Platforms
- PCOct 11, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 Critics4.5135 Players
- PlayStation 4Oct 12, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 CriticsNA0 Players
- Nintendo SwitchOct 12, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 CriticsNA0 Players
- Nintendo 3DSNov 21, 20177.8playscore7.75 Critics8.5135 Players
8 critic reviews · 0 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
- With a full explorable River City, a story with multiple endings and the surprise Double Dragon fighting game; there is a lot on offer in Rivals Showdown. Unfortunately, it’s held back by an overly repetitive soundtrack which will start to grate on one’s nerves, and some very uneven combat until the late game. These games are usually good for some fun beat-em up action but it takes so long for this entry to hit its stride with the combat that by the end I was just running on auto pilot. I think there is a lot here for fans to discover but this isn’t going to bring in any new fans, especially when the last two entries in the River City Saga were much better.
Terrence Johnson · Jan 30, 2024 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Unlike the original game, River City: Rival Showdown 2023 has intuitive multiplayer where the second player can seamlessly join as Riki either locally or online. This is excellent, especially considering you can play a goofy Double Dragon fighting mini-game, too.
A.J. Maciejewski · Oct 19, 2023 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - River City: Rival Showdown is an enjoyable departure from the NES title it derives from. It's received an obvious visual upgrade over the 3DS release, and has added online play, too.
Jordan Rudek · Oct 12, 2023 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - River City: Rival Showdown leans more heavily on the RPG elements that the original River City Ransom brought to the beat em’ up genre with a stronger focus on a narrative and exploration. Being on a handheld, the new game prioritizes the single-player experience in its core design which loses the charm of the couch co-op that made the original game so memorable to many players back in the day. River City: Rival Showdown ushers in some big changes while still does a good job bringing the original River City Ransom into modern times while still honoring its Kunio-kun roots pretty well.
Red Veron · Jan 24, 2018 Reviewed on 3DSRead full review - River City: Rival Showdown is a safe bet for those who enjoyed previous River City games. The three day time period translates to a roughly four or five hour game, but the brevity works in its favor since it can be replayed on New Game Plus for different endings. For those unfamiliar with River City, it’s a simple beat ’em up with an RPG equipment and stat progression system.
Chris Shive · Dec 21, 2017 Reviewed on 3DSRead full review - All told, River City: Rival Showdown is a worthwhile beat 'em up game, certainly worth the price of admission. Though the oscillating difficulty curve and the ho-hum presentation hold it back from true greatness, this is a game that no beat 'em up fans will want to miss out on, and it also stands as a great entry point for those looking to try out the genre or this particular series.
Mitch Vogel · Dec 11, 2017 Reviewed on 3DSRead full review - Whether or not you’re a longtime Kunio-kun fan or a newcomer to the series, you’re going to love Rival Showdown. The River City charm is still in full force. Yes, Kunio starts off as a weakling, but this is a remake of the first game, so I’ll give that a pass. Speaking of remakes, they make this old story feel as if it’s set in today’s world. Internet slang like “Get Rekt” and cell phones make appearances and don’t feel out of place at all! Thanks, Arc System Works for keeping my favorite franchise of all time alive and fresh! Long live Kunio!
Mike Vito · Nov 25, 2017 Reviewed on 3DSRead full review - River City: Rival Showdown's best qualities are its unique method of progression and well-executed storyline. Admittedly, this critic was not expecting this to be the case. The appeal of this franchise has always been its simplistic but satisfying fighting; not to mention the depth and creativity that comes from having so many fun abilities to play around with. While these hallmarks are present in this 3DS brawler, they are buried under the relentless quest for higher numbers. The final result is a game that just isn't as accessible and endearing as it could be, but there's still entertainment to be had.
Gabriel Jones · Jan 30, 2018 Reviewed on 3DSRead full review
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About the game
Trailers & Screenshots:
The 1989 retro classic River City Ransom has muscled up and doubled down on modern innovation!
Tightened controls, improved backgrounds, and even online play -- this version has it all and more!
Throw in a 2D fighting game mode to the mix, and River City has never been more action-packed!
Developer: Arc System Works