WayForward announced River City Girls 2 on June 14 during a Limited Run Games presentation at E3 2021, confirming the beat ’em up will launch for PC and consoles in 2022. The studio said series protagonists Kyoko and Misako will return for the sequel.
In River City Girls 2, the fighters will team up with new allies to face a fresh army of enemies across the streets. Developers have not yet shared extensive gameplay or story details.
Playable roster expands with classic characters
WayForward indicated more playable characters will be added to the cast, including Kunio and Riki, the protagonists of the 1989 title River City Ransom. The announcement suggests those two characters will likely be unlockable.
The studio also revealed Marian Kelly from Double Dragon—who appeared in the first River City Girls as the owner of the Swaggage accessory shop—alongside another, currently unnamed, mysterious character shown in the reveal images.
Online co-op and platforms
Responding to a common criticism of the original game, River City Girls 2 will feature online two-player cooperative play. WayForward confirmed the sequel will release on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC in 2022.
River City Girls Zero remaster coming first
Alongside the sequel, WayForward announced River City Girls Zero, a remastered re-release of the 1994 Super Famicom game Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka. That original title is notable for marking Kyoko and Misako’s first appearances as playable characters in the franchise.
River City Girls Zero is scheduled to launch this year initially on Nintendo Switch, with releases on additional platforms planned later. WayForward also said the 2019 River City Girls will be released on PS5 later in 2021.
Development timeline and additional announcements
According to WayForward, new entries in the franchise were in development in 2020 but were delayed. The Limited Run Games presentation also included announcements for the return of Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties and Castlevania: Rondo of Blood.
Destructoid / Gamespot / Kotaku
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