River City Ransom is a side-scrolling beat ’em-up game that was released for the NES on April 25, 1989. The original Japanese version of the game was called Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari. River City Ransom was both developed and published by Technōs Japan, who are known for beat ’em-up games like Double Dragon.
Despite not being majorly successful after its release, River City Ransom managed to form a dedicated fanbase that fell in love with its unique style. Over the years, River City Ransom has received multiple remakes and rereleases all the way up to the Nintendo Switch. If you’re a fan of 80s and 90s beat’em up games, then River City Ransom is a must-play.
River City Ransom Premise
River City Ransom is unique in the beat’em up genre because it is a non-linear open-world game. Players will crisscross their way through River City, fighting gang members. To help players in this battle, they can upgrade their stats and learn new moves by purchasing books from shops. The defeated enemies you beat can be looted for money and health items.
River City Ransom Main Characters
The story follows two high school students named Alex and Ryan. Ryan’s girlfriend Cyndi has been kidnapped by the villainous gang leader known as “Slick”. Slick has taken Cyndi to River City High and sent an army of high school gang members to take out Alex and Ryan. There are a total of nine different gangs that players can fight. Each gang is color-coordinated.
- The Generic Dudes – Light Blue
- The Frat Guys – Pink
- The Jocks – Lime
- The Home Boys – Yellow
- The Mob – Grey
- The Squids – Brown
- The Internationals – Green
- The Cowboys – Dark Blue
- The Plague – Red
River City Ransom Series
River City Ransom belongs to the Kunio-kun series which was also created by Technōs Japan. Each game follows rough-and-tumble high school students who fight games and compete in sports contests. River City Ransom is just one game amongst thirty different games and spinoffs. We’ve compiled a list of all the games in the franchise that have been localized in English.
- Renegade (Arcade)
- Renegade (NES)
- Super Dodge Ball (Arcade)
- Super Dodge Ball (NES)
- River City Ransom / Street Gangs (NES)
- Nintendo World Cup (NES)
- Double Dragon II (Game Boy)
- Crash ‘n the Boys: Street Challenge (NES)
- Renegade (Sega Master System)
- River City Ransom EX (GBA)
- River City Girls Zero (Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One)
River City Ransom Cheat Codes
River City Ransom has multiple different cheat codes that players can access. These cheat codes can give you unlimited money, unlock every move in the game, and much more. Many of the platforms that River City Ransom has been released on have their own unique cheat codes. Luckily we’ve taken the liberty to organize the cheat codes by platform.
Sharp X68000:
At the title screen, select the “Key Assign” option. Once inside, use the X68000’s keyboard and press Enter to change the keys of both players. The symbol/English letter will be on the left and the Japanese character on the right. Player 1 keys should be changed to: Comma (ne), Z (suokon), Colon (ke), Z (tsu), B (ko), 4 (u). And Player 2 keys should be changed to: F (ha), U (na), C (so), K (no), B (ko), 4 (u). Now, start the game and press the following keys to turn on/off different effects:
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| Area Select | Press F1 through F6 |
| Get Moves | Hold CTRL and press any key such as 1 through 9, Minus Sign, ^, ¥ and Backspace. |
| Infinite Energy | Hold CTRL and press CPY |
| Max Cash | Hold CTRL and press CLR |
| Max Strength | Hold CTRL and press BRK |
GameBoy Advance:
| Effect | Password |
|---|---|
| Clear Save Data | ERAZE |
| Get $999999.99 | PLAYA |
| Get Custom Char | XTRA0 |
| Get Custom Move | XTRA2 |
| Get Custom Self | XTRA1 |
| Max Stats | DAMAX |
| Obtain Boomerang, Charge It, Bat Bang, Flying Kick, Speed Drop, Bomb Blow, Killer Kick, Bike Kick, Slam Punk, Dragon Knee, God Fist, Hyper Guard | WAZZA |
| Obtain Mach Punch, Dragon Kick, Acro Circus, Grand Slam, Javelin Man, Slick Trick, Nitro Port, Twin Kick, Deadly Shot, Top Spin, Helicopter, Torpedo | FUZZY |
| Obtain Slap Happy, Pulper, Headbutt, Kickstand, Big Bang, Wheel Throw, Glide Chop, Head Bomb, Chain Kick, Jet Kick, Shuriken, Flip Throw | WUZZY |
| Phoenix Wing, Inlines, Springlines, Rocketeers, Air Merc’s, Narcishoes, Magic Pants, Pandora Box, Skaterz, Custom Fit | BEAR |
| Unlockable | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Fight Alex/Ryan | Must have a reputation of either equal or higher to get Kobayashi onto your team, he is located at the 2nd shopping place in the game |
| Fight Riki/Kunio | Start the game in 1 player mode only not 2 player mode and go outside the 2nd factory and you will fight your ally |
