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Phantasy Star Meets River City
Posted by Mike Fahey at 1:40 AM on April 22, 2008
Shortly available on the Wii Virtual Console, two classic games from ages past about saving worlds and kicking arse. Girlfriends always be getting kidnapped, yo, and such is the case in River City Ransom (NES, 500 points), the beat-em-up RPG hybrid that sees Ryan off on a quest to rescue his girlfriend from the sinister Slick, with his friend Player Two Alex along for the ride. Then we have the game I was sincerely hoping for after last week's Euro update, Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom for the Sega Genesis (800 points).
This time around it's a choose your own adventure of sorts, as you guide three generations via an innovative mate-picking mechanic that makes replaying the game nearly mandatory. Who you choose to marry decides who you'll be playing in the next generation, and ultimately which ending you'll receive when all is said and done. Love it or hate it, it's a damn fine piece of RPG history. If I had any time to actually play games this week, this would be the one. A very good week for the Virtual Console.
WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNELApril 21, 2008
Helping out your friends is often as easy as a ride to the airport or a kind word of advice. But when they fall victim to dastardly kidnappers, things get a little more complicated. Step up and find out what it takes to rescue your imperiled pals in the latest additions to the Wii� Shop Channel. Both of these classic titles feature distinctive rescue-driven storylines and villain-busting action to help bring out your inner hero. Isn't that what friends are for?
Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii� owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points� to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:
River City Ransom� (NES�, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Mild Suggestive Themes and Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): River City Ransom takes place in River City, where our heroes, Alex and Ryan, find a letter on Ryan's locker from a guy named Slick. The letter says that Ryan's girlfriend, Cyndi, has been kidnapped, and Slick has taken River City hostage with the help of countless gangs and evil bosses. It's up to our heroes to save poor Cyndi and free River City from the clutches of Slick and his underlings. You can play as Alex and take on the challenge alone or battle with two players simultaneously as Alex and Ryan. Kick and punch to fight your way through gang members, evil bosses and other goons, or use a variety of weapons including a chain whip, brass knuckles and a tire, to name a few. Raise your stats by eating right, and gain new techniques by reading books. With your fighting prowess and never-ending spirit, the bad guys won't know what hit them.
Phantasy Star� III Generations of Doom (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): As Rhys, the crown prince of the Orakian kingdom of Landen, you are engaged to be married to Maia, a woman from a rival kingdom. But Maia is kidnapped on your wedding day, setting you on a quest filled with twists and turns that will reintroduce you to people and places from previous Phantasy Star games. This epic spans several generations of characters, and your choices will dramatically impact the way the story unfolds, which makes it a great game to play all the way through more than once. In Phantasy Star III, things aren't always what they seem-check it out and watch the mysteries unfold.
For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
jun581
Posted 2:09 AM 22/4/08
ahh River City Ransom. My favorite during the NES era. classic game. At 8 years old, it took me a year to beat the game. Sorry, my reading comprehension skills were lacking. I didn't care to read the texts on the bottom "go to ***** (forgot the name) park". Still, the game was fun.
jun581
ncsbert
Posted 2:09 AM 22/4/08
I need some quick advice on which Phantasy Star games are worth playing. Is III one of them?
ncsbert
Pezdispenser
Posted 2:08 AM 22/4/08
@B1ooDshOt:
I beat once a looooong time ago. My problem usually involved accidentally skipping an important boss fight. Just be sure to back track a few times, and don't walk past the baseball park.
Pezdispenser
KirbySS
Posted 2:08 AM 22/4/08
@Strange Bedfellows: The Mega Drive Collection (Genesis for you loopy Americans) ports are pretty much perfect. The only thing I've noticed in PSIV is that the victory music overlaps the area music. But apart from that, it's an absolute steal.
KirbySS
Fodder76
Posted 2:06 AM 22/4/08
Best VC week yet, no doubt!
Fodder76
Murmaider
Posted 2:06 AM 22/4/08
I want my Super Mario Kart for the SNES. I want it so bad. :<
Murmaider
LedRush
Posted 2:06 AM 22/4/08
This week is pure awesomeness.
LedRush
Zaxxon Q Blaque
Posted 2:06 AM 22/4/08
@jabedoben: O_O Well, I guess that's what ya get when ya don't procreate in video games. No dowry and electrocuted. >_<
Zaxxon Q Blaque
B1ooDshOt
Posted 2:01 AM 22/4/08
OK OK - River City Ransom was one of the best games on the NES and one of the hardest too. I don't think I was ever able to finish it because I always got lost. Did any one ever get to the end?
