=================================== River City Ransom / Street Gangs / Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari NES - Famicom - PC Engine CD-ROM Player's Guide - Version 2.04F Author: Frank Provo E-mail: frank@frankprovo.com =================================== The current version of this guide is always available in text format from: http://www.frankprovo.com/rcr/ http://www.gamefaqs.com This River City Ransom Guide may be reproduced or the information herein included in publications (online or print), provided credit is given. Original portions of this Guide may not be reproduced or modified for used in profitable (read: Commercial) endeavors without the expressed written permission of Frank Provo, the owner of this Guide/FAQ. This Guide is copyrighted to Frank Provo (c 1997-2001). ================= Table of Contents ================= A. Opening Blurb / About B. Plot C. Controls - How to play - 2-Player Considerations - How the submenu works - Weapons you and the baddies can use D. Verbosity E. Gangs, Colors & Loot - The Gangs - Gang Fighting Tips F. The Good Guys G. Bosses H. Purchased Techniques I. Malls, Shops & Power Ups - Malls, items, price, and what they do - Shopping Tips J. Walk Through - 3 Parts, All 32 scenes K. Cheats & Codes L. Other Technos Super-Deformed Titles M. River City Ransom Online N. The Final Blurbs - How to contribute? - Contributors & Acknowledgements - How long does it take to beat this darn game? ============================================================ A. What is River City Ransom / Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari? ============================================================ River City Ransom is a pseudo-3D action RPG fighting game created by Technos Japan and marketed in America by American Technos. As far as I know, the game is only available in English on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. Amusingly, in Europe and most PAL markets, the game was released by Infogrames with the title 'Street Gangs.' In Japan, the game may be found on the Famicom (via Technos) and the PC-Engine Super CD (via Naxat) systems with the title 'Downtown Nekettsu Monogatari.' The game originally came out in 1989 and bears similarity to another popular Technos title, Double Dragon. There have been many pseudo-sequels to the game in Japan, but none that contain the exact gameplay or style of River City Ransom. Though similar to Double Dragon, River City Ransom is superior in every possible way--more moves, more enemies, more variety, etc. To date, I haven't played a game quite like this one on any of the more current 16, 32, and 128-bit systems. While its graphics & sound might pale to more recent games, the sheer fun factor and playability of River City Ransom make it more enjoyable than a good 95% of the current era of gaming. Another nice touch is that River City Ransom is for 1 or 2 players. Okay, so that's not entirely unusual, but what is unusual is the existence of certain tag team moves you can do with the aid of another player. They aren't exactly spectacular, but they add a ton of amusement to the game--which is what 2-player games should be: amusing and fun. For a game released in 1989, River City Ransom screams longevity. Fighting elements, lots of action, an excellent 2-player co-operative system, and nice pseudo-anime graphics make this a must-have game for anyone who calls themselves a gaming conniseur. I wrote this guide because I'm still in love with this game, more than ten years after the fact. ============================================ B. The Plot (adapted a tad from the manual): ============================================ It's a nice, clear day out, so like any self-respecting High School students, you and your friend Alex ditch school to spend most of the day socializing. Rather than dwell on the fact that you have a math test tomorrow, you decide to meet up with your girlfriend, Cyndi, and go shopping. Unfortunately, this means heading back to school, but hey--that's in a few hours, so you're not going to get too distracted from your double mocha latte'. After a few hours have gone by, you head back over to school and take the long walk up the curiously empty steps. Stopping by your locker to pick up your jacket, you note a "post-it" stuck to your locker door. Upon closer inspection, it reads: "I hold your city captive & RYAN's girlfriend hostage. With my gangs of students & evil bosses, nobody can stop me now. Meet my demands - or else!... P.S. Alex & Ryan if you interfere, you'll be in for the fight of your lives! ... SLICK" Argh! Just what you need on a day like this--pathetic melodrama. Thanks to a rather conceited note, it looks like you're going to spend your day kicking butt and taking names. Wait a minute, where did all of the other students go? Did Slick kidnap them too? Hmmm.... Ah well, can't dwell on that now, you gotta save this town and get Cyndi back to her shopping before the Malls close. (You know how she hates to miss a sale) ============ C. Controls: ============ A - Punch, Block, & Use Weapon B - Kick, Block, & Throw Weapon A+B - Jump (You can punch, kick, and throw in midair) Start - Pause/Submenu (belongings, password, stats, level/message speed, help) Select - Switch between Stamina Guage and Money Guage D-Pad - Move around in the psuedo-3D environment Tap D-Pad twice to run - you may attack while running 2-Player Considerations: In 2 player mode you can jump on top of your partner and stand on his head. Your partner can throw you (no damage) while you're on top of him, enabling you to fly through the air doing multiple attacks. There are also a number of power ups in the game that enable 'tag team' attacks. When you first turn on the game, your options are to choose either 1p or 2p and your character. You can change your character's name by hitting 'Select' on this screen. After choosing characters, you can change the message speed and difficulty level of the game. Choosing Advanced will result in the enemy having twice the stamina, speed, and strength they'd normally have. You can change this during the game too. Beginners