played this game tons and never was able to enter the school. Was about to redownload and try again wanted to watch a video to know what to do

[@tomfrost6049]

46 minutes is impressive to you?? this playthrough felt insulting, im not eve a speedrunner for this game and it was a snail pace for me

[@andrewd1413]

Thought i was only one 😂😂

[@infinitygenealpa]

Thank goodness they have a translated version of the original version, Downtown Nekketsu Story on the Double Dragon & Kunio Kun Brawler Bundle for the Switch, along with english translations of the other Kunio Kun games that were previously unreleased in the USA.

[@noggermaggot9990]

Me and buddy played this game a million times and could never figure out how to get in that high school.. I swear we walked every square inch.

[@NintendoComplete]

+NoggerMaggot You have to take out all of the gang bosses before the gate will open

[@eduardomancia4958]

You have to fight all the bosses. If you follow the video, he shows how to fight them all

[@AdmiralRustyShackleford]

I know this is years old, but you probably missed the one you have to go way back to that park near the beginning to beat.

[@lucifermeowstar4604]

This game is amazing. I need this in my life!

[@user-kf1jx6oj9q]

4DFFT555554444569ZQG68​QA1ZWW5🇧🇪🇧🇲⛳🖼️🅿️🚾🚾😅😆😊🤑😐🗣️🗣️🗣️👨‍👨‍👦👩‍❤️‍👩👨‍👨‍👦🇨🇮🚾🇧🇲🇧🇲🚾🥋🔲🈸🥋🥋

[@malonemello6948]

I've never played this game, but ai just finished River City Girls, man, what a perfect game! It's fun, well made, complete, full of details, worthy of an Xbox One game

[@ininja32]

Old, but still so good.

[@angelvalle9963]

Old is gold

[@nicholasfarnolo7238]

Nobody can beef with the Generic Dudes except Alex btw dragon feet for life

[@jonathanjr9505]

Isis scroll (x5) and acro circus and dragon feet for me

[@dirtroadd2390]

I didnt understand it at the time cause I was only 7 but I love this game.and would love to get my revenge

[@Calbenmike]

Absolutely loved this game. Texas Boots FTW!

[@emiranda2491]

Never thought River City Ransom became a franchise and later we now referred to their real names nowadays as the main characters of this is Kunio and Riki and their girlfriends are Misako and Kyoko, now we recognized in the current game as River City Girls. Who would have thought of that.

[@ilijaknezevic8370]

What an amazing game! Awesome animation, very fluid! And also with so much comedic effects, like the one at 1:23, cracked me up!

[@Powere25]

Hugs a teddy Bear...gets OP as f.... Great Gameplay!

[@pnsmexico]

That Double Dragon main theme melody shocked me at 42:10 shocked me totally! wow! Tradewest/Technos/Taito way to go!!!

[@ipal999]

Nostalgia, I played this game with my brother 7 years ago and once invited my friends to play and accompanied us at home when my father and mother worked outside the village. We used to play until the morning to finish this game together using a Nintendo Playstation with my tube television we were very happy until, a few years later my family and I moved to the city because of work and a year ago my older brother died of kidney failure I was very sad. until now I will never forget that very happy experience, when I saw this game I also always remembered my older brother and I finished this game until the final level, it's very sad when I think back

[@me-xz8zf]

How the hell hasn't Alex made his way into Super Smash bros yet? I hope to see him in the upcoming one for the Switch!

[@logicaloverdrive8197]

me ALEX TRASHES THE COMPETITION! (cue shot of Alex holding a trashcan) yeah, his move set could be like Kirby, a mix of different weapons he uses in the game

[@me-xz8zf]

@@logicaloverdrive8197 Yeah totally! They could even have the fighters who get knocked out by him shout "Barf!" I know he isn't requested that much but come on, at this point there should definitely be a real fighter like him in Smash!

[@BrawlerShade]

I know right?

[@MacClay8]

Only if he also gets his Super Dodge Ball skills.

[@alexandergapour1253]

I think capcom might sue since his move set would basically be a rip off of Cody's (minus the criminal upper)

[@Greenriver842]

When we were kids my brother and i laughed our asses off throwing each other boxes and sticks 😂

[@sarajane6818]

Loved this game as a kid! The 'running around' music has been my ringtone for years.

[@happinesswithvikasbartwal4390]

This was the game which i hadn't completed in my childhood..on seeing this i m so happy....it seens that u completed this game♥️♥️

[@alambert1980]

Grew up on this shit!!! The soundtrack is still one of the best ever…especially for it’s time…just a badass game!

[@godson1762]

Classic, brings back a lot of memories of me and my brother playing it all night,

[@1superduck]

This theme music has been in my head 30 years!

[@amazingdany]

*So that's how this classic NES game played. Now I know, thx!*

[@stefgen6394]

wait this is how you play? wow i still wonder how i survived with out buying anything when i was young XD

[@carlakimbrel986]

Takes me back to my childhood. This game was lit.

[@ryanevong928]

I remember when Canadian Tire in my local area was selling games and they had an overload of copies of River City Random for some reason on sale for $20 bucks. What a gem for anyone who grabbed one like I did.

