Product ReviewsStreets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis, 1992)

The perfection of the Beat em up genre is more than worth it's price today.

If there's any game that completely changed my opinion on a series, it's Streets of Rage 2. While Streets of rage 1 felt like a crappy Final Fight clone because Capcom didn't want to port their game to the Genesis Streets of Rage 2 feels like a completely new experience. One of the most important parts of a Beat em up is how satisfying the controls, and Sound effects are, and I'm glad to say Streets of Rage 2 more than delivers in both these aspects. It's hard to describe in words but just play it and you'll know. The game runs with no slowdown and the co-op feature is back in full force. Every character in the game feels completely different from each other. Axel and Blaze are the average characters, with Axel specializing in punches and Blaze specializing in kicks. New characters Max and skate on the other hand are the exact opposite, with Max being slow yet powerful and having great grab moves, and Skate being the only character with a dash yet being very weak. There's a great sense of balance and you'll never have a friend complaining about not getting to play as a good character as they all have their own uses and most importantly, are all fun to play as. The stages look bigger and better than Streets of rage 1 especially and I'd go so far as to say they look better than any of the final fight games. If that didn't make you want to play it Then the soundtrack most certainly will. It's beyond ahead of it's time with a techno and trance feel to it and it is awesome. To me Streets of rage 2 is the perfection of the Beat em up genre and part of the reason the genre died out shortly afterward, because once you hit perfection it can only stay there or get worse. Regardless If you're looking for a great multiplayer beat em up look no further.Read full review...

One of the greatest games ever made that definitely shouldn't be overlooked

Streets of Rage 2 is by-far one of the greatest experiences I have ever had with a video game. The gameplay, graphics and music are all phenomenal.

Streets of Rage 2 takes place shortly after Streets of Rage, the cast from that game returns, minus Adam (Who is explained to have been kidnapped). Instead, you are given Max the wrestler, and Skate, who appropriately wears roller skates as he travels. The evil Mr. X you had defeated before returns, and it is up to Axel, Blaze and the newcomers to stop them.

The 90's and 4th generation of consoles are riddled with side-scrollers and beat em ups. Streets of Rage 2, however, stands head and shoulders above those (Including its own sequel).

The graphics give a very great arcade feel, and are very pleasing to the eyes. They are a huge step up from the original game, being much larger and detailed. The sprites also do not suffer from unfortunate palette changes like the US version of Streets of Rage 3.

The music, which was composed by Yuzo Koshiro, is my all-time favorite videogame soundtrack. With such music tracks as "Dreamer" and "Under Logic", you really can't go wrong. Combine that with the Sega Genesis' ability of stereo sound, and you have pure soundtrack bliss.

The gameplay is arguably this games finest merit. It features a simple layout, which makes it very approachable. Underneath it all, though, is something that can lead to lots of thinking, strategy and flexibility. This system not only features attacks using the buttons alone, but also features a whole new slew of combos and attacks with proper integration of the directional pad.

The game shows tons of longevity. It can be completed in 30 minutes or less, but the replay value will immediately turn 30 minutes to 30 hours. Add Co-op and duel modes to the mix, and you get a genuinely great game, well worth the price tag.Read full review...

One of the greatest beat'em ups for a 16-bit system

I have always been a fan of Streets of Rage since the first game. I got Streets of Rage 2 as part of a bundle deal when my first Genesis crapped out on me. As much as I loved the first game, Streets of Rage 2 was quite a quantum leap in every aspect.

The graphics are much more detailed and larger than the first game and some of the best for the Genesis. The levels are beautifully detailed and make the game more fun to play through. Streets of Rage 2 has a managerie of great sound effects that give it a very authentic arcade feel. Topping the music from the first game would be difficult, but Streets of Rage 2 managed just that. The music provides the right mood and atmosphere for each level.

The gameplay is much more refined compared to the first game. Each character has more of a unique set of moves that make the gameplay different with the different characters, where the first game had more subtle differences between the characters. The controls are easy to learn and the game is challenging without throwing cheap shots to up the difficulty.

Streets of Rage 2 is one of the reasons to own a Genesis. I played this game numerous times and I still find enjoyment playing to this day. Anyone who loves the Genesis and classic games need to add Streets of Rage 2 to their collections.Read full review...