should pick Novice level. The "Status" Screen: (during game - hit Start, pick Status) Min/Max 15/63 Punch Damage your punches do 15/63 Kick Damage your kicks do 15/63 Weapon Damage your armed attacks do 15/63 Throw Damage done when throwing someone/thing 15/63 Agility A mixture of speed and jump height 15/63 Defense Bears upon your ability to block 15/63 Strength Ability to break an enemy's block or hold them 15/63 Will Power Ability to regain consciousness when K.O.'d 63/127 Stamina Your Life 63/127 Max Power Your Maximum Amount of Life Weapons you (and the gangs) can use: Wooden Crate - A big wooden box to smack someone with. Trash Can - Pretty much the same as the crate. Concrete Tire - A Grey, concrete tire. Acts like a trash can. Concrete Rock - Great for throwing, adds power to your punch. Brass Knuckles - Pretty similar in usage to the rock. Wooden Stick - Batter Up! Good for throwing too. Lead Pipe - Same as the stick; but a little more spiffy. Metal Chain - As effective as the stick, but looks cooler. Gang Members - Battering Ram! Can just toss em for damage too. Your goal in the game is simple, make it to the end and save your girl. You'll have to defeat 4 bosses to gain access to River City High, and along the way will spend mucho dinero in shops in order to power yourself up. Thankfully, each time you beat up an enemy they drop a little bit of money. Most "levels" will yield between $5 and $10 depending on the gang who controls it. When defeated you don't die, you simply awaken from your beating at the last mall you passed through--with your wallet pilfered. If your Willpower is 35 or above, you will regain consciousness a few seconds after being knocked down, with 20 life points (2 bars) regained and no loss of money. Note: (I will mention this later in the guide as well) You MUST defeat every boss to enter River City High School. If one goes undefeated, the gates will be closed. (Sorry to harp on that, but it's a popular inquiry.) ============= D. Verbosity: ============= All throughout the game, enemies and friends alike tend to babble to you about anything that comes to mind. Most of the time it's just those pesky college guys harassing you, or the gangsters bragging about how they're going to kick your butt. However, sometimes you can gain valuable clues through what's said. For instance, Roxy clues you in on the existence of a hidden room on the top floor of River City High. Even those pesky Zombies have wisdom to impart, telling you which Zombie to defeat next and where to find them. Additionally, depending on the character you choose, some of the messages will differ slightly--i.e. Roxy's clues to Cyndi's whereabouts change a little bit between Alex & Ryan. ================ E. The Good Guys ================ Alex & Ryan In a one player game you can be either of them. In a 2-Player game both of them get to kick some gang butt. Other than Ryan having a blue shirt, he's not physically different from Alex. You gotta love 'em though, since they're your main characters :) Roxy Slick's girlfriend, who has a change of heart and informs you of Cyndi's whereabouts. She also warns you about the twins, and basically kicks the plot into high gear when it's needed most. Cyndi Ryan's girlfriend, who seems to be more interested in shopping than the predicament she is in. For proof of this, beat the twins inside River City High, and go into the door just left of where you met Randy & Andy. Cyndi's being held there, and yet she'll chew you out for being late-- she's so grateful, isn't she? Sad to say, but other than the mall workers, that's about it in the way of good guys. 500 of them, 4 of you - nice odds eh? ===================================================== F. The Gangs, Members, Shirt Colors, & Money Carried: ===================================================== The Generic Dudes - LIGHT BLUE - $.50 Barry, Cary, Harry, Jerry, Larry, Perry, Ralph, and Terry Your basic wannabee gang members. Rather slow, not too strong, etc. You'll meet these guys predominantly in the beginning of your mission. The Home Boys - TAN - $.75 Bob, Brady, Chip, Doug, Ernie, Greg, Peter, Robby, and Steve A little faster, stronger, and smarter than the Generic Dudes-- but not by much. The Jocks - LIGHT GREEN - $.60 Brad, Curt, Dirk, Jake, Lance, Matt, Mike, and Nick Medium speed, a bit like the Home Boys after they've hit the gym. Tend to use weapons if they find them laying around. All in all, a very middle-ground gang. The Frat Guys - PINK - $.55 Biff, Clark, Grant, Skip, Trent, Trip, Tyler, and Logan These guys love to bring weapons into the party, and attack like drunken lunatics. They usually appear on a level running, and will attack at full speed if you're close. Many times they will run off after a punch or two. The Internationals - DARK GREEN - $1.10 Akbar, Andre, Boris, Fuji, Hans, Juan, Lars, Wang, and Yemi A somewhat smarter, later in the game, version of the Home Boys. They're quite wimpy by the time you encounter them though. The Squids - BURGUNDY - $1.00 Berni, Byron, Erwin, Felix, Herb, Howie, Linus, Monty, and Waldo The Frat Guys on crack is what these guys are. Fast, strong, and they love to throw you around if given the chance. If that weren't enough, they love to use weapons as well. Another gang to simply avoid. The Mob - GREY - $.90 Lefty, Louie, Marco, Max, Mouse, Sid, Tony, and Vinny Similar to the Squids, only a little less fast. They tend to appear carrying weapons though, so it's tougher heading them off at the pass. They're another gang probably best left alone. Moose, the Construction site boss, and Rocko, the Warehouse boss, wear Mob shirt colors. The Plague - RED - $1.25 Blaze, Edge, Mooky, Slash, Snake, Stick, Sting, and Tonto You'll meet these guys inside River City High School, and they'll be quite the pushovers when you do. While a tad stronger, they fight like the Internationals, and take a beating just like them too. The Cowboys - DARK BLUE - $1.20 Bart, Bubba, Duke, Dusty, Jed, Like, Merie, Shane, and Slim You'll run into these guys just outside of River City High, and from time to time inside as well. They attack