River City Girls Zero

River City Girls Zero (released in Japan as Shin Nekketsu Kouha: Kunio-tachi no Banka) is actually a sequel to Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun. The game follows Kunio and his girlfriend, Misako (yes, the same Misako from River City Girls), as they team up to rescue their kidnapped friend Riki from a rival gang. The twist? The kidnappers frame Kunio for the crime, so he’s gotta clear his name while punching his way through waves of delinquents. The story’s simple but packed with that classic Kunio-kun charm, over the top drama, ridiculous rival gangs, and plenty of "I’ll get you for this!" energy. 

You pick between Kunio, Riki, Misako or Kyoko, a first for the series, letting you play as her in a mainline game, and you brawl through stages, leveling up to unlock new moves. Combat’s straightforward but satisfying: basic punches, kicks, and grapples, plus special attacks that drain your stamina. The leveling system adds depth, letting you customize your playstyle, but it’s not super deep. The game’s got that classic Kunio-kun feel where fights are chaotic, enemies gang up on you, and weapons like bats and chains occasionally spice things up.

The biggest change from earlier games is the structure, instead of just linear stages, there’s some light exploration. You can revisit areas, talk to NPCs for hints, and even take on side quests, like rescuing random students. It’s not open-world obviously, but it gives the game a bit more personality than your average arcade-style brawler.  

For a SNES game, it looks solid. The sprites are chunky and expressive, with that trademark Kunio-kun aesthetic: big-headed, cartoony, and full of attitude. The animations are smooth, especially the over-the-top attacks and goofy enemy reactions. The music’s a banger too, with upbeat, punchy tracks that fit the delinquent vibe. It’s not as iconic as River City Ransom’s soundtrack, but it gets the job done.

English

 

Español