Back to the streets
Written: Oct 16 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Graphics,Sound,Controls,Gameplay,Generally everything
Cons: the front cover is silly
The Bottom Line: I recommend all owners of the console to track this down, and those about to buy one making this an early purchase, it's one of the best games ever.
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| flash-hammer's Full Review: Streets of Rage 2 for Sega Genesis |
Without a doubt one of the milestones of the Beat 'em Up genre, Sega's Streets of Rage 2 was unleashed in the early 90s and quickly went on to become one of the most successful and loved games for the Genesis/Megadrive console. I never actually owned the game until recently, I just constantly swapped other games with my friends for it as a kid, but upon seeing it going for a few quid one day second hand, despite the fact I had completed it several times, I couldn't resist giving it another go and completing it a few times more.
The storyline is fairly simple, as it often is with these games. The evil Mr.X is somehow back, and he has kidnapped Adam (from the first game) for revenge. But Axel and Blaze (from the first game) aren't going to stand for this, so along with Adam's kid brother Skate and Axel's pro-wrestler buddy Max, they are going to bring down Mr.X and his Syndicate all over again, the hard way.
If you were expecting some kind of epic tale, then you are going to be disapointed, but I've seen straight-to-video action movies stretch thinner plots, and it was really all that was required, a reason for the heroes to be smacking up the baddies.
The gameplay, on paper, is that of your average Beat 'em Up. Walk from one end of a stage to another kicking in all comers before facing off against a much tougher boss. And while the game doesn't have anything really identifiable in the way of originality, the gameplay is just so solid, with no clear faults, and in every way enjoyable, that the game just seems to be leagues ahead of every other Beat 'em Up released before, and even after.
Everything about the way the game plays is perfect. The hit detection, the different weapons, how different characters use the weapons (for instance the smaller and less strong Blaze and Skate swing large weapons like Iron poles a lot slower), the fact that the character differences were actually quite distinct, Blaze was weaker than Axel/Max, but her and Skate could cram in twice as many moves into the same timescale as the other two, the fact that while Max could decimate enemies in a few hits, he was slow and susceptible to being ambushed a little more than the quicker fighters, the different strategies the enemies employ, the oodles of different enemies...the gameplay of Streets of Rage 2 is as engaging and close to flawless as you will probably ever find in a Beat 'em Up, and that's just the single player.
The game really comes into it's own when played co-operatively with a friend, strategies are formed and thrown out the window rapidly, double teaming ensues, and it's just a generally superb gaming experience. To test this wasn't just rose tinted, my sister and I recently replayed the game from start to finish, and it still holds the same appeal, even now, the game truly has lost none of it's class as the years have gone by.
The only thing I can say I was a little disapointed with was the fact that they changed the character's desperation move from calling in police backup to the Final Fight-esque character specific move that drains a little of your energy to perform, but does major damage to any enemies it hits. While I was initially disapointed by this change, the characters desperation attacks, especially those of Axel and Blaze, are so awesome that it was soon forgiven.
To add more replay value, Sega added 'Duel' mode, which is essentially a 2 player fighting game using an enclosed area and the players choosing one of the 4 characters and duking it out. Weapons are optional for this mode, and while I can't say much of my time with the game has been spent in it, it's a decent and moderately amusing inclusion.
Controlling the game is identical to the first game. A is Desperation move, B attack and C jump. Grapples are performed by walking close to an enemy, and this opens up an opportunity to throw the enemy (Opposite direction from which you are facing +B) or give him a different combo. Combo attacks are performed by rapidly pressing punch, and the amount of hits in each one varies. You can also perform jumping attacks, and new to this entry double tapping forwards and then attack performs a new 'running' attack, the coolest being Axel's 'Bare-Knuckle", where he gives the opponent a three hit flaming uppercut (wonder where that idea came from...)
There can be no complaints about any aspect of the controls, be it the layout or the responsiveness, because Sega have got it spot on with this game.
Graphically, the game is pretty awesome, especially for the time. The character sprites are huge in comparison to those in the first game, and while they are smaller than those in the SNES port of Final Fight, they are animated a whole lot better. We see every move in every combo performed fluidly, and there are enough different enemy sprites that the game never grows repetitive. We have Ninja,thugs,punks,Muay Thai and Blanka wannabes and more here, all of which are also well animated.
The levels are also a marvel, be they the superbly realised streets of the first stage, the theme park level, complete with Pirates of the Carribbean ride and alien exhibit right to Mr.X's lair at the top of a skyscraper.
The sound in the game is also of a high quality. The music is by Sega's maestro Yuzo Koshiro, who once again works his magic to give gaming some of it's most memorable tunes. Remember how I said I never owned the game until recently? I went the best part of a decade without playing it, and still remembered near enough all of the music, note for note, it's that awesome.
The sound effects are also good, from the awesome noise it makes when you wrap an iron bar 'round the face of an enemy to Axel's "bare-knuckle" cry as he performs the move, the sound is good, especially for the Sega.
On the whole, Streets of Rage 2 is just one of the most downright enjoyable games I have ever had the good luck to play. It's just so complete on so many levels, and outshines every other Beat 'em Up I have ever played, that it would be a sin to rate the game any lower than full marks. It's without a doubt a must own for owners of the console, and is not only potentially the best Beat 'em Up for the console, but a contender for the best example of the genre so far.
There really are very few other games I can think of that have so little wrong about them that they are this close to perfect. Great graphics?check, Great sound?check,Great controls?check, Great gameplay?check. Streets of Rage 2 is the complete game, it has a good variation of difficulty levels, so while it may not offer much incentive in way of story or secrets for replay value, it's so much fun to play that you will find yourself playing it a lot more than once, trying to best it on every difficulty. Actually, there is possibly one other fault about it, that also applies to the first game. The art on the sleeve doesn't really depict the game very accurately. Sure there are rough representations of the characters beating up thugs, but SOR2's cover has Max as a skinhead, Axel with brown hair and Blaze in all denim, this isn't even a game fault, and actually adds some humour to proceeding anyway.
So, SOR2, if you have a Sega Genesis/Megadrive, you want to get your hands on it. While those who despise Beat 'em Ups won't get much out of it, if you aren't part of this minority, chances are you will have a blast with this game, which is my pick for the pinnacle of the genre, and without a doubt one of my favourite games for the console, if not my actual favourite.
Related Reviews
Streets of Rage for Sega Genesis
Recommended:
Yes
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flash-hammer
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