First Impressions – River City: Knights of Justice at E3 2017

Who doesn’t love swords, knights, and magic? My mortal enemies – that’s who. Luckily, Natsume demonstrated itself a kindred spirit with its announcement of River City: Knights of Justice in celebration of River City’s 30th anniversary!

 

 

This was a title that slipped through my radar over the years. Luckily the team at Natsume was more than happy to walk me through the story of Knights of Justice. Several years have passed since the rainbow-colored Crystal Tower was suddenly enveloped in darkness. With the world plunged into chaos, a legend began to spread amongst the people about a savior who would come to save the world.

 

 

Go on…

 

Compared to its more contemporary-themed iterations, this entry to the River City series sees the game’s protagonist, Kunio, his friends, and foes transformed into medieval heroes and villains. Using swords, staves, and even magic, you’re tasked with restoring peace to Riverandia.

 

My hands-on started mid story in a small Riverandian village. The style of the game reminded me of early LCD, with matte backgrounds and pixelated characters populating the playable foreground. I was pleasantly surprised by the how much interaction was available. Doors opened into varying interiors, offering multiple points of conversation for those looking to soak in every piece of game dialogue. You’re outfitted with a small team – each having their own unique abilities. With the click of a button – you’re able to cycle between members to have a mage cast a spell in one moment, and in the next have Kunio deliver the final blow to a troupe of roaming baddies.

 

 

This new River City title offers heaps of cool features like the multiple ally system, tons of cool weapons, and over 100 quests that craft multiple story paths. Make sure to check out our shots of the game before you pick it up, now available in the US for Nintendo 3DS!

 

 

 

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