If I had a Wii, I'd totally be all over this one.
B1ooDshOt
Strange Bedfellows
Posted 1:59 AM 22/4/08
Should I get Phantasy Star III from the VC, or should I spend 10 bucks more and get the Genesis Collection for PSP, which contains among numerous games all 3 of the Phantasy Games that came out for Genesis (II-IV)??
Are the PSP versions nearly as good ports as the Wii VC versions?
Strange Bedfellows
jabedoben
Posted 1:57 AM 22/4/08
@Zaxxon Q Blaque: You can marry Wren, but you end up getting electrocuted on your wedding night.
jabedoben
Ghede
Posted 1:56 AM 22/4/08
Damn! I forgot about VC updates, and before the pictures loaded the headline made me think of Phantasy Star Universe + River City Ransom = MMO where people say BARF! when you hit them.
Now you got my hopes up Kotaku.
Ghede
jabedoben
Posted 1:55 AM 22/4/08
If you can get past the bland graphics and music, especially during battles, PSIII is a good time. Lots of gameplay there for such an old game.
jabedoben
TheCleaningGuy
Posted 1:54 AM 22/4/08
All right RCR!
Phantasy Star III looks pretty cool too.
TheCleaningGuy
Zaxxon Q Blaque
Posted 1:54 AM 22/4/08
What happens in PSIII if I marry another dude?
Zaxxon Q Blaque
DaiMacculate
Posted 1:54 AM 22/4/08
RCR! One of the most revered of all beat-em-ups, and its finally here!
Damn I can't wait to get home!
DaiMacculate
SpookyTanooki
Posted 1:53 AM 22/4/08
BARF!!!
SpookyTanooki
Pezdispenser
Posted 1:52 AM 22/4/08
And here I thought my savings were safe for another week...
*grabs wallet*
Pezdispenser
Derkomai
Posted 1:52 AM 22/4/08
Awesome. Can't wait to download River City Ransom.
:3
Derkomai
Solid_hedgehog
Posted 2:42 AM 22/4/08
@ncsbert: Phantasy star IV is def the best, 3rd was my least fav.
Solid_hedgehog
Phoenicks
Posted 2:37 AM 22/4/08
River City Ransom? Great.
The ridiculously long passwords associated with the game? Not so much.
Phoenicks
KirbySS
Posted 2:26 AM 22/4/08
@ncsbert: All of them. Play all of them.
KirbySS
arepeegee
Posted 2:25 AM 22/4/08
Damn, I love me some River City Ransom.
It's like Double Dragon with RPG elements. Soooooo awesome.
arepeegee
Pezdispenser
Posted 2:23 AM 22/4/08
Found it by accident, but never bought anything there.
Pezdispenser
iskew
Posted 2:20 AM 22/4/08
OOoh... RCR is one of the games I've been hoping for.
Okay, now out with Super Dodge Ball!
iskew
Gomerboy
Posted 2:20 AM 22/4/08
I loved River City Ransom so much that when I beat it, I went back and maxed up all my stats. Then I wrote down the incredibly long random number and letter password on an index card and taped it to the back of the cartridge so I would have it forever. I bet it's still there to this day.
Side note: did anyone else discover the secret store under the bridge that sold super power ups, or was that just me?
Gomerboy
Figcoinc
Posted 2:18 AM 22/4/08
River City Ransom is awesome!
*BARF!*
WooHoo!
Figcoinc
Witzbold
Posted 2:15 AM 22/4/08
RCR is still one of the best games I wouldnt mind playing even to this day.
Good times all around.
Swordfish Sushi best food ever!
Witzbold
vincentprice
Posted 2:14 AM 22/4/08
Me and my brother use to play river city ransom non stop. We didn't beat it till a couple years back when we got an emulator and played it on the computer. I always thought of RCR as the great granddaddy of GTA.
vincentprice
Vidunder
Posted 2:14 AM 22/4/08
PSIII had the most beautiful, yet totally unbearable, soundtrack of its era. Very nicely composed, too bad that the MD chips distorted and screeched it to death.
Vidunder
Strange Bedfellows
Posted 2:13 AM 22/4/08
@KirbySS: Awesome. Thanks for the advice, I'll pick it up as part of that collection rather than on the VC. Then I can take it with me on the road, too!
