Developer: Ancient Publisher: Sega Release: 12/15/92 Genre: Beat ’em up
Growing up I was a card carrying Nintendo fanboy. It was not hard as the Master System was no competition for the NES. But the Genesis changed all that. With an awesome lineup of games that exploded in 1991 after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog I had to have one. 1992 and 1993 in particular were banner years with amazing titles such as Shinobi III, Gunstar Heroes, Rocket Knight Adventures and Sonic Spinball. Well, maybe not that game. Probably my favorite game of that year was Streets of Rage 2. Sega improved every aspect of the original, creating one of the best brawlers of all time.
One year after the defeat of Mr. X Adam, Blaze, and Axel celebrate their victory. The three go their separate ways but that is when things go wrong. Adam’s younger brother Skate informs the pair that his brother is missing, marking the return of Mr. X. The trio is joined by ex-wrestler Max to hit the streets and get their friend back.
Streets of Rage was a good first stab at creating a Final Fight clone. It had its faults but was better than its inspiration in a few ways. Even with that in mind it is astounding just how much Streets of Rage 2 improves on its predecessor. It is expected that a sequel betters its predecessor but this is on another level entirely. With better graphics, a phenomenal soundtrack and tight gameplay Streets of Rage 2 is more than just one of the best Genesis games of all time. It might even be the best side scrolling brawler ever.
The four playable characters fit neatly into the standard archetypes except there is some nuance. All characters have different stats in power, speed, technique, etc. and the differences are notable. Axel has more techniques than everyone and good power. As an every man he makes a good first choice. Blaze is average in every category however some of her moves require positioning and timing. Skate fills the weak but fast role. He is different in that he can dash and has a range of techniques to make up for his lack of power. Max is the big slow man. The difference in strength is staggering; his atomic drop can drain an entire life bar in one smash!
What sets Streets of Rage 2 apart from its contemporaries is its gameplay. It avoids the failing of so many beat em ups by offering a large selection of moves per character. There are back attacks, vaults, and a larger number of different throws. Max even has a few the others do not. There are a few attacks performed using button combinations like Street Fighter that are powerful and have no drawbacks. Despite the depth of this system the controls are intuitive. Your cop buddy does not return but you have two special attacks that consume health in its place. Most brawlers only offer a fraction of these options which is why they become boring. Sega went above and beyond in this respect. The first game was already brimming with technique and this is even better which is why it is so fun.
The level design and pacing are exceptional. At eight levels this is a long game by genre standards. Most brawlers peter out half way because of repetition. Streets of Rage 2 avoids that with its diversity. In a single level the game covers much ground. Stage three begins at the entrance to the amusement park, takes a detour through an arcade, and then shifts to a pirate ship before ending in a haunted cave where you fight…a demon? Normally I hate extended elevator sequences where the game throws wave after wave in your path. Yet this game manages to vary the enemy combinations enough that it does not grow stale. While I wish the enemy variety were higher the game does keep introducing new ones up until its final levels.
The difficulty is perfect which comes as a surprise. Streets of Rage was a vicious game toward the end with bosses that could kill in three hits. That is not the case here. Enemies attack in greater numbers, sometimes as many as five or six simultaneously. Despite their greater numbers you have the tools to deal with them which is satisfying. Life restoring food is evenly paced and the generous scoring system awards extra lives regularly. Streets of Rage 2 benefits from being a home game first. Since it does not have to worry about keeping players feeding the machine quarters Sega were better able to balance it as best as possible. This is the one area that developers continually fail and ruin most games in the genre. Sega sidestep that masterfully here.
The graphics and sound are some of the best on the system. All of the sprites are nearly 50% larger and bursting with detail. The first game took place at night and while atmospheric it became repetitive. Streets of Rage 2 does not linger in one location and covers a swathe of environments. A bar, a baseball stadium, the city streets, and Mister X’s island hideaway provide much needed diversity in setting. More than anything else though the game is remembered for its stellar soundtrack. The techno soundtrack makes the Genesis’s FM synth sing and is commonly ranked as one of the finest overall soundtracks in gaming history. Don’t take my word for it; listen for yourself.
In Closing
Streets of Rage 2 is everything a sequel should be. It corrects the first game’s flaws while introducing a slew of new mechanics that keep it fresh. Add in some of the highest production values of any title on the system and you have a bonafide classic.
