Streets of Rage II

"Best side-scroller on the genesis"

Before fighting games became all about countering, special move combinations and fatalities. They were about one thing, getting out on the streets cracking skulls and snapping bones. Nintendo were blessed with the Double Dragon series, Sega created a legend of their own in the 'streets of rage' games, the second title being the best.

While the first game had fair graphics, sound and use of police back up, it felt a bit too weak, the movement wasn't totally fluid, the graphics suffering from blockiness at major moments; and the characters not really standing apart from each other. (Besides the obligatory female battler.) Streets of rage 2 takes these flaws and eradicates them for the sequel. Firstly the characters are alot more stand apart, 'Axel' fights with a kickboxing style emphasising jump kicks and fast punches. 'Blaze' has a high flying gymnastic style including a Guile-esque flashkick special and swift punching combos. 'Skate' is the quick kid on blades, utilising raw speed, while 'Max' is the steroid guzzling powerhouse who utilises a lot of unique throws such as the cocsics breaker and neck breaker.

Special moves are also a lot more valuable this time around, instead of summoning heavily armed police backup once or twice a level, your characters have their own unique moves that they can use as often as they like. The penalty for this new found extra power is that you have to sacrifice life energy to power it. These moves vary in their usage, Axel and Max have spinning arm moves that clear you of being surrounded, while blaze has a very handy forward fireball for obliterating as many enemies in her path. Skate has an unusual one where he clambers onto the back of an enemy and pummels the back of their head. There are others but these are the main ones that as a player you'll find useful.

AI is sadly predictable due to the age of the game, many enemies using only three or four moves that are easily read. The punk like 'signal' enemies either throw you or baseball slide you, while the fat baseball cap sporting enemy will either spit fire at you or perform a bely flop. Bosses have slightly more things at their disposal, but for most it is a case of three moves of doom.

This is a disappointment as it means enemies can be easily figured out and if there are too many of the same kind on screen, it gets very processional. Fortunately, the enemy can however use weapons other than knives for the first time. This means you have to duck pipes, swords and even guns. However, again, enemies seem to only use certain weapons. Bikers favouring the pipes and ninjas favouring the swords. Which, while stereotypical on the surface, does at least mean challenge is varied. Especially if the enemy count is mixed up wildly, as you'll find on later levels.

The challenge of this game varies greatly, sometimes you'll find that you are victim to very cheap deaths, but this is a common find in side-scrolling beat em 'ups. There are plenty of different difficulty levels (including a secret 'mania' difficulty for those of you who are really really good) to allow you to make the game tougher or easier depending on how good you are.

Multiplayer is catered to via two modes, the co-operative main game, or a versus duel mode. The former is the one you'll play most often, two of you going through the city taking on hundreds of enemies is great for those nights of beer fuelled gaming. Versus is ok at first, but the lack of multi-rounds or true one on one moves makes it all a bit contrived.

The story is cliche as it comes, as you'd expect in a game which is about brawling your way through multitudes of foes. Your four characters are searching for their missing friend 'Adam' (the man that was playable in SOR 1) who has been kidnapped. Believing this to be revenge for cleaning up the streets in the first game, you set back out to right the wrongs and get him back.

So a simple no brainer action story, but that is precisely why this game is so fun. It isn't about subtleties or intricate counter based chain wrestling bouts, this is pure unadulterated savagery. The point of the game being a case of get to the end of the level however possible, defeat boss, move onto the next formula.

The sound is superb, the musical score being an exceptional urban techno soundtrack that gets the blood pumping instantly. They vary from very slow numbers for on board ships, to high octane bouncing rhythms for the obligatory eight foot boss character. While slamming someone in the skull with a steel pipe results in an excellent and satisfying sound of bones snapping.

The locales vary quite well with the gamer being led through litter strewn streets, beaches, video arcades, military bases and even a pirate ship. Sadly there is little background interaction, while an enemy can be thrown through a table there are no bonuses or extra damage for doing so. Though the classic case of throwing an enemy into a pit results in instant death as it always did.

Speaking of locale, there is a much more impressive use of movement this time around. In streets of rage, level 7 featured the player on an elevator going up the side of the building, and like a Flintstones cartoon, the background constantly repeated, with some jerky animation. On this title a similar moment features much smoother and fluid movement, while the backdrops gradually shift the further up in height you go. This sort of graphical enhancement really makes a difference compared with the flawed efforts of the original.

Overall, this sort of game may feel dated and cliche in this day and age, but the fun content is unrivalled. While some may feel that the Final fight games have surpassed this series as a whole, 'streets of rage 2' is up there alongside 'golden axe' and 'double dragon 2' as a legendary title of the genre. It's an experience not to be missed, find a copy, grab some beers and prepare to hit the streets and kick ass!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/22/07