A lot of things blew up big in the late ’80s: Bermuda shorts, TMNT, those shirts that changed colour when you got hot, displaying your sweat stains to the world. Also popular, as far as video game were concerned, was the scrolling beat-’em-up genre, or “brawler”, as you kids call them today.
By the time the ’90s dawned, the arcades were full of titles that featured the simple construct of patrolling streets, mashing faces and eating chicken out of oil drums. Final Fight, Double Dragon, Vendetta, and X-Men were all games featuring repetitive action, but they kept the coins rolling in thanks to their great visuals, music and addictive co-op gameplay. Eventually, the industry moved on, and as the arcade gave way to Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, and other one-on-one fighters, the simplicity of the scrolling brawler fell by the wayside, along with the genre itself.
There were, however, a few brands that kept flying the flag for the genre. And in Japan, no franchise did this with as much pride as Kunio-kun, better known in the west via the River City games. Since the 1986 release of Nekketsu KÅ�ha Kunio-kun (or Renegade), this long-running franchise has kept the spirit of the street brawler alive for generations. Indeed, this week sees the release of brand new series entry River City Girls, developed by Shantae helmers WayForward Games. But, some 23 years since Kunio-kun’s debut, is there still a place for the humble brawler in 2019? Straighten your school tie and knuckle up, we’re gonna find out.
Good luck, kid.
Source: Destructoid Review: River City Girls