Strange Bedfellows
Wulfgang
Posted 2:11 AM 22/4/08
I had never actually seen the cover for RCR (or was too young to remember it). When I saw it on here it made me crack up. The guys block hair is hilarious.
Wulfgang
MURDERFACE
Posted 2:10 AM 22/4/08
Awesome RCR is a amazing game it's worth the 500 points (5 bucks)
MURDERFACE
Solid_hedgehog
Posted 2:10 AM 22/4/08
It's a shame Nintendo Wi-Fi doesn't like to work with my router. So many VC games I'm missing.
Solid_hedgehog
Sicrowell
Posted 3:06 AM 22/4/08
River city Ransom might be my favorite NES game.
I'm so excited I'm Acro Circus-ing over here
Sicrowell
Derigor
Posted 3:06 AM 22/4/08
@Witzbold: Texas Boots! Best Weapon EVER!
God I love RCR
@FightingChance: Agreed, Super dodgeball was a masterpiece. Now if Tecmo could rip off it's gameplay and have a DOA super ultra dodgeball xx then I would have something good to buy for my 360. And by good I mean jubblies for when we are too drunk to play rock band but not drunk enough to feel the sting of a vicious multi-ball spike!
Derigor
fuchikoma
Posted 3:05 AM 22/4/08
RCR is legendary. Best infinite background music loop in a brawler.
@B1ooDshOt:
I've made it to the school gates numerous times. It seemed to be the end, but there was nothing to do, even with two players. No way to go in, no way to go past.
@Gomerboy:
Oh yeah. Bridge store FTW.
fuchikoma
You-Cannot-Untoast
Posted 3:05 AM 22/4/08
RCR might make me reconsider selling my Wii.
Nah, not really. But damn, that's a good game.
You-Cannot-Untoast
antialias02
Posted 3:02 AM 22/4/08
River City Ransom is probably the only one of three games I had left on my wishlist for VC.
One down, two to go.
antialias02
Rhawb
Posted 3:01 AM 22/4/08
YES! RCR! I can remember playing that game with my best friend for hours when I was a kid. Sigh, time to spend 20 more dollars...
Rhawb
FightingChance
Posted 3:00 AM 22/4/08
I remember buying River City Ransom at a swap meet and flea market for electronic stuff at a Hyatt hotel. Didn't know anything about it, but it had some dudes on the cover that were about to get busy, so at least I knew it was like Double Dragon or Bad Dudes.
But it was so much better. So many hours played with a friend in 2 player mode. The game was so deep... you could learn all these different fighting moves, and it tracked tons of stats that stayed, and it was so awesome inventing new ways to attack like picking up your friend and running and throwing him and then he somersaults into a dragon kick.
I think the same guys made Super Dodgeball, which was equally excellent.
FightingChance
vincentprice
Posted 2:55 AM 22/4/08
@Gomerboy: Yeah i remember finding that store but when i found it my stats were already too awesome for the power ups. The people that made river city ransom made some other awesome games too such as a 2 on 2 fighting game and an amazing hockey game. Itd be nice if those got released too.
vincentprice
tralfaz23
Posted 2:51 AM 22/4/08
:( I want Earth Bound
:( I want UN Squadron (Area 88)
:( I want a twinkie
tralfaz23
Mr.SithNinja
Posted 3:17 AM 22/4/08
Stone Hands + Dragon Feet + Texas Boots = WIN!
Mr.SithNinja
Radjago
Posted 4:10 AM 22/4/08
@Nintendo:
"(PS III )set(s) you on a quest filled with twists and turns that will reintroduce you to people and places from previous Phantasy Star games."
The story ties into the other PS games tangentially at best. I can only think of one character that makes an appearance. Bet you can't guess which one.
Radjago
-HeyWowItsFelipe-
Posted 4:03 AM 22/4/08
Phantsasy Star IV is where its at! comon.. COMON!!!!!
or some double dragon haha
-HeyWowItsFelipe-
ninjafetus
Posted 4:02 AM 22/4/08
@Mr.SithNinja:
I think you mean Grand Slam + (everything in Merlin's Mystery Shop) + Trashcan = EASY WIN!
@B1ooDshOt:
Yeah, I've beat it a few times. Just make sure you get the technique books and it's not too hard. You might have to backtrack at times to get through the bosses so you can get in the school, but it's definitely doable. It's not G&G or Battletoads by any means.
ninjafetus
Tepoz
Posted 3:56 AM 22/4/08
*angels flying down from heaven*
RIVER CITY RANSOM
Tepoz
mva5580
Posted 3:49 AM 22/4/08
River City Ransom? Oh my. Downloading shall commence later on tonight.