Impressive beyond belief, What Sequels are made of

Continuing on in one of the most popular and legendary beat ‘em series of games to ever grace the Genesis system, Streets of Rage 2 takes the fight back to the street with two favorite characters and two brand new brawlers in a fist battle to the finish! Taking to the streets, you must guide your brawler through several stages of bone crunching and body throwing action that is yet to be rivaled anywhere in the Genesis library. Through all of the crunching and enemy bashing that you do, you’ll find that many of the game play options that you have here have been tried in another game of this type, Fighting Force, but didn’t go over anywhere near as good as the Streets of Rage series. Considering that Streets of Rage is a dated game, and even the offspring of this game are dated as well, there isn’t a finer example of a good sequel that can beat out the original game other than this title right here! If you can get through the extreme difficulty {even on easy the game is hard} and you can learn just what all of the characters are capable of, you’ll find that Streets of Rage 2 is the true pinnacle of Genesis side scrolling beat ‘em up games.

Beat-em up action at its best. You have your choice of four characters to use and each has its own set of moves that match their personality. While Axel and Blaze return to the fray, you have the street smart Skate and the overgrown ox Max! You have a tough cop that uses a set of moves move akin to street-fighting, a hard-edged woman with a set of sleek, stylish moves that are speedy, but don’t do a lot of damage, and then a huge guy that just brutalizes people as well as a skating fighter that does little more than smash out fast combinations. All in all, you have a wide variety of moves with each, from punch and kick combos, to hard hitting grab combos. Each stage gets progressively harder, and you have a computer AI that can gang up on you in a heartbeat. With Streets of Rage, you have the ability to use the background, picking up weapons, throwing your enemies through bus stops and phone booths. The replay factor is pretty high if you’re into beating up the computer, and if you can get a friend in on the action, you can get some pretty good grudge matches going, along with teaming up against an enemy and beating them into submission.

The Genesis controller has never had much to offer in terms of control other than the standard three button configuration. A punch, kick and jump button is what you have to use, and most of the games control is based on a combination system, where you pound on the buttons in a particular manner and some sort of effect comes out. Pulling off the grab moves is easy enough to do, and even though you may have a little trouble at first, the control scheme is set up that even a beginning gamer can use it! With the added extra characters, you’ll find that different styles of play come into effect from the start of the first level. While some of the characters are fast with what they do, others are slow and plodding but can take plenty of damage as well as dish it out when it’s necessary.
A fast action platform game that places you in the mean streets of a city, you’re greeted with exceptional detail that will dazzle you. In-depth level designs place you in the urban landscapes with a dark and dreary mood, along with an interactive background that you can use to beat up your enemies. Character designs range from the exotic, to the basic, giving you everything from street thugRead full review...

Fun game and only minor issues but it was the systems fault not the game.

It is a really good game and plays really well on the At games Sega genesis plug and play. It does have its flaws but they can be overlooked because of how good it plays it overall. It played this game near perfect with only something sounding choppy with the sound but that's jut what happens with it but other than that it played it good and I had fun.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: bigmagee77

Streets of Rage 2 - Sega Genesis Review

I bought this game because I've never played the real version before. I've only play remakes and ports to this on newer games; such as the Sega Genesis Collection.

I love the old style of beat'em up it brings to the table. The main characters are big and jump off the screen. The enemies for the most part have distinctions in their own right. The gameplay is solid, the graphics are solid, and the music is, yet again, solid. It's definatly a must play game for the Sega Genesis.

The only thing I dislike about the game is it is not very long. It took me about 45 minutes to an hour to beat it on my first playthrough. But, the game doesn't get old very fast, especially if you have a friend to sit down with you and run through it. Multiplayer makes for some very fun times and lots of laughs.

All in all, a great game that will make you remember when video games were made for fun; not just cheap gimmicks and shiny graphics. This game is a classic, get it now!Read full review...

Love this game .

It's a fun beat them up side scrolling game. Game has awesome music. Up beat that make the game fun. Give it five stars.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: candlesvette

Arcade Classic!

Classic sega, one of the best side scrolling beat em' ups ever released. True classic arcade gamers will love and appreciate this game! Must have for a classic gaming collection!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: thirdamigo3

Streets of Rage 2 is a must have!

Classic Genesis game and must have.
The value is average at 20 dollars plus ship. Cart only. Well worth it.
Great music and challenging on hard mode.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: marzariez

Great game!

It was my favorite Genesis game when I was a kid and I got it complete in great condition couldn’t be happier!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: sfcidustin