[@johnwardjr3001]

I like how the game was Americanized.

[@ricktherrien8235]

I like the look on the enemy’s face when he gets hit it’s great!!

[@fredricksmith-something.2125]

Such a great game. So underrated. So much to do in it back then. Especially for my generation

[@samuelsilva1426]

Nostalgia, mds faz anos que joguei esse jogo finalmente eu achei agora vou zerar ele

[@SkinnyAJ]

i never finish this game when i was 10years old , coz of the language, mine was japanese vr T_T now im 23yold T____T good old timeee

[@marbury77]

This game was so much fun. I really enjoyed collecting coins and spending it in the sauna and buying snacks!!

[@mr.marino9247]

24:26 Wait there was a SECRET DOOR in that tunnel-street where you could buy some " magical things" :S??? BUT THE PLAYER DIDNT BUY ANY OF THESE THINGS?? WHATE THEY DO???? NOOOO I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT! hahaha

[@NintendoComplete]

They give the biggest stat boosts out of any items in the game iirc.

[@AdmiralRustyShackleford]

@@NintendoComplete The stay boosts are good but Grand Slam with the trash can makes you virtually unstoppable so no need to spend the money for those. Or, buy the Texas Boots and Dragon Feet.

[@25xxfrostxx]

I totally forgot about the Double Dragon theme in the last fight before the roof. That was great Homage and if someone did that today they'd just get sued.

[@NintendoComplete]

Both games were made by Technos, so I don't think they were so worried.

[@Indjanus]

Have anyone noticed the names of items in mystery shop? (24:29) ISIS scroll - WAT

[@NintendoComplete]

+Indjanus Lmao my bet would be on the Egyptian goddess rather than the terrorist organization.

[@xxxYouTunesxxx]

Played this back in the day, I thought the RPG elements were unique

[@danpt2000]

why do ppl prefer stone hands over dragon feet? Seems the kick has a slightly longer range

[@TheBigMannyShow]

I know I always get the dragon feet

[@SethonanGaming]

Why not BOTH?

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Better name mainly.

[@nategreatgames78]

I’d get both but yeah dragon feet was better

[@KurisuBlaze]

I think this is before it was canonically established that Alex favored Dragon Feet and Ryan favored Stone Hands. Maybe players had an easier time building up punching power over kicking power? Never mind that there's the shoe store.

[@mrnabby4178]

Thanks dude for uploading.

[@lazuardialdi2646]

Ahh How Nostalgic is this.... (i played this Game But The Title I Played Is Street Gangs)

[@Mistergameoperator]

When i was 10 My dad brought this for me, What a legend game its very nostalgic

[@niggamygang548]

Até que enfim achei o jogo que estava procurando... Thanks :D

[@ilil813]

I always return to play it. So much fun re playin it in some years. Never age

[@everydaynine_2282]

Play Scott pilgrim vs the world inspired by this game river city ransom

[@louiskeiflin5858]

This is by far my favorite beat em up in my book.

[@Zephyr_Weiss]

so this is the game that inspired the Scott Pilgrim vs the world game

[@brandoncarino5188]

yep

[@vjm3]

As well as Wayforward's recently announced "River City Girls" which is a direct sequel/spiritual successor.

[@SwankeyMonkey]

Could even argue that this open-world RPG style Beat-em-up inspired Shenmue too. Now, _that,_ makes this game truly groundbreaking.

[@jinkisaragi874]

And the Yakuza series.

[@ot4kon]

@@jinkisaragi874 yakuza games are inspired en shenmue

[@tommyg_tv]

Gees after over 30 years my brain has closed a loop… “what was that game with the little towel butt man” gotta love the internet ! 🤝

[@wiseguy9202]

One of my favorites from back then!

[@spikeriley]

Man, I wonder how they can get away with 8-bit nudie butt.

[@johnmceachern5238]

I loved that game

[@stonebrooks1288]

brings back great child hood memories

[@JT-ob5vp]

Played this nonstop when I had chickenpox 😭 memories

[@sneakez9644]

I was waitn for him to buy that smile

[@JohnnyNowhere]

I was 30 the first time I played this game. We'd stay up half the night until our eyes burned. Lol Damn, that was 37 years ago?!

[@BePostiveStayHydrated]

Yo I've been struggling with this thanks bro!

[@adamcolbertmusic]

I first knew of these characters from the NES games World Cup and Super Dodge Ball. All these games were awesome!!!!

[@Mattdoggydogg9909]

I just beat that game today.It's a real killer with the last two guys coming out the elevator though at the high school. They take you down in two damn hits.

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

Loved this game as a kid!

[@ryangamingff6471]

Finally found this game after so so many years i plays this game like 13 years 13 years ago. And looking for it finally dream came true 😭

[@JJ-qo7th]

That poor guy getting double trashcanned at 1:22 made me laugh for the first time today.

[@totallica3318]

Smile: Free 😂

[@akirakilluar]

It's a Japanese McDonald thing. You can ask the employee at the cashier give you a smilewhen they give you your food. And of course it free.