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Some of the most multi-player fun a person can have, 3D Streets of Rage 2 is the perfect video game port I may have ever played. Keeping the soul of the original intact with a new casual mode that made playing through with my partner a breeze, it's the best of a genre that is at its best when enjoyed with others. The battle-mode makes for a bit of quick fun before starting up a new run after failure. Definitely need to check out the rest of this series.
A near-perfect blend of robust beatemup mechanics, beautiful atmosphere, and great pacing. The intensity of the challenges, soundtrack, and locales escalate with each level up until its awesome ending.
Bigger and better than the first one in every way possible.
I had a lot of fun going through the first Streets of Rage, but as I mentioned in the review I made for it some months ago, I only decided to get it (btw, I miss you, 3DS eShop…) once I started playing the second one and absolutely loving it.
I never gave much attention to brawlers before SoR, especially ones made for arcade machines. I had to take an experience made for home consoles to get into them, and SoR delivered amazing mechanics which are fun and rewarding to learn.
And in Streets of Rage 2 it all looks much more beautiful, sounds EVEN MORE AMAZING and, especially, it plays much better.
Sadly, for 4:3 purists (such as myself), this port displays the game in the internal Genesis aspect ratio, but that’s really the only gripe I have with this version of the game, and an absurdly minor one at that.
M2, once again, delivered a perfect port. It looks, sounds and plays exactly as it should, and with features like a save state slot, a mappable rear attack button (on the original you should press both the jump and attack buttons for that, which not always is a guaranteed input during the game’s most intense moments) and the ability to select 9 lives at the options menu before starting the game (c’mon, it’s 2023) makes it one of the most appealing ways to play SoR2.
The cherry on top of all of this, however, comes with the added 3D effect. And I mean it, it’s by far one of the very best made 3D effects on the 3DS, and it makes it extremely worth it to play the game with the 3D slider cranked all the way up.
The added dimension makes an already pretty game look even more stunning and modern.
SoR2 has it all. It is a classic for a very good reason, and it’s very clear why once you start playing it. It’s the perfect home console beat ‘em up, and with its four playable characters, it will grant you plenty of replay value - especially since now, unlike the first game, all characters play completely differently and each will give you a different gameplay experience.
My favourite one is Blaze, by the way!
If there was something negative I could point out in this game, there are two things: 1) It’s a challenging game, sure, but once you get the hang of it, it is super short, even more than the first one; 2) It definitely lacks enemy variety. I know there was only so much you could do on the Genesis (especially for a game that looks and sounds as good as this), but beating up the same Galsias and Donovans over and over gets old pretty fast.
I think this second point is the biggest flaw in SoR2. The latter half of the game feels repetitive and a bit uninspired. Despite the gorgeous backgrounds, stages start to feel too short, less gimmicky and with lots of the same enemies being thrown at you. I feel that the first game, despite being more clunky and less impressive overall, ended up giving me a more compelling and balanced challenge throughout its entirety, with the latter half of the game being just as interesting as the first.
All in all, still, this is undoubtedly a great video game, and one I think every one interested in the medium should play at least once. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna grab my 8bitdo M30 controller and start another run of the game on my iPad, ‘cause I really need to experience this on a larger screen now.
I had a lot of fun going through the first Streets of Rage, but as I mentioned in the review I made for it some months ago, I only decided to get it (btw, I miss you, 3DS eShop…) once I started playing the second one and absolutely loving it.
I never gave much attention to brawlers before SoR, especially ones made for arcade machines. I had to take an experience made for home consoles to get into them, and SoR delivered amazing mechanics which are fun and rewarding to learn.
And in Streets of Rage 2 it all looks much more beautiful, sounds EVEN MORE AMAZING and, especially, it plays much better.
Sadly, for 4:3 purists (such as myself), this port displays the game in the internal Genesis aspect ratio, but that’s really the only gripe I have with this version of the game, and an absurdly minor one at that.
M2, once again, delivered a perfect port. It looks, sounds and plays exactly as it should, and with features like a save state slot, a mappable rear attack button (on the original you should press both the jump and attack buttons for that, which not always is a guaranteed input during the game’s most intense moments) and the ability to select 9 lives at the options menu before starting the game (c’mon, it’s 2023) makes it one of the most appealing ways to play SoR2.
The cherry on top of all of this, however, comes with the added 3D effect. And I mean it, it’s by far one of the very best made 3D effects on the 3DS, and it makes it extremely worth it to play the game with the 3D slider cranked all the way up.
The added dimension makes an already pretty game look even more stunning and modern.
SoR2 has it all. It is a classic for a very good reason, and it’s very clear why once you start playing it. It’s the perfect home console beat ‘em up, and with its four playable characters, it will grant you plenty of replay value - especially since now, unlike the first game, all characters play completely differently and each will give you a different gameplay experience.
My favourite one is Blaze, by the way!
If there was something negative I could point out in this game, there are two things: 1) It’s a challenging game, sure, but once you get the hang of it, it is super short, even more than the first one; 2) It definitely lacks enemy variety. I know there was only so much you could do on the Genesis (especially for a game that looks and sounds as good as this), but beating up the same Galsias and Donovans over and over gets old pretty fast.
I think this second point is the biggest flaw in SoR2. The latter half of the game feels repetitive and a bit uninspired. Despite the gorgeous backgrounds, stages start to feel too short, less gimmicky and with lots of the same enemies being thrown at you. I feel that the first game, despite being more clunky and less impressive overall, ended up giving me a more compelling and balanced challenge throughout its entirety, with the latter half of the game being just as interesting as the first.
All in all, still, this is undoubtedly a great video game, and one I think every one interested in the medium should play at least once. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna grab my 8bitdo M30 controller and start another run of the game on my iPad, ‘cause I really need to experience this on a larger screen now.
Review in progress:
Everyone seems to love this game. I may just not be a fan of beat 'em ups. Press buttons to kill things and move to the right. The combat doesn't feel good to me.
Everyone seems to love this game. I may just not be a fan of beat 'em ups. Press buttons to kill things and move to the right. The combat doesn't feel good to me.
La 3D relief qui sublime le jeu
This game is absolutely, undeniable an all-time great, and this is a rock-solid port of the game. It has certainly aged, with stiffer controls than more modern beat 'em ups, though it still was a fun & quick romp. The music still absolutely kicks ass and I still absolutely get my ass kicked by nearly every boss.