River City Ransom Sequel In The Works

If the words 'River City Ransom' conjure images of Clint Eastwood gunning down bandits on the dusty streets of an Old West town, you clearly didn't play one of the long-lost classics of the 8-bit video game era. The good news? You'll be able that remedy that oversight by playing its sequel this summer. Over 20 years after wowing NES gamers with its blend of beat 'em up action and role-playing depth, the ahead-of-its time cult-classic River City Ransom is finally being brought up to speed. Developer Miracle Kidz announced plans on Friday to release River City Ransom 2 (known in Japan as Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari 2) on home consoles later this year, with a 'PC online' version slated for 2012, reports Siliconera. It's been confirmed that some of the developers who crafted the original game will be working on the sequel, but no further details -- including game style (2D? 3D?) or specific platforms -- were given. To many gamers, however, such tidbits take a backseat to the fact that the game is being created, period. Lauded for its kooky humor, the original River City Ransom saw two high school students, Alex and Ryan, kicking and punching through nine ridiculous gangs (including 'The Frat Guys' and 'The Generic Dudes') in an effort to save Ryan's girlfriend. Players could also upgrade their skills, track their stats and buy new gear, taking it a few big steps past similar titles like Double Dragon or Final Fight. Despite flying well under the radar, River City Ransom has been hailed as one of the most influential games of its era -- most notably by Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World creator Bryan Lee O'Malley, who credits the title with being one of the main sources of inspiration for his series. Last year's well-received Scott Pilgrim video game lifted more than a few elements from it as well.