just like the Mob. Be careful around them, they love to doubleteam. Tex, the boss on the 2nd floor of River City High, is probably a cowboy. The Zombies - RED - $2.50-3.75 Blade, Turk, Mojo, and Thor Not a gang per se, but you'll fight their members at various times throughout the game. They wear red shirts like the Plague, only you'll have to beat four of them before you even meet up with the Plague members. Benny & Clyde - PURPLE - $7.00 ($3.50 each) A gang unto themselves. They first accost you at the base of the Capital Ave. Bridge. They always come replete with weapons, and will use any means necessary to put you down for the count. If you beat them once, prepare to face them again in front of Pop's Health Club. General Gang-Fighting Tips * The gang you face on each "level" is random, so if you don't like fighting a certain gang, leave the screen. When you return, a new gang may take their place. * Avoid fighting the Frat Guys, the Squids, & the Mob until you are strong enough to defeat them (i.e. stat levels above 20 or so for the Frat Guys, above 30 or so for the rest). * Weapons slow you down and are a detriment when fighting in close quarters. If the enemy is close to you, stick to hand-to-hand combat. If an enemy has a weapon, move offline a bit and hit him with a running kick--he'll lose his lunch. * Never stay in between two gang members; they'll beat you silly. * Stronger gang members yield more money when defeated. Learn which ones pay off the most and use this to your advantage. You'll need money if you're to survive. Tip: Bosses can be fought repeatedly. * The quickest way to defeat gang members in the presence of bottomless pits is to simply push or throw them in. You won't reap monetary gain however, and they can do the same to you (falling into a pit is instant defeat and sends you back to the last mall you visited). * This last point can't be stressed enough: USE WALLS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. The programmers dotted levels with benches, walls, etc. to climb on, and they make wonderful points of attack. Enemies freeze when you climb above them--so get them close, jump on a wall, move over, and attack while falling. ========= G. Bosses ========= Though Benny & Clyde and the Zombies are mentioned above, it seemed prudent to give a summary of all the bosses, where you'll find them, and their fighting styles. Moose - Sticksville Construction Site - $2.25 Likes to do jump attacks. Favorite move seems to be a punch followed by a jumping kick. Tends to run. Uses weapons with nearly the same speed as his attacks. Not a very easy boss to fight early on, but can be defeated. Attack him while he is going for weapons, take advantage of the walls around you, and if need be--knock him into the pit. Benny & Clyde - Base of the Capital Ave. Bridge - $3.50 each As mentioned above. Absolutely love to use weapons. Are quick, will doubleteam, and will not hesitate to throw you around. Your best bet is to have either the Stone Hands or Dragon Feet technique bought by this time. Benny seems slightly quicker and more apt to block than Clyde. They don't jump too often, but will take advantage when you are stunned. Rocko - Inside the WSL Co. Warehouse - $2.00 Fights pretty much like Moose, only the quarters are less cramped. He's got so so speed, loves weapons, and is dangerous -- however, if you use the walls and boxes to your advantage (i.e. to avoid always being on the same plane as Rocko) you will be fine. If you have one of the triple attack techniques by now, Rocko is toast. Blade - Sherman Park - $3.50 After beating Rocko, he tells you to head back to Sherman Park (i.e. the entrance is located in Sticksville, the Frat Boys usual home) to fight Blade--The first of the Zombies. Blade loves weapons, will block ad infinitum, and knocks off damage like a freight train. He's very into jump attacks also. Your best bet is to get him while he has a weapon, since he'll be (A LITTLE) slower. Also, the columns and benches in the park provide strategic spots for taking cheap shots at him. Turk - Third portion of Armstrong Thru-Way - $2.50 Another unannounced Zombie to get in your way. He fights exactly like Blade and Mojo, so refer to their sections. One caveat--you have no walls or obstacles to hide behind this time. If you aren't powered up, you will be slaughtered. Mojo - Downtown "Playground" - $2.50 Although Blade says you have to get through Thor to fight Slick, he neglected to mention the zombie known as Mojo. You'll find Mojo just before Flatirons Mall, at a makeshift streetfighting playground (replete with bleachers!). Just like Blade, Mojo loves weapons, and once again there are plenty of obstacles with which to stand on. If you aren't powered up, attack via the walls and bleachers. If you are, hit him when he has a weapon. Don't fight him too much if he is weaponless, mainly because if he knocks you down, his throws take mucho stamina. Thor - Vacant 3rd Wheel Factory - $3.75 If you've beaten all of the zombies mentioned above, you can have the honor of fighting Thor in the back room of the Vacant 3rd Wheel Factory. Again, he fights similar to the others, with one notable exception--There's a huge pit on his level. Basically, use the elevated floor to your advantage, and don't get thrown into the pit. Benny & Clyde - Burb Village Health Club (After Oak Hill Mall) - $3.50ea They fight the exact same as they did previously, only now they (and you hopefully) are powered up. Attack them one at a time, don't get in between them, and don't turn your back--that's all you need for these clowns. When defeated, $7.00 for you (hint hint: they are a great way to get rich). Ivan - Just outside of River City High School - $8.75 A rather anomolous boss to say the least. Wearing a dark green shirt, this guy is one badass mofo. Unlike his shirt though, he doesn't fight like a wimpy International. He is fast, has many jump attacks, and loves to thwap you in midair with weapons. He also has a viscious headbutt that does major damage even when your character is maxed out. On the upshot, if you have any of the triple attacks