Streets of Rage 2

"Still one of the best beat-em ups out there."

Streets of Rage 2 on XBLA is a classic beat-em up and a port from the old Genesis version released be Sega in 1993. Pick from 4 unique characters and battle it out old school against a plethora of bad guys and bosses.

The Good
The greatest asset of Streets of Rage 2 in my opinion has always been the music. Yuzo Koshiro's critically acclaimed soundtrack goes a long way in making the game more fun to play and is a serious stand out as you beat up wave after wave of enemies.

Streets of Rage 2 is no slouch gameplay-wise though. This is old school beat-em up gameplay at its best with tons of different enemy types and tons of ways to kill them. Each of the 4 unique characters sports their own unique move set and although they aren't exactly balanced, each can hold his/her own when played properly.

Notable of SoR2 is also of course its cooperative mode. The entire game can be played through with a friend, and with multiple difficulty settings to choose from, even the most experienced players will sweat it out on the game's most difficult Mania setting.

This new XBLA version of SoR2 also features the usual 12 achievements and allows players to save states as they're playing. Save states reduces the challenge of the harder modes significantly, but it remains a good addition to the game considering its age.

The Bad
This new version of Streets of Rage 2 isn't without its flaws though. Fortunately, most of them just relate with the new additions in this version.

First, the online multiplayer is bad. The lag is just unbearable most of the time, and unless you're playing with a friend, the new online portion generally isn't worth anyone's time.

Secondly, the game's graphics do feel a bit dated and the new enhanced graphics mode actually makes the game look worst. Good thing this mode can be turned on or off.

Lastly, the game's new presentation is about as poor and generic as they come. The help menu isn't informative in the least, and the light blue menus are just plain. For one of Sega's most prestigious franchises, this is somewhat disappointing.

The Bottom Line
In the end, 400 points remains a solid price for a perfect port of this timeless classic. The new online multiplayer is rather poor due to the lag, but the offline portion of the game can still be a lot of fun after all these years. Those with a nostalgia itch for the game won't be disappointed.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/10/07

Game Release: Streets of Rage 2 (US, 08/29/07)