Streets of Rage

"Like Final Fight, only worse"

Game Play-5/10

The game play in Streets of Rage was ripped directly from the game play in Final Fight, except it took place in more of a weird town, and Streets of Rage is much worse. You have three characters. Each one with their own special move. Your only options are punch, special weapon, and special move. Seems boring, doesn't it. Well it is. And Streets of Rage is incredibly easy. And, well, pretty much everything game play-wise is ripped from Final Fight. Even the weapons and food are from Final Fight. Hidden in barrels and phone booths, etc. The enemy variety is lackluster too. The enemies are not creative at all. You do not have nearly the variety of enemies Final Fight had. The bosses have a little creativity in them though.

Audio-4/10

Basically, I thought the music was really crappy. I do not know why Gamespot put it on their top ten soundtracks list. I thought Streets of Rage 2 had a better soundtrack. The sound effects are pretty bad also.

Graphics-7/10

The graphics are good, but still, it does not compare to the huge characters and lush backgrounds from Final Fight. The first stage graphics are the best, except that the buisnesses you pass by begin to repeat themselves. It's like the same resteraunt is within a few blocks of each other. (I've seen two McDonalds within nine blocks of each other. It's commercial overpopulation, and I like going to a different McDonalds every day. That way, I don't have to make as much small talk with the window person) And they put too much neon light into the first level. And the other levels have a smidge of detail in them.

Control-5/10

You only have a few options. I always seem to use my special weapon at the beginning of each stage. Then I learned you always have to press the middle button on the Genesis controller. The Genesis controller is pretty bad, and Streets of Rage only makes it worse.

Overall-4/10 (Not An Average)

Unless you can find this game for a buck or less, don't bother thinking about it. It's just another waste of perfectly good plastic, paper, and that stuff they make their Genesis boxes out of. (Not the old ones, the newer non-paper ones)

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 05/22/01, Updated 05/20/02