by now, and have bought ample powerups, you'll eat him for breakfast in no time. Wait til he picks up a weapon and let him have it. Note: You must defeat Ivan and ALL of the bosses before him to gain entry into RCHS. If you've not done this, you're not getting inside. Otis - River City High School Gym - $4.00 He could be a zombie, or he might be a very angry Plague member; either way, he's mad. You're wearing gym shoes on his floor, and he's not happy. He loves jump attacks, two-in-ones, and will gladly throw you all over if given half a chance. Your best bet is to use elevated objects, or to at least have your punch or kicks maxed out (including either Dragon Feet or Stone Hands). By this late in the game though, he shouldn't be too difficult. Tex - 2nd Floor of River City High School - $9.50 Finally, a boss representing the Cowboy's gang. Unlike other bosses though, he has huge bulging eyes and looks like he's hopped up on Roids. He doesn't fight much different than Otis or Ivan though. Likes weapons, two-in-ones, and loves to pick you up and throw you around--sound familiar? Unlike Otis or Ivan though, he appears with a big fat stick, and isn't afraid to bash your head in with it. Beware his spinning stick swings too--they can do you major hurt if you're unlucky enough to be hit by them. Get in the first hit and take him down--heck, he'll even cheer you on. Randy & Andy - 3rd floor of River City High School - $18.00 each If you hear the "Double Dragon" theme playing, you know you're fighting these guys. Not coincidentally, they fight with moves resembling those of Billy & Jimmy, the Double Dragons. They are both fast, will throw you if they manage to knock you down, and have insane attack priority over you. Additionally, they have a viscious triple spin kick. That's not the worst part though-- the worst is that their attacks will do HUGE damage on you, to the tune of between 30 & 60 points per successful blow. Fight them one at a time, throw them if you can, and make sure your attacks are powered up mucho. It also couldn't hurt to get the "grand slam" power up and bring along Tex's stick. Slick (a.k.a Simon) - River City High School roof Ah yes, Slick turns out to be none other than Simon, famous of Double Dragon fame. Compared to Randy & Andy he is an utter wuss. He's got moderate speed, will jump with weapons, and likes jump attacks. However, he doesn't seem to block as smartly as he should, and he's very susceptible to being picked up and tossed when on the ground. He's got the same vulnerabilities his minions have when it comes to picking up weapons also. In short, by the time you reach him, you should be able to beat him. ======================= H. Purchased Techniques ======================= The malls in River City (see next section) feature a number of book stores that specialize in martial arts training manuals. By purchasing and reading one of these books, you can add a new, super-duper technique to your array of moves. Buy a book and use it to learn a move. Drop the book to unlearn the move. Stone Hands and Dragon Feet are ALWAYS the first two items in every book shop. In keeping, Acro Circus, Fatal Steps, Gran Slam, and Javelin Man are spread out as the final item in each successive shop. Stone Hands - $26.95 - Recommended! One of the most affordable and useful moves in the game. Lets you perform three Punches in the time it would normally take to perform a single punch. |Grotto Book Store (4th shop, 1st Mall, "Grotto Mall") |Flatirons Books (1st shop, 3rd Mall, "Flatirons Mall") |Oak Hill Book Store (3rd shop, 4th Mall, "Oak Hill" Mall) |Read All About It (4th shop, 4th Mall, "Oak Hill" Mall) Dragon Feet - $26.95 - Highly Recommended! One of the most affordable and useful moves in the game. Lets you perform three Kicks in the time it would normally take to perform a single kick. |Grotto Book Store (4th shop, 1st Mall, "Grotto Mall") |Flatirons Books (1st shop, 3rd Mall, "Flatirons Mall") |Oak Hill Book Store (3rd shop, 4th Mall, "Oak Hill" Mall) |Read All About It (4th shop, 4th Mall, "Oak Hill" Mall) Acro Circus - $26.95 - Mediocre at best. If you run, then jump, your character will perform a somersault that will either stun or knock down the enemy. Good paired with Fatal Steps. |Grotto Book Store (4th shop, 1st Mall, "Grotto Mall") Fatal Steps - $37.50 - Mediocre at best. Press A+B simultaneously to kick downed opponents. Also seems to work just from running them over sometimes. Not too useful by itself. |Flatirons Books (1st shop, 3rd Mall, "Flatirons Mall") Grand Slam - $57.50 - Highly Recommended! Excellent technique! Lets you perform three weapon strikes in the time it'd normally take you to perform one. You're unstoppable with a stick. |Oak Hill Book Store (3rd shop, 4th Mall, "Oak Hill" Mall) Javelin Man - $78.25 - Don't buy. Enables you to pick up a downed enemy and throw them. They'll sail across the screen taking out other enemies. Tough to use and useless against bosses, but fun in 2-player mode. |Read All About It (4th shop, 4th Mall, "Oak Hill" Mall) =========================== I. Malls, Shops & Power Ups =========================== Shops and Items are listed in the order they appear. If they're in the same order in the Japanese version of the game (untested), this guide should prove an adequate translation guide for working through Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari as well. Note: I don't mind others including this list of malls on their websites or including it in their FAQs, but please give credit where credit is due. I spent hours and hours finding out all this info and typing it out. KEY - WP = WILL POWER, D = DEFENSE, ST = STAMINA, SG = STRENGTH, AG = AGILITY, MP = MAX POWER, WN = WEAPON, TH = THROW The power up levels listed below are maximal values. The Stamina and Max Power increases you receive will depend on how damaged you are. Max Power Increases can be calculated with this formula: Rated MP Increase - (Current MP - Current ST) = MP Increase e.g (Buy Salmon at the Sushi Bar for MP+7. Your current MP is 35 and your stamina is 30. Thus, 7 - (35-30) = 2. Your MP would increase