Sega Game Gear Streets of Rage SKUSGG2 aka Bare Knuckle (JPN title)

Sega Game Gear Streets of Rage SKUSGG2 aka Bare Knuckle (JPN title).  Classic beat ’em up for the Sega Game Gear.  Streets of Rage (known in Japan as Bare Knuckle: Ikari no Tekken (ベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳, lit. “Bare Knuckle: Furious Iron Fist”) was the first SOR title, released by SEGA in 1991 on the 16-Bit Mega Drive and later ported to the 8-Bit Master System, and Game Gear handheld. The game was released when the Nintendo SNES was imminent, and Sega needed some exclusive 1st-party games to rival the SNES launch line-up.  A key point for the game is its simultaneous 2-player option, a feature omitted from the SNES port of Final Fight. Upon its release, Streets of Rage was a success for Sega.  It had good graphics for the time and showcased what the Mega Drive was capable of.

Streets of Rage features a superb ‘house’ soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro that really sets the mood as you punch, kick and smash your way through the 8 levels with pipes, bats and bottles to reach the lair of Mr. X, the leader of the evil Syndicate. The music was and still is incredible, despite the fact that the Mega Drive sound chip was infamously awful and very much inferior to that of the SNES.

The gameplay was nothing revolutionary: Streets of Rage is in many ways simply a Final Fight clone, although the game did introduce enough new elements into the usual beat ’em up formula to make it stand out. At the time however, it was easily the best side-scrolling beat ’em up on the system and was only surpassed by it’s own sequels.  In my opinion, Streets of Rage more than made up for the absence of a Mega Drive version of Final Fight, and it performed well enough for Sega to start development on a sequel for release the following year…

Streets of Rage 2 is widely considered to be the best console brawler ever created. It improves upon its predecessor across the board with deeper combat, more diverse characters, elaborate multi-part stages, and an even greater challenge. Its soundtrack is the stuff of legend.

Storyline:  One year after the battle…The city that had been plagued with crime and violence was safe and peaceful. However, evil has once again cast its shadow over the city.  Mr. X, the Syndicate boss believed destroyed by the three young vigilantes, has come back to life stronger than ever. Thirsty for revenge, he kidnaps Adam in an attempt to lure Axel and Blaze into a trap!  Axel and Blaze set out to help their faithful companion, joined by Axel’s friend Max, a wrestler, and Adam’s kid brother, Skate. They’re determined to save Adam and put Mr. X out of action!  Four young friends, rage burning inside them, make a stand for friendship and peace…

Pictures for illustrative purposes only