Streets of Rage 2

"Quite possibly the greatest beat-em-up ever made"

Streets of Rage 2 is an excellent videogame that uses enjoyable elements in order to create an intense beat-em-up feel. From its gorgeous 2d graphics to its fun gameplay style and characters this game is a sidescrolling masterpiece. It even has a storyline that's good enough to serve as a goal for the game, although in no way can be considered epic. A game with very few flaws it makes for a very fulfilling gameplay experience.

The story basically involves the return of a mysterious antagonist from a previous installment suitably named Mr. X. He has kidnapped one of the heroes from the first game and it is the goal of the remaining heroes along with two newcomers to fight their way through the streets and the many minions of Mr. X in order to rescue their friend. It's not the most ambitious storyline but combined with great gameplay it's motivating enough to play through the game.

Gameplay is standard beat-em-up with short combos, multiple enemies and stages, and it even has co-op mode and versus mode either locally or over Xbox Live. The game is very easy to learn and has intricate difficulty settings for veterans wanting a heightened challenge. Control scheme is also top notch because of the simple controls and easy to learn combos. Each character has their own signature moves, fighting style, strengths and weaknesses. However, the overall lack of characters (just four), and a slight deficiency in character balance is just one flaw in this otherwise unblemished game. In versus mode matches can become very repetitive when there are only four characters to choose from and most people will probably choose to play as the strongest. Otherwise new features to the Xbox 360 version include the ability to save state and of course the notorious Achievements. The Achievements themselves are original and most are relatively easy to get, although there are some harder ones for gamers wanting a good challenge.

The 2d graphics are beautifully done, colorful and clean looking. There is no change from the original versions of the game and in fact it seems to move smoothly due to the Xbox 360's advanced capabilities. For a 2d side scrolling beat-em-up game the graphics do everything they're supposed to and there really are no major flaws in that category.

Overall the game is near flawless with great gameplay that is simple for the newbies and it has many difficulty options for the oldbies. The graphics are excellent, Achievements are original and the story is in good condition. The only real flaw the game has is with its small amount of characters and their balance but that is severely overshadowed by all of the other great features the game has. A great emulation of a great game it is a must have for anyone who frequents Xbox Live Arcade.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/14/08

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