by 2. If you're so weak to negate an increase, you'll get at least +1) Grotto Mall Rise & Shine Cafe Coffee .95 (WP+2,ST+15,MP+4) Tea .95 (WP+4) Hot Cocoa 1.25 (D+1,ST+24,MP+5) Pancakes 3.30 (ST+25,MP+7) Waffles 4.10 (AG+1,SG+1,ST+25,MP+6) Metro Bakery Donut .80 (WP+6) Muffin .90 (AG+1,ST+6,MP+1) Bagel .90 (D+1,ST+6,MP+1) Honey Bun .90 (SG+1,ST+6,MP+1) Croissant 1.00 (ST+8,MP+1) Sushi Bar *Cheaper Sushi* Egg 2.25 (P+1,ST+10,MP+2) Octopus 2.25 (WN+1,ST+8,MP+2) Squid 2.25 (TH+2,ST+4,MP+1) Conger Eel 3.75 (D+2,ST+16,MP+3) Prawn 6.00 (SG+2,ST+32,MP+3) *Expensive Sushi* Salmon 8.25 (P+1,WP+2,ST+40,MP+7) Ark Shell 9.00 (WN+1,WP+2,ST+50,MP+12) Sea Urchin 11.50 (TH+2,WP+2,ST+64,MP+14) Halibut 18.50 (D+3,WP+7,ST+80,MP+20) Swordfish 28.75 (P+4,TH+4,SG+4,WP+5,ST+80,MP+8) *Rolls* Salad Roll 2.00 (ST+20,MP+5) Tuna Roll 3.75 (ST+32,MP+7) Shrimp Roll 6.25 (ST+50,MP+11) Mixed Roll 10.50 (ST+80,MP+15) Grotto Book Store Stone Hands 26.95 (Three Punches per Punch) Dragon Feet 26.95 (Three Kicks per Kick) Acro Circus 26.95 (Running Midair Spin Attack) Waterfront Mall Waterfront Books Scandal Rag 4.50 (D+2,WP+3) Comic Times 6.50 (WN+2,D+1,WP+4) Mystic Seer 18.00 (AG+2,WP+13) Nuclear Spy 9.95 (ST+4,WP+5) Indian Lore 28.75 (WP+30) Chez Walle's Salad Paris 2.35 (ST+10,MP+2) Onion Soup 3.50 (ST+12,MP+2) Cornish Hen 27.75 (TH+4,WP+25) Veal Walle 36.00 (ST+5,WP+28,ST+99,MP+24) Mao's Place Egg Roll 3.50 (D+3,ST+24,MP+6) Fried Rice 5.95 (TH+1,ST+40,MP+1) Garlic Pork 5.75 (WN+1,ST+32,MP+7) Pepper Beef 5.95 (ST+52,MP+10) Chow Mein 5.95 (K+1,ST+40,MP+9) Merv's Burger Joint *Sandwiches* Merv Burger 2.00 (WN+1,ST+8,MP+1) Cheese Merv 2.25 (TH+1,ST+10,MP+2) Fish Merv 2.50 (AG+1,ST+12,MP+2) Mondo Merv 3.45 (WP+2,ST+16,MP+3) *Drinks* Milk .85 (ST+10,MP+2) Iced Tea .95 (WP+2) Soda 1.10 (WN+1,ST+8,MP+2) Merv Malt 2.00 (D+1,ST+10,MP+2) *Side Orders* Merv Fries 1.50 (ST+14,MP+3) Merv Rings 1.50 (SG+1,ST+12,MP+3) Apple Pie 2.00 (AG+1,ST+10,MP+2) Spicy Chili 2.75 (D+1,ST+16,MP+3) Smile Free ("Alex/Ryan Blushed" - 0 INCREASE) Jones' Pharmacy Vita-Mints 2.10 (WP+1,ST+8,MP+2) Digestol 4.95 (WP+2,ST+24,MP+6) Recharge! 9.75 (SG+1,WP+2,ST+56,MP+14) Karma Jolt 15.25 (TH+3,ST+99,MP+24) Omni Elixir 19.95 (P+2,WP+8,ST+80,MP+20) Merlin's Mystery Shop |Hidden in the Armstrong Thru-Way Tunnel| |Press and Hold 'Up' about 3/4 of the | |way through the tunnel to find it. | Excaliber 100.00 (WN+30,WP+48,ST+99, MP+24) Zeus' Wand 200.00 (TH+48,SG+48,WP+48,ST+99,MP+24) Rodan Wing 100.00 (D+30,WP+48,ST+99,MP+24) Gold Medal 100.00 (P+30,WP+48,ST+99,MP+24) Isis Scroll 20.00 (TH+20) Flatirons Mall Flatirons Books Stone Hands 26.95 (Three Punches per Punch) Dragon Feet 26.95 (Three Kicks per Kick) Fatal Steps 37.50 (Jump near downed enemies; they die) The Roman Cow Ice Cream 3.50 (AG+2,ST+16,MP+4) Roman Shake 4.25 (WN+2,ST+24,MP+6) Cola Float 4.75 (D+2,ST+32,MP+8) Nero Pizza 6.25 (ST+50,MP+12) Lasagna 6.25 (ST+48,MP+12) Amy's Sweet Tooth Mint Gum .95 (SG+1,WP+1) Lolly Pop .95 (TH+1,WP+1) Jaw Breaker .95 (WN+1,WP+1) Rock Candy .95 (P+1,WP+1) Fudge Bar .95 (K+1,WP+1) Happy Feet Shoes *Shoes* Sneakers 28.00 (K+10,AG+20) Boat Shoes 37.95 (K+10,AG+30) Loafers 45.50 (K+30,AG+15) Army Boots 58.75 (K+40,AG+20) Texas Boots 99.95 (K+60,AG+60) *Others* Slippers 4.95 (K+2,AG+2) Insoles 8.20 (SG+7) Thongs 9.75 (K+4,AG+3) Sandals 19.95 (K+7,AG+13) Mod Boots 59.75 (K+20,AG+40) Butcher Shop Sirloin 4.95 (P+2,TH+3) Rib-eye 5.95 (P+1,AG+4) T-bone 6.95 (P+3,D+3) Lamb Leg 11.95 (P+2,WP+48) Toys Galore Maze Craze 52.75 (K+1,WP+40,ST+87,MP+24) Decathlete 57.50 (SG+3,WP+43,ST+86,MP+24) Hyper Ball 57.50 (WN+4,TH+4,WP+38,ST+84,MP+24) Techno Belt 27.25 (SG+18,ST+80,MP+20) Teddy Bear 28.00 (SG+20,ST+80,MP+20) CD Cellar R & B 9.95 (SG+3,ST+56,MP+14) Rock 9.95 (P+4,ST+48,MP+12) Pop 9.95 (D+4,ST+48,MP+12) Soul 9.95 (AG+4,ST+48,MP+12) Classical 9.95 (WP+4,ST+48,MP+12) Oak Hill Mall The Tea Bag (located to left of Mall Entrance) Fresh Juice 1.85 (WP+2,ST+16,MP+4) Lemon Tea 2.35 (WP+4) Herbal Tea 2.35 (SG+1,ST+16,MP+4) Carrot Cake 4.15 (WN+2,ST+24,MP+6) Pound Cake 4.15 (P+1,K+1,ST+28,MP+7) Kate's Cookies (located to left of Mall Entrance) Sugar 1.00 (WP+1,ST+6,MP+1) Toll House 1.00 (D+1,ST+6,MP+1) Maple Pecan 1.00 (SG+1,ST+6,MP+1) Oatmeal 1.00 (P+1,ST+6,MP+1) Brownie 1.00 (WN+1,ST+6,MP+1) Oak Hill Bookstore Stone Hands 26.95 (Three Punches per Punch) Dragon Feet 26.95 (Three Kicks per Kick) Grand Slam 57.50 (Triples Attacks with Weapons) Read All About It Stone Hands 26.95 (Three Punches per Punch) Dragon Feet 26.95 (Three Kicks per Kick) Javelin Man 78.25 (Throw opponents like a missle) Hack's Chicken Shack *Chicken* Chickwich 2.10 (WN+1,ST+8,MP+2) Dark Meat 2.65 (TH+1,ST+10,MP+2) White Meat 3.25 (AG+1,ST+12,MP+3) Combination 4.00 (WP+2,ST+16,MP+4) *Beverages* Milk .85 (ST+10,MP+2) Iced Tea .95 (WP+2) Soda 1.10 (WN+1,ST+8,MP+2) Lemonade 1.85 (D+1,ST+10,MP+2) *Fixin's* Gravy 1.50 (ST+14,MP+3) Biscuits 1.50 (SG+1,ST+12,MP+3) Corn Cobbler 2.25 (AG+1,ST+10,MP+2) Cole Slaw 2.85 (D+1,ST+16,MP+4) Smile Free ("Alex/Ryan Blushed" - 0 INCREASE) Cedar Street Drugs Vita-mints 2.10 (WP+1,ST+8,MP+2) Date Saver 7.95 (WP+3,ST+40,MP+10) Love Potion 9.95 (ST+80,MP+20) Antedote 12 10.00 (SG+1,WP+3,ST+48,MP+12) Karma Jolt 15.25 (TH+3,ST+99,MP+24) Pop's Health Club (not part of Oak Hill mall per se) Sauna 3.50 (WP+15,ST+30,MP+8) Shopping Tips * The first thing you should purchase when you reach the Grotto Mall is either Stone Hands or Dragon Feet. Stone Hands has less range since it's a punch, but is a better idea since there are more cheap punch powerups earlier in the game than kick powerups. * Punch and Kick Power Ups are VERY sparse. If you find a place that sells them, consider buying multiple items. (Unless ya happen to be in the Shoe Store--then ya buy Texas Boots and become happy) * The cheapest items in shops _usually_ don't give you much in the way of Stamina or Max Power increases; however, they're the best way to power up your punches and kicks ($48 to fill either to max via Amy's Sweet Tooth for instance). In general, the more expensive items yield Stamina and Max Power increases. * Try and avoid items over $10 in cost until you are able to