River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next starts with the baseline understanding of what makes a River City game, then plays experimental jazz with the rest, to varying levels of success. There's a lot of good in its presentation and core combat elements, but the dings of bland music and the slog of traversing the world are glaring and kneecap the experience. There's still plenty of fun to be had for fans of a good beat-em-up, but expect to be playing this more as a curiosity than your next favorite game.

Its chaotic take on The Romance of Three Kingdoms offers some good amusement as its larger-than-life cast threatens to push it off the rails, and there is some small satisfaction in being able to just blow away all comers at times. However, those looking for some more finely-tuned combat and challenge, or any real in-depth gameplay, will need to search elsewhere.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next is an interesting option for the biggest fans of the genre who have another sympathizer of the series by their side. You guys will have a great time, and the rest of you? You might give it a try.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next is a fun beat'em up that suffers from some pacing problems and lack of combat in its exploration, but delivers an interesting new experience in the most iconic period of Chinese history.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next was close to being fun. The tiring and repetitious structure that makes players run back and forth between the same areas across a huge map becomes very boring. There is too much teasing the player with a challenge and when it finally comes, it is too little and too late.

Arc System Works has once again provided a new, old-school experience with a unique twist on a familiar tale. I enjoyed my time with Kunio and friends in the world of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms once again. The original game had such a strong foundation which carries over to the sequel, but there isn’t much here that will seem new to those who played it. On top of that, some parts such as how dialogue is handled and the lack of the China Heroes mode are a step back for the Saga sub-series, as fun as it still is.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next is one of the best co-op games out there and it's so funny that it'll make you say Barf! 🏍️