I am very happy that the River City/Kunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown series has continued to this day. River City Ransom was a formative game for my modern tastes. River City Girls, as a game, I don’t love as much. Its art style and soundtrack, on the other hand, I dig with both hands.
To be honest, I was practically married to the NES/Famicom art style of the series. Whenever it moved away from those rectangular meaty-armed brutes, I always felt like something was lost. However, in recent years, we’ve seen that art style preserved. Some of those games that lean on the old 8-bit art style have even felt a little hollow behind the aesthetic, which is probably why I connected so well with River City Girls.
Misako and Kyoko have evolved from obscure side characters to headliners in their own right, and I love them for it. WayForward took the license, injected their own passion and vision, and cut out their own slice of it.
The Art of River City Girls is an incredibly well put together demonstration of that.
The Art of River City Girls collects artwork from River City Girls 1 and 2, as well as River City Girls Zero, which was WayForward’s localization of Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka. It’s a pretty all-encompassing look at the art, with concept art, sprite sheets, illustrations, and even versions of the manga-style cutscenes.
All of this is packaged in a cover that resembles a classic yearbook. On top of that is a plastic slipcase that is a bit more product-y. I guess while we’re on the subject of actual product features, it’s over 300 pages (325 by my count).
It kicks off with a foreword by Adam Tierney. It’s the sort of introduction that starts with “It’s hard to believe,” but after that, it gets right into some behind-the-scenes facts as it briefly recounts the initial pitch to Arc Systems Works, states that working on the River City/Kunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown series was a dream project for WayForward and shows off the very first concept artwork depicting Kyoko and Misako (which still gets used in promotions).
The introduction encapsulates what I appreciate in this art book. There’s art, background tidbits, and a vivid taste of the team’s enthusiasm for the property.
There’s another thing I like about The Art of River City Girls: abs. There are more six-packs than a liquor store in this tome, and I am absolutely on board. Of course, there’s Marian’s abs, the former damsel from Double Dragon and playable protagonist in River City Girls 2. There’s Kunio’s rival Riki who is too cool to wear his jacket and instead prefers to keep his midsection warm with worryingly tight sports tape. Really, though, I don’t think we get to see enough of Kozuki and her amazing washboard. Damn, girl. Mmm!
Most of the behind-the-scene information is done in brief blurbs alongside the artwork. They’re pretty interesting, providing context and background to many of the characters. This includes Sonny Lee being the third Double Dragon character (the Triple Dragon?) or Crash being based on the box art of Crash ‘N’ the Boys: Street Challenge (Bikkuri Nekketsu Shinkiroku! Haruka naru Kin-Medal).
Another great thing to see is the promotional artwork that introduces us to Pirate Kyoko, Vampire Misako, and Santa Abobo. These are pieces that I’m not even sure where they were originally posted or what they were used for, so it’s neat to have them preserved in this book.
When WayForward came to the River City/Kunio-Kun/Nekketsu/Downtown they brought a lot of their own style, and that’s reflected in The Art of River City Girls. While the overwhelming majority of the book focuses entirely on WayForward’s work, it helps give context to its place within the overall property.
Judging from playing the games, it was the art team that had the most fun making them. The style is incredibly unique while still paying tribute to the games that it sprang from. Characters were pulled from all over the Kunio-verse in a loving depiction of the games. The Art of River City Girls feels like having them in your living room, excitedly pointing out everything you may have missed.
The Art of River City Girls is available at Fangamer.