defeat Benny & Clyde (either location) semi-readily. ========================= J. Walk Through (3 Parts) ========================= Since Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, the Japanese version of the game, is so similar - this walk through should suffice for it also. // ||PART 1 - Cross Town High School to WSL Co. Warehouse || Moose, Benny & Clyde, Rocko, Blade You begin in front of your school, Cross Town High, and need to make the trek east to River City High. The first gang you meet will probably be the Generic Dudes. Beat up your enemies for their cash and don't forget to use the wall to get the drop on them. (Need to run and jump, though) You can also just use it to get closer to the scene exit. From here it's into Sticksville. The next scene features the Generic Dudes or Frat Guys, although the Mob can make a rare appearance. There is usually a trash can to use as well as a wall to utilize. After this you'll come across the Grotto Mall. The first shop, Rise & Shine Cafe, offers Tea and Hot Cocoa - use these to bolster your defense, will power, and max power stats. The last shop, Grotto Book Store, sells three offensive techniques: Stone Hands, Dragon Feet, or Acrocircus. Purchasing one of the first two early on is a smart idea. ($26.95) After the mall, you'll be in another part of Sticksville. You can go north into Sherman Park, but wait on that. A new gang, the Home Boys, hangs here with the Generic Dudes, Frat Guys, and Jocks - so take them out if you're in need of cash. Otherwise, head east. You'll find yourself in the Sticksville Construction Site. Beat up the gang underlings to fight the first boss, Moose. Use the walls around you and take advantage of his aptness for picking up weapons to defeat him. Watch out for the pit! Once you've defeated Moose, go north/east and replenish yourself at the Waterfront Mall. Every shop has something decent, but the fourth one, Merv's Burger Joint, seems to have the best value. Walk east to the Capital Avenue Bridge section, talk to Roxy, then head north to fight Benny & Clyde. They're strong - so be leveled up. They're a pain to fight if you get between them, so focus on one, then the other. Your best bet is to have either the Stone Hands or Dragon Feet technique bought by this time. Head to the stairs, then go east. You'll be Downtown. The usual block of gangs will be joined by a ruthless band called the Squids. There are two tires to fight with. Defeat them and go east again. You'll end up at WSL Co. Warehouse. At WSL Co. Warehouse, dispatch the enemies in the pit or use the wall to escape. There are two rocks and a box here, but it's a cramped area to fight in. Get inside the warehouse. Once inside, you'll need to go left, then up, then right, then back left again. Defeat the gangs here to fight Rocko. Beat him by not staying on the same plane as him, and he'll tell you how to find the first member of the Zombies, Blade. Guess what, head back the way you came, all the way back to the Sticksville area with the nice paved street, the iron fence, and the mail box. Go north into Sherman Park. Blade's into weapons, jumps a lot, and fights like a horse. Your best bet is to get him while he has a weapon, since he'll be (A LITTLE) slower. Also, the columns and benches in the park provide strategic spots for taking cheap shots at him. There are two rocks here too - but so what. Congratulations, you've beaten Blade. Exit the park and run all the way east, back to the WSL Co. Warehouse again. // ||PART 2 - WSL Co. Warehouse to River City High School gate || Turk, Mojo, Thor, Benny & Clyde (again), Ivan Go inside the WSL Co. Warehouse again and make it to the other side. It's cramped outside so just head east to the Armstrong Thru Way. The Home Boys, Mob, Squids, and Internationals all hang around the Armstrong Thru Way, though the Internationals are a random bunch. Keep going east, enter the tunnel and go east some more. Merlin's Mystery Shop is hidden inside the tunnel. Hold up about 3/4th's through to find it. Once outside, you'll come face to face with Turk, another Zombie (by color anyway). There's nowhere to hide and Turk is tough - so fight well. Once defeated, head north-ish. Guess what, Mojo, another freakin' Zombie Boss character. Just like Blade, Mojo loves weapons, and once again there are plenty of obstacles with which to stand on. If you aren't powered up, attack via the walls and bleachers. If you are, hit him when he has a weapon. If he knocks you down, he will throw you like a rag doll. After beating him, take the exit into Flatirons and the Flatirons Mall. The Roman Cow (2nd shop) is the place to go for healing, while Happy Feet Shoes (4th shop) has plenty of Kick upgrades. Exit the mall into downtown Flatirons. In Downtown Flatirons, you'll tackle a group from one of six possible gangs. The rocks here are fairly useless, but there's two boxes to play with. This scene isn't really useful, so unless you need the payoff from the Cowboys, just run to the Vacant 3rd Wheel Factory. In front of the Vacant 3rd Wheel Factory, fight if you wish, then go north to enter it. Inside the Vacant 3rd Wheel Factory, fight the gang dudes, then go to the other side. Don't go if you didn't defeat all the Zombies up to now, as once you cross this chasm, it's a pain to jump back across. Head east (go figure) more to the next room. Now, you'll fight Thor - the last of the Zombies (sort of). Defeat Thor, then exit the factory. Head north from here to enter the Oak Hill Mall. Oak Hill has a ton of shops. The last one, Cedar Street Drugs, seems the best to recharge. Past the mall is Pop's Health Club, which offers a soothingly recharging Sauna. If you encounter Benny & Clyde here - great - beat them as you did before and take their money. If not, you'll need to run ahead, beat Ivan, then come back. I'm not sure why - but sometimes you have to. Head east into Burb Village. There are two trash cans and a box to enjoy, as well as a wall to use in defeating the gang members. The Cowboys and the Plague all show up by now, making gang members financially rewarding. Exit Northeast, then run