| Fight Slick with the Dragon Twins and Onizuka | Must have 3 allies that are not Mochizuki, Taira, or Kinoshita |
| Fight Slick with the Dragon Twins and Otis | You must have 3 allies in your posse that are not Turk, Mojo and Blade |
| Fight the Dragon Twins with Gouda Joining You Without any Enemies in the Beginning | When Gouda asks to join you, say no and go meet Godai and say yes to his question, then go to Reihou High’s last floor |
| Fight the Dragon Twins with Ivan Joining you without any enemies in the beginning | When Ivan asks to join your posse, say ‘NO’ and go meet Tex and say ‘YES’ to his question, then head to RC High’s last floor. |
| Get Godai | Have Gouda in your team and a good reputation |
| Get Gouda | Talk to the girl before the spa, then the girl outside the fish store, then at the 1st place of the last shopping place |
| Get Hayasaka | Beat Mochizuki 5 times and Hayasaka will appear(requires high reputation for him to join you) |
| Get Kobayashi on Your Team | Must have high reputation the 1st time you fight him |
| Get Kumada | Decline Himada’s offer to join you and come back and fight everyone and Kumada will be there |
| Get Maeda | Play as Riki only in the beginning and go to Sherman Park |
| Get Mochizuki | Have High Reputation |
| Get Sonokwa and the Senridai Bombers | Play as 1 player without Riki and beat the Senridai Bombers anywhere 3 times then go to the 2nd place in the game and beat everyone there |
| Get Sugata | Play in 1 player mode as Kunio then he will be either at the beginning place or at Sherman Park when Kinoshita appears there |
| Get Taira | Have High Reputation |
| Have Conan and the Generic Dudes join your posse | Start the game in Solo mode and defeat the Generic Dudes anywhere 3 times and then go to the second place in the game and beat everyone up there |
| Have Gary join your posse | Play in 1 player mode as Alex then he will be either at the beginning place or at Sherman Park when Blade appears there |
| Have Ivan join your posse | Talk to the girl before the spa, then the girl outside the fish store, then at the 1st place of the last shopping place |
| Have Jesse join your posse | Beat Turk 5 times and Jesse will appear (requires high reputation for him to join you) |
| Have Mojo join your posse | Have high reputation |
| Have Rick join your posse | Start the game as Ryan in Solo Mode and go to Sherman Park, Rick will be waiting and say ‘YES’ to his offer |
| Have Ted join your posse | Decline Rex’s offer to join and leave the area, come back to where Rex was, beat everyone up, and then you shall meet Ted |
| Have Tex join your posse | You must have 3 allies in your posse that are not Turk, Mojo, and Blade |
| Have Thor join your posse | Must have high reputation the first time you fight him |
| Have Turk join your posse | Have high reputation |
| Meet Titus | Must have a reputation of either equal or higher to get Thor onto your team, he is located at the 2nd shopping place in the game |
| Meet Titus for the second time | Have Ivan on your team and have a good reputation |
| Meet Todo | Must have met him the first time and this time he appears at Reihou’s gate after you beat Gouda once |
| Meet Todo Second Time | Must have met him the first time and this time he appears at RC High’s gate after you beat Ivan once |
NES:
On the password screen enter: MShin – – – – – – Technos – – – – Japan – – – – – – The dashes are spaces. This password is the only one in the game that allows spaces to be used as characters. The main character’s name is changed to Shin, all stats are maxed out including the hidden combo speed stat, maxed-out money, and all secret technique books in inventory.
| Effect | Password |
|---|---|
| Final Boss, w/ Max Stats, Dragon Feet, Stone Hands, Grand Slam, and Texas Boots | XfMdZTHwiR3 jaj6jfRUDEt tilm2tWRo8b |
| Final Boss, w/ Max Stats, Stone Hands, Dragon Feet, Acro Circus, Grand Slam, 4 Karma Jolts, and $999.99 cash | XfMdZTHUPR3 rztzPeQUCTt 61lxhtWRoZb |
| Ivan Beaten, High School Open | t1izvpdOZnZ JxNkJp7Cpub XMPQgXErSMF |
| max stats, s.hands, d.feet, a.circus, $400, no story progressed | ltarnhVidfhdcmoZRjaQTRfUXYofbaZVN |
| Power Up | w412ysgtMqc MUSjKm2PqtE UJMNdUTGOQC |
| Start w/ all abilities and 500$ in cash | jrYplfTgbdj nOorLTIYXwR SjTuqpilUHP |
| Strange Item in Inventory that gives stat increases. | fHUFBbvcnpa MS8iPpICZJP VKNOeVRQPDD |
River City Ransom Cheat Code FAQ
Does River City Ransom have any cheat codes?
Yes, River City Ransom has a number of cheat codes that players can access on different platforms. These platforms can unlock special characters and secrets. They can also max out your stats and give you unlimited money.