WayForward Shares News for SHANTAE, RIVER CITY GIRLS, and More at E3
WayForward has had some awesome news come out during E3 2021. For starters, they announced two new games for River City fans! They’ll be working with Arc System Works to bring fans River City Girls 2 and River City Girls Zero. The former is a direct sequel to the incredibly fun beat-’em-up and finds you playing as Misako and Kyoko as well as Kunio, Riki, and other characters. You’ll have new movies, face new enemies, find yourself in new environments, and more. It is said to have the same sense of humor as the first one and will have 2-player co-op locally and online. My wife and I have been having a lot of fun finishing up the first game, so this is very exciting news. River City Girls 2 is set to release on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S in 2022.
Meanwhile, River City Girls Zero will take fans back in time. The game is going to be bringing Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka from 1994 and the Super Famicom to the West for the first time. WayForward promises that the graphics, music, and gameplay will all stay true to the game, but there will be a new opening cinematic, new manga cutscenes, and a new theme song by Megan McDuffee. You can play the game solo or with a friend in local co-op when the game launches. River City Girls Zero is set to launch later in 2021 on the Nintendo Switch with other platforms later.
If you’re a fan of physical games, Limited Run Games will be offering physical releases of both games when we get closer to launch.
That’s not the only news though. WayForward also announced that all five games in the really fun Shantae series will be released on the PS5. The games will be available as native PS5 purchases or as free upgrades if you already own the game on PS4. The original game will be released on the PS4 as well. Limited Run Games will also be offering physical releases of all the games.
Shantae — The one that started it all! Experience Shantae's classic original adventure and stop the self-proclaimed Queen of the Seven Seas, Risky Boots, from finding four powerful elemental stones! Now with trophies for the first time!
Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut — Risky Boots is back with another sinister scheme! Put an end to her plans by acquiring three Magic Seals from the devious Barons of Sequin Land.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse — Shantae sets sail for swashbuckling action as she gains new Pirate Gear abilities and teams up with her nemesis to face an even greater threat!
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition — In Shantae's first full HD adventure, she must thwart a number of villainous plots perpetrated by her greatest foes! Several extra modes are included, offering new play mechanics and modified levels.
Shantae and the Seven Sirens — New Half-Genie friends, new transformations, and new enemies await as Shantae travels to tropical Paradise Island where a mysterious sunken city lies beneath the waves. Featuring a new collectible Monster Card system and an animated intro by Studio TRIGGER!
But wait, there’s one more thing. WayForward is working with Ziggurat Interactive to bring about an HD remastered version of BloodRayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites. This 2D hack ‘n’ slash platformer will be available this summer on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. In the updated version, fans will find new voice acting with the original cast of the series, Laura Bailey as Rayne and Troy Baker as Kagan. Todd Haberkorn and Patrick Seitz will also lend their talents as voice actors. Limited Run Games will also be releasing physical copies of the game for fans to enjoy and collect.
Released in 2011, the original BloodRayne Betrayal was met with passionate reviews for its gorgeous graphics and punishing difficulty. This iteration in the series changed things up by switching from a 3D format to a fast-paced, 2D side-scroller. As Rayne, players will battle through 15 levels as they wend their way through a hidden castle where a sinister gathering is taking place. It’s Rayne’s last job — will she “clean house” or find herself six feet under?
Talking about the new release of BloodRayne Betrayal, Michael Devine of Ziggurat said:
It has been a phenomenal experience working with WayForward to revisit and revamp BloodRayne Betrayal for a new generation of Rayne fans. We were very fortunate to work with Laura Bailey and Troy Baker to lend their voices to their iconic characters.