And yes Super Dodgeball please! Talk about a classic.
mva5580
GordieHoweHatTrick
Posted 3:48 AM 22/4/08
I'm all over RCR. Makes me wish Super Dodgeball will hit the VC sometime soon as well.
GordieHoweHatTrick
Jazhuis
Posted 4:29 AM 22/4/08
Chickwich.
That is all.
Jazhuis
davikken
Posted 4:28 AM 22/4/08
By far the best Wii VC week!
davikken
TheCleaningGuy
Posted 4:17 AM 22/4/08
@Witzbold: Have you played the other Kunio-kun games?
[hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com]
TheCleaningGuy
WildVulture
Posted 5:04 AM 22/4/08
Man, I am absolutely worthless at work today. There's a whole city of goons full of barf, just waiting to get their faces kicked in. And here I am at work. Being an adult sucks.
WildVulture
Nimrandir
Posted 4:46 AM 22/4/08
Man, now I have to find five bucks somewhere. Thanks Nintendo!
I enjoyed Phantasy Star III; it was the first Genesis game I managed to finish. My only problem with the generation system was the fact that all the third generations were basically the same thing. Don't get me wrong -- four cool adventures on one cart was nice, but when I realized I was doing the same thing as Aron that I had done as Sean earlier, I was a bit let down.
Nimrandir
nypad5
Posted 5:23 AM 22/4/08
Seriously nintendo...Update more per week!
nypad5
ph15h needs followers
Posted 5:22 AM 22/4/08
Too bad its not the River City Ransom Remake (EX i think?). I liked the original, but more colors, weapons and groups never hurt.
ph15h needs followers
Foxstar Sixtail
Posted 6:21 AM 22/4/08
@nypad5:Why do they? All of the big three currently update their services once a week.
Foxstar Sixtail
failbit
Posted 7:53 AM 22/4/08
i didn't even read this article yet...fuck the article. RIVER CITY (fucking) RANSOM!!!!!!
failbit
Eltigro
Posted 9:43 AM 22/4/08
RCR is cool. Might download that one if I ever get more Wii Points...
But PSIII is, from what I've read, one of the least well regarded Phantasy Star games. And I already have it on two systems (Phantasy Star Collection for GBA and the actual PSIII for Genesis). Definitely won't be downloading that one. I still haven't finished the Genesis one.
Eltigro
kftgr
Posted 9:31 AM 22/4/08
Pshaw! Y'all haven't played RCR until you've finished it on Hard with none of those wimpy techniques (except Fatal Steps, for the humiliation factor).
The best item in the game was Leg of Lamb. When you're on the ground and Randy and Andy are Dragon Spin Kicking your ass, nothing's better than Leg of Lamb for that Willpower boost.
RCR is truly one of the best games on the NES. You've got your RPG elements, nasty minibosses, superfun co-op play, and extended replayability that's only hampered by your imagination. Try going through the game without the rapidfire techs, or without upgrading your stats (or both!)
The multiplayer is even more extensible. Like SSBB? Battle your friends in Sherman Park, the alley behind Thor's Factory, the empty classroom, or the school's Rooftop. Think that Kane & Lynch's uneasy truce was original? Go through the streets and see who can get the most money; but you'll have to watch out for more than just the mobs.
You've never played RCR until you've played it like how I've played it. This is one game that needs achievements for people to fully appreciate the fun that could be had.
kftgr
KM91
Posted 11:07 AM 22/4/08
I might get RCR, I have a soft spot for beat-em-ups.
KM91
Dalorien
Posted 11:14 AM 22/4/08
holy crap. RCR. One of the best games I've ever played period. 2d fighting RPG. Reminds me of that old school soccer game on NES with super spike VBALL.
Dalorien
m3rcer
Posted 12:33 PM 22/4/08
This is awesome! If only they would re-dub and release all the KUNIO titles, I would likely then buy a Wii!
m3rcer
Quebeley
Posted 12:28 PM 22/4/08
Mamaaa!
Quebeley
krushjudgement
Posted 4:20 PM 22/4/08
River City Ransom. Best. Game. Ever
krushjudgement
freespeech
Posted 4:52 AM 26/4/08
is that christian bale and edward james almos on the cover of river city ransom???????
freespeech