Streets of Rage

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

music4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The inclusion of the original ROM is fantastic for fans of emulation, allowing legal access to play on various emulators.
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 that can disrupt gameplay.
Controls can be unintuitive, leading to accidental grabs of co-op partners during multiplayer sessions.
The level design in certain stages can be frustrating, with some areas making combat unnecessarily difficult.

music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The music in the game is highly praised, with standout contributions from Yuzo Koshiro that showcase the Sega Genesis's sound capabilities. Reviewers highlight 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 action.
- “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 straightforward storyline that complements the vibrant graphics and dynamic gameplay.
- “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, along with the insane combos that your characters can perform in mid-air, adds to the overall experience!”
- “Not unlike Final Fight, the plot is about people 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 receiving a much different story.”
- “Much like 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 the series. While some players find the visuals to be a departure from later installments, many appreciate the colorful and engaging design, which enhances the overall experience alongside the music and gameplay.
- “The graphics are huge and vibrant, the music is there, story line and insane combos that your characters can perform in mid air!”
- “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
40%
20%
40%
The gameplay of Streets of Rage is a classic beat-em-up experience that effectively captures the nostalgia of its 1991 release, offering engaging grappling mechanics and action reminiscent of its predecessor. Players appreciate the game's ability to maintain its core gameplay quality while delivering an enjoyable sequel with a great soundtrack.
- “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.”
- “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 threw me out of the screen and completed 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 play rather than repetitively completing single-player tasks.
- “The tedious single-player trophies and achievements really drag down the experience.”
- “Seriously, this is a co-op game, and playing single-player eight times has been incredibly tedious. I would much rather be enjoying the game as intended with friends.”