Streets of Rage

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Streets of Rage is a single player and multiplayer arcade hack and slash game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by SEGA and was released on August 2, 1991. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Streets of Rage is a sci-fi hack and slash game originally released for the Sega Game Gear, now available in 8-bit form. With support for both single-player and multiplayer modes, players can team up in co-op mode or go solo in their fight against the city's criminal elements. Whether you're a fan of retro gaming or just looking for a fun and action-packed experience, Streets of Rage delivers.

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

music4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The inclusion of the ROM for legal emulation is fantastic for fans, allowing them to play on various emulators like RetroArch.
The game supports Steam Workshop, enabling retro mods that enhance the nostalgic experience.
The gameplay remains enjoyable and nostalgic, providing a fun local co-op experience that many players cherish.

The emulation has some technical issues, including glitches and crashes, particularly with the Simple Launcher.
The level design can be frustrating at times, with certain stages making combat difficult due to environmental obstacles.
Some players find the controls can lead to accidental grabs of co-op partners, which can disrupt gameplay.

music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The music in the game is highly praised, with standout contributions from Yuzo Koshiro that highlight the Sega Genesis's sound capabilities. Reviewers note the nostalgic and memorable tunes that enhance the gameplay experience, solidifying the series' reputation for excellent soundtracks. Overall, the music is considered a key element that complements the vibrant graphics and engaging gameplay.
- “And the music is absolutely top-notch.”
- “Some truly memorable tunes during the levels that helped cement this series as proof that the Mega Drive can output some good music with its hardware.”
- “The music is absolutely top-notch.”
- “It's club music, written by Yuzo Koshiro, proving that the sound chip in the Sega Genesis really rocked.”
- “"Shredder's Revenge" put more focus on nostalgia with its graphics, music, and bosses.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story revolves around a classic revenge narrative where characters seek to defeat punks and a criminal syndicate that has overtaken the city, reminiscent of titles like Final Fight. While the plot is familiar and typical for the genre, it faced significant censorship in the West, altering key elements and characters in the third installment. Overall, players can expect a vibrant presentation and engaging gameplay, despite the predictable storyline.
- “Not unlike Final Fight, the plot revolves around characters seeking revenge against punks and a criminal syndicate that have taken over the city.”
- “The games did receive a fair bit of censorship when coming to the West, with the third game losing a boss and a secret playable character, as well as having a significantly different story.”
- “The graphics are huge and vibrant, the music is engaging, and the storyline, combined with the insane combos that your characters can perform in mid-air, creates an exciting experience!”
- “Not unlike Final Fight, the plot is about people on a revenge mission to beat up punks and a criminal syndicate that have taken over the city.”
- “The games did receive a fair bit of censorship when coming to the West, with the third game losing a boss and a secret playable character, as well as receiving a much different story.”
- “Much as with the story, you will already know what to expect.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics of the game are characterized by vibrant pixel art that appeals to nostalgia, particularly for fans of earlier titles in the series. While some players appreciate the unique art style, others note a difference in character design compared to later games. Overall, the visuals are praised for their beauty and the dynamic presentation of gameplay elements.
- “The graphics are huge and vibrant, the music is there, story line and insane combos that your characters can perform in mid air!”
- “And the graphics are gorgeous!”
- “Graphically, this game is okay.”
- “However, if you have already played the later games in the series, you will notice that the art style in this game was different, with both player characters and enemies looking different.”
- ““Shredder’s Revenge” put more focus on nostalgia with its graphics, music, and bosses.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The gameplay of Streets of Rage is a classic beat-em-up experience that successfully captures the nostalgic essence of its 1991 release, offering engaging grappling mechanics and action reminiscent of its contemporaries. Players appreciate the seamless blend of action and music, making it a strong sequel that retains the charm of the original series.
- “The gameplay is just as good as it was back then, bringing a fantastic feeling of nostalgia.”
- “This game is a pretty awesome sequel to the earlier series, keeping the right feel to action with great gameplay and soundtrack.”
- “Streets of Rage is a 2-player beat-em-up game for Sega Genesis that was released in 1991 as a response to Capcom's Final Fight, following the same formula of core gameplay: grappling and such.”
- “The gameplay is, of course, a beat-em-up.”
- “Streets of Rage is a 2-player beat-em-up game for Sega Genesis that was released in 1991 as a response to Capcom's Final Fight and its SNES port, following the same formula of core gameplay: grappling and such.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits notable stability issues, with users reporting various glitches, including instances where simultaneous actions by bosses can lead to unexpected outcomes, such as being thrown off-screen and completing the game unintentionally.
- “However, the simple launcher has its fair share of glitches as well.”
- “It still contains some glitches; I was thrown by both wrestler bosses at the same time on stage 8, which caused me to be thrown out of the screen and complete the game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when it comes to earning single-player trophies and achievements in a co-op-focused title. Many express a desire to engage in cooperative gameplay rather than repetitively playing solo, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Tedious single-player trophies and achievements.”
- “Um, guys seriously, this is a co-op game. Playing single-player 8 times has been tedious for me; I would much rather be playing co-op and enjoying the game as intended.”