River City Renegade

About

River City Renegade casts you as Kunio, a high schooler leading his classmates on a chaotic road trip from Tokyo to Osaka. The game alternates between turn-based RPG segments, managing school life, relationships, and side quests, and sudden bursts of beat-'em-up action when rival gangs or bullies show up. You'll juggle academics, friendships, and brawls as the group navigates Osaka's underbelly, all while dealing with the absurdity of a student-only electric train somehow becoming a vehicle for mayhem. What sets it apart is the oddball mix of slice-of-life roleplaying and over-the-top fighting. Though it never got a Western release, the game has a dedicated following among retro RPG fans. Its blend of schoolyard antics and sudden violence feels oddly ahead of its time, paving the way for later titles that merge drama and combat. If you've ever wondered what a Technos Japan RPG would look like outside the Double Dragon universe, this bizarre, underappreciated gem offers a surprisingly cohesive, if slightly unhinged, experience.