History VideoGame / RiverCityGirlsZero

* NintendoHard: Don't expect this game to be a cakewalk. Compared to ''VideoGame/RiverCityRansom'' or the original ''Renegade'', this game is more in line with the ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon'' series in terms of gameplay. There are no healing items or weapons, enemies can gang up on you if you're not careful and if any of the playable characters die, [[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou it's an instant Game Over.]] Knowing how to use the special moves is key if you want to make it far.

''River City Girls Zero'' [[labelnote:note]]''Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka'', "New Hot-blooded Tough Guy: Elegy for Kunio and Co."[[/labelnote]] is a game released on the UsefulNotes/SuperFamicom on April 29, 1994, by Technōs Japan Corporation [[NoExportForYou for Japan only]] as a part of the ''VideoGame/KunioKun'' series. This game is said to take place between ''Nekketsu Kōha Kunio Kun'' (''Renegade'' in the US) and ''Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari'' (''VideoGame/RiverCityRansom''[=/=]''Street Gangs'' in the US and Europe repsectively), which would explain why Riki had a different girlfriend at the time among other things.

In June 2021, a re-release and official localization was announced by Creator/WayforwardTechnologies, developers of ''VideoGame/RiverCityGirls'', who is involved with this updated release, adding [[PreRenderedCutscene anime cutscenes]] and new music from ''River City Girls'' composer Megan [=McDuffee=]. It released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on February 14, 2022, with releases on other platforms (UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, PC via UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}) slated for later that Spring but ultimately not releasing until September 21st.

* CutscenePowerToTheMax: Averted. [[spoiler:Misako and Kyouko get shot by Sabu and [[FakingTheDead almost die]], and if you get shot during the boss fight it will take off most (but not quite all) of your life bar.]]

In June 2021, a re-release and official localization was announced by Creator/WayforwardTechnologies, developers of ''VideoGame/RiverCityGirls'', who is involved with this updated release, adding [[PreRenderedCutscene anime cutscenes]] and new music from ''River City Girls'' composer Megan [=McDuffee=]. It released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on February 14, 2022, with releases on other platforms (UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, PC) slated for later that Spring.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Played with Officer Takayama. He initially bears a little animosity towards Kunio and Riki for their bad influence over his son Mamoru, on top of them escaping from prison and making his job difficult. As soon as Mamoru straightens things out with him, he drops his vendetta cooperates with the group to prove their innocence.

* ClearMyName: A major portion of the plot.

* SavedByCanon: Played with the 2022 re-release. Considering this game is treated in universe as a game re-telling their past adventure, serves as a prequel to ''River City Girls'', and [[spoiler: Misako and Kyoko themselves are playing it]], the scene where [[spoiler: They get shot by Sabu]] loses some of its dramatic sting. [[spoiler: In the original release, they still end up fine anyway.]]

* SavedByCanon: Played With. Considering this game is treated in universe as a re-telling, and considering [[spoiler: Misako and Kyoko themselves are playing it]], the scene where [[spoiler: They get shot by Sabu]] loses a little of its sting.

* SequelHook: [[spoiler:After beating the re-release, a manga cutscene plays, teasing connections between ''Zero'' and ''River City Girls 2''. Misako and Kyoko ponder if the events depicted in the game really ''did'' happen- after all, Sabuko wasn't even mentioned despite being Sabu's daughter. They also note that, between the events of ''Zero'' and the two defeating Sabuko in ''River City Girls'', Sabu (and potentially Ken, if he's still alive) very likely wants to get back at the girls for their meddling. [[TemptingFate They ultimately decide that it was just a video game and they don't have to worry about it.]] They leave the bedroom to go hangout with Kunio and Riki, while the final panel focuses ominously on the discarded cartridge and the text below reads "ToBeContinued..."]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: [[spoiler:Ken was Kunio's impostor, but who was Riki's?]]

* {{Bowdlerize}}: Subveted in the official localization, as it includes both a softer script in line with ''River City Girls'' and one more accurate in tone to the original text where Kunio and Riki, in all their delinquent thuggery, don't spare even their girlfriends from crude insults.

%%* WallJump

* HPToOne: In the last fight, getting shot by Sabu's gun will lower Kunio's and Riki's HP to its lowest minimum.

* AmbiguousSituation: In regards to the outro, [[spoiler: it's unclear whether the discrepancies between the girls' memories and the events of the game are purely due to fourth wall silliness or if there's something more mysterious at work]].