east. You're now outside and in front of - River City High School. If you defeated all of the Zombies, Ivan will pop out to challenge you, once you beat the gangs. Ivan is a badass. Watch out for his headbutt. Wait until he picks up a weapon, then let him have it, or work on him with powered up kick or punch attacks. Once defeated, River City High School is accessable, PROVIDED YOU'VE BEATEN ALL OF THE OTHER BOSSES! // ||PART 3 - River City High School gate to River City High School roof || Otis, Tex, Randy & Andy, Slick Inside the gym, beat on the gangs and defeat Otis. To get into the school itself, you need to get on top of the basketball hoop. Use the beams and bleachers to do so, hop onto the hoop, then onto the backboard, and into the door. You've got three floors to climb. Fight some gangs on the first. It's pretty lame here. On the second floor is Tex - boss of the Cowboy's. He likes weapons, two-in-one combos, and loves to pick you up and throw you around--sound familiar? Beware his spinning stick swings. Get in the first hit and take him down--heck, he'll even cheer you on. On the third floor, enter a classroom to find Cyndi - who'll be mad that she's missing out on shopping. Beat the gangs here and head to the end of the hall to fight Randy & Andy - the (Double) Dragon Twins. They fight with moves resembling those of Billy & Jimmy, the Double Dragons. Fight them one at a time, throw them if you can, and make sure your attacks are powered up mucho. It also couldn't hurt to have the "grand slam" power up. Past the dragon twins lies the roof, and the final boss of the game, Slick. Get this, Slick turns out to be none other than Simon, famous of Double Dragon fame. Compared to Randy & Andy he is an utter wuss. Beat him and you've beaten the game. CONGRATULATIONS - You've completed all 32 scenes of River City Ransom! ================= K. Cheats & Codes ================= Two Player Regeneration (from T. Mask) If you play in two player mode, and one player dies, the other player can quickly leave the screen (While or a few seconds after the corpse flashes), the deceased player will return at full health w/o loss of money. This is extremely useful when one player beats the crap out of the other, then exits, thus restoring his friend to full health. Two Player Grand Slamming (from Wendell Owen) In two player mode, both buy the book grand slam, and stand on both sides of the boss(s). Use lead pipes an beat them silly. This works on twins, just hit them at the same time. Bouncing Kick Technique (from Vladimir Drakul) If you start running, jump, then tap B really quickly, you'll bounce your way along doing jump-kicks. This does horrendous amounts of damage if you're lucky enough for it to hit. Game Genie codes VOSNAVYA - every attribute at 99 (from Cancilla) OAENIYAE - $999.99 for player 1 (from Cancilla) OAONGYAE - as above except for player 2 (from Cancilla) Passwords: These next two passwords are taken directly from tsr's NES Archive, located at: http://atarihq.com/tsr/ Enter them on the password screen. Start with full energy, 63 of everything, every book, and $0.15 - i q X o k e S f a c i m K p v c U k Z U z W R i Q v r q h k T 4 Q Start with 63 of all levels, full will power, full stamina, every book, Texas Boots, and $500.50 - j r Y p l f T g b d j n O o r L T I Y X w R S j T u q p i l U H P Everything Maxed & All Items (enter on Password screen) W e L c Y S G T O Q 2 a r 1 5 o A Q V X X i c X s U 3 m V U n 1 c Passwords for Alex: Start with $122, 30 in all attributes, and 99 strength E M 7 K G A 0 D B D h W c E t Z h S Q j T Z f U X Y o f b a Z 7 N Start with Acro Circus and Lightning Feet q J i I z 0 g y S U q r y h 3 0 f s R u e k q f i j z q m s n U Y Start with Acro Circus, Dragon Feet, Stone Hands, Fatal Steps, Javelin Man, Sneakers, Excaliber, and Rodan Wing, plus $114 8 9 B T P U S V Q S 0 Y p m 5 G d u X A V s Y A u l 1 s 0 e l E a Start with Incredible Attributes w 4 1 2 y s g t M q c M U S j K m 2 P q t E U J M N d U T G O Q C Start with Ivan Beaten and High School Open t 1 i z v p d O Z n Z J x N k J p 7 C p u b X M P Q g X E r S M F No One Left but Slick! X f M d Z T H w i R 3 j a j 6 j f R U D E t t i l m 2 t W R o 8 b ========================================== L. Other Technos Super-Deformed NES Titles ========================================== River City Ransom isn't the only game by Technos to feature big heads on smallish bodies. Besides being the creators of Double Dragon, they made other games featuring the River City Ransom characters (or at least their likenesses. (Special thanks to Mike Stucke for helping me fill out this section with tasty Japanese goodness - especially near the bottom). Renegade (Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-Kun) - 1996/7 A sort of side-scrolling beat 'em up. The American version removed all indication that the characters were, in fact, high schoolers. Gameplay isn't so great, but it was incredibly popular at the time. As for the title, Nekketsu means "Hot Blooded", Kouha means roughly "tough elements", and Kunio-kun is the name of the main character (Kunio is his name, "-kun" is frequently used when addressing young men). Double Dragon - 1988 The game that started Technos on the path of success. A 1 or 2 player alternating fist-fest. A good game, average difficulty. It's basically your normal, everyday side scrolling beat-em up. River City Ransom (Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari) - 1988/9 The game this guide is about. It was also called 'Street Gangs' in Europe. Released first for the Famicom/NES by Technos, then later by Naxat for NEC's PC Engine Duo as a Super CD game. According to a review at gamefaqs.com by Godai-Kun, the PC Engine port features more graphical detail, such as greater shading and improved shop animations, but uses the NES/Famicom's graphics as its foundation. Also, the music for the PC Engine CD version is in Redbook CD audio format and, apparently, pretty well done - if a bit heavy on the guitar. Spoken dialogue is digitizied as well. Double Dragon II - 1989 The sequel to the above game. Same concept, although the