River City Girls ending explained

[ProtoMekka]

River City Girls had an ending that really confused a lot of new people getting into the series, I am here to explain it. So basically we found out that Misako and Kyoko were not the actual girlfriends, this actually makes sense when you think about it. Yamada's backstory never stated that Kunio and Riki beat him up on the rooftop after rescuing Mami. This lead me to believe the story takes place BEFORE River City Ransom where Riki is dating Mami. That and Kunio taking interest Hasebe, like he said. This means Riki and Kunio are already dating Hasebe and Mami. Now the two girls Misako and Kyoko were actually dating Kunio and Riki at some point in the series but just got moved aside for Mami in the OG River City.

[ProtoMekka]

I also don't believe they are crazy stalker ex girlfriends cause that just doesn't make sense to me as less recent fan

[Rain-D]

As per the the dialogue in the secret boss fight, Kyoko and Misako only ever appeared in a single game, while in other games, Hasebe and Mami are their official girlfriends.

[Shylaar]

It's just a non-canon spinoff, don't try to make much sense of its continuity. A better question to ask about the ending is why does the game start with finding out that Riki and Kunio got kidnapped when they were never actually kidnapped?

Originally posted by Bukan_Randy:

As per the the dialogue in the secret boss fight, Kyoko and Misako only ever appeared in a single game, while in other games, Hasebe and Mami are their official girlfriends.

Misako appears in a bunch of games and Kyouko appears in a handful of games. I don't think Hasebe is ever actually portrayed as Kunio's girlfriend in any game. I know that's what RCG says, but it's not accurate. Or rather, RCG says that Kyouko and Misako were only their girlfriends in one game, not that they were only in one game. But it's still wrong in Misako's case.

[Jargous]

This game could only ever really be understood if you actually googled RCR1 and 2 when first played. As long as you look up the history of the series, the game will make sense to just about anybody.

Just don't feel disappointed that the memorable highlights (especially in RCR1) was missed in this one.

[Nutter Butter]

It still doesn't explain why Kunio and Riki don't know them and why the protags think they are still dating them. It makes them look like literal psychopaths who need to be on medication. Like, it makes NO sense whatsoever. There is not any explanation in the game. The intro of Kunio and Riki makes no sense either, seeing how it apparently doesn't even happen. Do the protags just have delusions also, further cementing their craziness?

[Shylaar]

They show the kidnapping photo to Hibari, so it's not just a delusion, just apparently a plot hole.

[Jargous]

In the secret boss fight, it talks about how RCR2 never made it to America because RCR2 was basically GTA Japan with RPG elements and thus deemed too violent for America in the 90s. The no-show of this game in America was basically used as the premise of the radical behavior of Kyoko and Misaki. Kunio and Riki is somewhat bringing RCR2 back to the western world that is deemed 'acceptable'. If any of you played RCR2, you'd find some ridiculous yet funny things (in my opinion).

[Rain-D]

Originally posted by Shylaar:

They show the kidnapping photo to Hibari, so it's not just a delusion, just apparently a plot hole.

Granted the photo was just Kunio & Riki getting into a van while a guy was standing behind them.

[! boon_a_m'I]

Originally posted by Jargous:

In the secret boss fight, it talks about how RCR2 never made it to America because RCR2 was basically GTA Japan with RPG elements and thus deemed too violent for America in the 90s. The no-show of this game in America was basically used as the premise of the radical behavior of Kyoko and Misaki. Kunio and Riki is somewhat bringing RCR2 back to the western world that is deemed 'acceptable'. If any of you played RCR2, you'd find some ridiculous yet funny things (in my opinion).

The game you call "RCR 2" has no RPG element at all, it was just a brawler. No level up, no stats, no move to learn, no free roam in the city. And it was more a sequel to Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun/Renegade (with the return of Shinji, Misuzu and Sabu) than a sequel to River City Ransom.

[Shylaar]

Originally posted by Bukan_Randy:

Granted the photo was just Kunio & Riki getting into a van while a guy was standing behind them.

Oh, you're right, that is all the opening cutscene shows, although it's different to the game's opening movie which does show them beaten up and tied up. Who sent the photo, though?

[Dr Chaos MK]

I recommend searching Shin Nekketsu Kouha : Kunio - tachi no Banka . I have played through this game & hopefully it makes things clear in this thread .

[Urfarah]

I'm telling you, if you assume this was all a daydream Misako had while sleeping in detention class everything suddenly makes perfect sense (including surviving that skyscraper fall mostly unharmed after dropkicking Sabuko into oblivion). It's those hot days, they can cause the wildest nightmares :p

[Tripas]

Originally posted by Urfarah:

I'm telling you, if you assume this was all a daydream Misako had while sleeping in detention class everything suddenly makes perfect sense (including surviving that skyscraper fall mostly unharmed after dropkicking Sabuko into oblivion). It's those hot days, they can cause the wildest nightmares :p

Smaaaal correction there (because I'm overly pedantic ), but if you're asleep, then you're not "daydreaming". Even if you're dreaming during the day, that's just regular dreaming.

But yeah, after two playthroughs, all signs point to this all just being Misako's dream while stuck in detention. I doubt Kyoko is that clueless in real life, and several aspects of the game seem to indicate a lot of Misako's insecurities.

Like being afraid that Kunio and Riki might prefer "women with meat on their bones, instead of twigs", like Misuzu says. Or that the boy they find Downtown (Naritaka? I think?) has an actual man-crush on Riki. And of course still being afraid that Kunio could go back to Hasebe... because they kinda-sorta dated when they were literally children.

Oh, and also surviving a fall from a super tall building, straight through the roof of another building, and walking it off like it was nothing. That's a bit too far, even for the crazy reality of River City.

Not to mention, the ending credits shows Misako and Kyoko back at the detention room. Misako still sleeping, then Kyoko reacts to something on her phone (probably Kunio and Riki getting kidnapped for real this time).

[Shishizurui]

I'm still going to go with my " Thought-Up" Ending
-Godai is the real badguy; It starts out with getting him a burger, but then he strings along the girls to do his muscle work, with vandalism and taking people out.

I like to think he is influencing the girls to take out baddest people in the neighborhood.
a gang leader
a fashion designer
a kidnapper
a rockstar
and a mob boss.

Apparently Godai is a boss in other River City games so~

I believe the girls are actually delusional in their relationship, its weird that Christina Vee sings the songs, but ends up voicing Hasabe

[DragonBaldee]

While the sprite animation was top notch the ending kida sucked for me. Double Dragon, Bad Dudes, hell, even the Simpsons (Nintendo Game) made you feel like you took on the whole world and won leaving you feeling like a total baddass.

Finding out you were just some pathetic emotional and embarrassing stupid bimbo who can't take the hint is just sad. Sadder than getting beaten up by to cheerleaders and preppy girls.

I miss this stlye of game I really do. Next time I hope they leave their weak ass Shamalyan twist endings at home. It wasn't even funny and diminished all characters involved.