* BadassBiker: Shinji, the leader of the bosozoku gang called "The Blue Emperors".

* HurricaneKick: Kunio and Misako use VideoGame/DoubleDragon-esque Cyclone Kicks as their kick special.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In the introduction of the re-release, Kyoko ponders if anyone would be interested in a game that's 25 years old. Misako replies that it could be if it revised to be more modern, with new scenes, and an added song.

* RapidFireFisticuffs: Riki and Kyoko's kick specials, with Kyoko's being a Chun-Li esque rapid fire kick.

* CallBack: In the opening manga cutscene of ''Zero'', Kyoko mentions that she bought the original game from [[VideoGame/DoubleDragonNeon Skullmageddon's]] pawn shop whom the girls visited in ''VideoGame/RiverCityGirls''.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to the Downtown Nekketsu part of the series, since it's part of the Nekketsu Kōha part of the series. For starters: Nekketsu High School and Hanazono High (which is pretty wrecked) are taken over by thugs, several people have been shot, and the {{Yakuza}} is involved. There is also a distinct lack of slapstick violence. Selecting the "English (RCG)" text language option in the [=WayForward=] rerelease [[DownplayedTrope downplays]] this as it has some humorous dialogue to help balance out the game's otherwise serious tone.

* GuideDangIt: The startup screen for ''Zero'' includes a basic 'how to play' screen detailing simple moves and controls but it doesn't explain how to perform special moves for each character and how to use the grab function.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In the introduction of ''Zero'', Kyoko ponders if anyone would be interested in a game that's 25 years old. Misako replies that it could be if it revised to be more modern, with new scenes, and an added song.

* SequelHook: [[spoiler:After beating the re-release, a manga cutscene plays, teasing connections between ''Zero'' and ''River City Girls 2''. Misako and Kyoko ponder if the events depicted in the game really ''did'' happen- after all, Sabuko wasn't even mentioned despite being Sabu's daughter. They also note that, between the events of ''Zero'' and the two defeating Sabuko in ''River City Girls'', Sabu (and potentially Ken, if he's still alive) very likely wants to get back at the girls for their meddling. [[TemptingFate They ultimately decide that it was just a video game and they don't have to worry about it.]] They leave the bedroom to go hangout with Kunio and Riki, while the text beneath the final panel reads "ToBeContinued..."]]

* ButForMeItwasTuesday: [[spoiler:In the closing manga cutscene of the re-release, its indicated that Misako and Kyoko don't even remember their first adventure. They even question if the story depicted in the game was true.]]

* ButForMeItwasTuesday: [[spoiler:In the closing manga cutscene, its indicated that Misako and Kyoko don't even remember their first adventure. They even question if the story depicted in the game was true.]]

* EpisodeZeroTheBeginning: The reason the game is known as ''River City Girls Zero'' - to signify that this is a game that was released way before ''VideoGame/RiverCityGirls'' but officially localized afterwards.

* SequelHook: [[spoiler:After beating the re-release, a manga cutscene plays, teasing connections between ''Zero'' and ''River City Girls 2''. Misako and Kyoko ponder if the events depicted in the game really ''did'' happen- after all, Sabuko wasn't even mentioned despite being Sabu's daughter. They also note that, between the events of ''Zero'' and the two defeating Sabuko in ''River City Girls'', Sabu (and potentially Ken, if he's still alive) very likely wants to get back at the girls for their meddling. [[TemptingFate They ultimately decide that it was just a video game and they don't have to worry about it.]]]]

* ScarsAreForever Apparently averted. In the English ending [[spoiler:Kyoko wonders if she and Misako really did get shot and checks herself for bullet scars in a panic, seemingly finding none.]]

* ToBeContinued: [[spoiler:After beating the re-release, a manga cutscene plays, teasing connections between ''Zero'' and ''River City Girls 2''. Misako and Kyoko ponder if the events depicted in the game really ''did'' happen- after all, Sabuko wasn't even mentioned despite being Sabu's daughter. They also note that, between the events of ''Zero'' and the two defeating Sabuko in ''River City Girls'', Sabu (and potentially Ken, if he's still alive) very likely wants to get back at the girls for their meddling. [[TemptingFate They ultimately decide that it was just a video game and they don't have to worry about it.]]]]