controls were ruined by some auto-reverse layout (your attack depends on which way you face, a poor human factors decision), and the game is just less interesting. Oh yeah, One Player this time. Super Dodge Ball (Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball) - 1989 Released in arcades in 1988, this title made its way to the NES in 1989. A fighting game, but not in the normal sense. It's 5 on 5 attack volleyball basically. One or 2 players can participate, and frankly the game is very enjoyable. Also, the characters look exactly like the River City Ransom gang--big plus! Variations of this game are also available for NEC's PC Engine Duo and SNK's Neo Geo MVS cartridge system. World Cup Soccer (Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball bu Soccer hen ) - 1990 As they did in Dodge Ball, it's RCR merged to form a soccer hybrid. The game is actually pretty fun, though it doesn't follow the actual rules of real soccer. It's multiplayer, has a tournament mode, and actually requires strategy. Technos Samurai (Kunio kun no Jidaigeki Dayo) - 1991 A real, honest to goodness sequel to River City Ransom, sort of. The gameplay is the same, but the setting is in feudal Japan. The most amusing thing, is to ponder the fact that you're a samurai who fights with rocks, buckets and fisticuffs. The game isn't as endearing or as well rounded as RCR, but it is well worth checking out. The game also gives you a sidekick who tags along, sort of like Guardian Heroes, but he's pretty useless. Apparently, this game was released for the Game Boy also. Double Dragon III - 1991 The third, and final, Double Dragon game on the NES. Now it's 2-Player simultaneous, but you have to use up credits to buy power ups, and the game itself is kind of annoying. This game sucked in the arcade, it sucked on the NES, and it later went on to suck on the Genesis. Crash 'N The Boys Street Challenge (Nekketsu Shin Kiroku) - 1992 A valiant attempt at merging River City Ransom with Track N Field. While the Swimming and Hammer Golf competitions are enjoyable, the rest are a venture into annoyance. It can be played by up to 2 players, which is nice, but let's face it--it gets old fast. Crash 'N The Boys Ice Challenge (Ike! Ike! Nekketsu Hockey bu Subette Koronde Dai Rantou) - 1992 Apparently this game was released in a small scale. I've never seen or played it, but people email me all the time describing it. A hockey game with life bars. Nekketsu! Street Basket Ganbare Dunk Heroes (Japan Only) - 1993 A Nekketsu / River City Basketball game. Kunio and his friends go to the United States and challenge all sorts of "American stereotype" teams to basketball. RCR-type fighting is permitted, and there are all sorts of special moves and weapons available. As for the basketball, each side of the court has three backboards, each one screen above another. If the ball falls through multiple hoops, those points count. Sounds A LOT like MTV Rock and Jock Basketball TV shows. Super RCR 2 (Shodai Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun, Japan Only) - 1992/3 There exists a Japanese Super Famicom (SNES) game with mechanics and graphics bearing some similarity to River City Ransom. Think of it as "River City Ransom: The College Years." The game is not very faithful to RCR's gameplay, but it does have shops, experience, and conversation--i.e. all those RCR elements we love. Kunio Tachi no Banka (Japan Only) - 1994 A pure beat-em-up. Resembles Final Fight, only with super-deformed characters. Sounds a lot like a third sequel to either Renegade or River City Ransom. Kunio (Alex) and Riki (Ryan) go to prison after being framed for their friends' death. There are many cutscenes throughout, but it's not a terribly difficult game, as there are infinite continues. Did you know? Technos Japan went bankrupt in late 1993. They ecked out a few Kunio and non-Kunio titles in 1994, and were even tapped as late as 1995 for a minor PlayStation project (I don't know the name), and then vanished. Who owns the rights now? A GBA version of River City Ransom would be nice. ==================================== M. River City Ransom On the Internet ==================================== Here's a list of places to visit for further information about River City Ransom and related topics: * Seanbaby's RCR Page (HILARIOUS!) http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/rcr.htm * tsr's NES archive http://atarihq.com/tsr/ * NES World http://nesworld.parodius.com/ * Godai-Kun's review of Downtown Nekettsu Monogatari for PC Engine http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/turbocd/review/R11733.html * Ebay (A Great place to pickup a used or new copy of the game!) http://www.ebay.com =================== N. The Final Blurbs =================== How to contribute to this guide: I am no longer actively updating this guide. However, if anyone has any relevant information on the PC Engine Super CD of Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari / River City Ransom - I'll make an exception. Do not e-mail about ROMs. Do not e-mail about emulators. I delete these. Send relevant comments/tips to me at frank@frankprovo.com. Credits: Here's a list of people who've contributed to this guide, or aided in its evolution. Cancilla - first 3 game genie codes, and fatal steps info. Mike Faerber - Information on Super Dodge Ball, Crash 'N The Boys Street Challenge, and info about Crash 'N The Boys Ice Challenge T. Mask - 2 Player regeneration trick William Seremak - Information on World Cup Soccer Wendell Owen - 2 Player grand slam trick Vladimir Drakul - Bouncing Kicks Technique Mizubaku & Dyslexic DJ - Info on Possible RCR 2 Mike Stucke - A TON of Japanese Technos Perspectives The Game Industry - For being so dead in early 2001 that I had time to revise this guide and do a walk through. A 2nd RCR FAQ!: Jason Velez has his own version of an RCR FAQ. You can find it, and many other FAQs, at http://www.gamefaqs.com. Time to Defeat Game: Novice Beginners - 4 hours Experienced - 1.5 hours Experts - ~35-45 min. Advanced Beginners - 6 hours Experienced - 4 hours Experts - 2 hours ..end..