Streets of Rage 2

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Streets of Rage 2
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, Mega Play, Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, iOS, PlayStation Network, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega AM7, Ancient, H.I.C., Shout! Designworks
Peripherals supported: Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Action
Release Date RRP Code
ESRB PEGI OFLC CERO Missing Parameter!

Streets of Rage 2, known as Bare Knuckle II: Shitou e no Requiem (ベア・ナックルII 死闘への鎮魂歌 lit. Bare Knuckle II: Requiem to the Deadly Struggle) in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up for the Sega Mega Drive, released in 1993 as a sequel to Streets of Rage. It received 8-bit ports for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear, as well as being included on numerous compilations of Mega Drive games. More recently, it was made available on the Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade download services.

Storyline

The game's storyline is set one year after the events of its prequel Streets of Rage. That game's protagonists Adam Hunter, Axel Stone, and Blaze Fielding go to a nightspot and reminisce over their defeat of Mr. X. The following day Axel gets a call from Eddie "Skate" Hunter, Adam's younger brother, telling him that he returned to the brothers' house to find it in shambles, with a picture of Adam chained to a wall next to Mr. X left behind. Axel, Blaze, Skate and their friend Max embark on a mission to rescue their friend and hopefully break up Mr. X's criminal gang once again.

Characters

Axel Stone is the most popular character, and the best choice for beginners due to his all-round stats. His blitz attack is the Grand Upper, which is arguably the most useful and effective move of the game due to its high damage but relatively fast execution, which make it effective against bosses and enemies with a "breakout" special move. He has average movement speed and agility.

Blaze Fielding is another well rounded and popular character. Her speed rating on the character select screen matches that of Axel, although she appears to be faster. (this is because the Star system isn't tied to the actual programmed stats, therefore, she actually is faster, her skill stars just don't show it.) She also deals less damage with some of her moves.

Eddie "Skate" Hunter (Sammy Hunter in Japan) is the lightest and most agile character, the weakest in terms of combo damage, but the second strongest in terms of grappling. Skate is the only character capable of sprinting, thanks to the rollerskates after which he is named, which can allow him to escape many attacks which the other characters would not be able to avoid.

Max Thunder is the 'powerhouse' of the game, possessing great strength. This is offset by his very slow speed, which puts him at a disadvantage with speedier enemies.

Gameplay

Controls are identical to Streets of Rage's, except the special move is no longer the police car coming in to kill all on-screen enemies. Instead, in Streets of Rage 2, each character is given their own unique blitz attack, which allows the player to deal great damage with a single hit. They also have 'breakout' moves that allow them to break out of holds, and can damage enemies both in front of and behind them. The amount of times that blitz and breakout attacks can be used is limited, as each decreases the player's life gauge (the latter only if the move connects, the former always). In addition, each character has a unique move (e.g. Axel's Grand Upper, noted above) that causes substantial damage without depleting their energy.

Soundtrack

Streets of Rage 2's soundtrack was composed by Yuzo Koshiro (known for his work on the first Streets of Rage and The Revenge of Shinobi) and Motohiro Kawashima. This soundtrack is considered by some to be the best of the series, and the printed album is by far the easiest of the series' printed releases to find since there was a US release as well as a Japanese one.

There are a few unused/beta tracks. One of these, "Walking Bottom", exists in the Bare Knuckle II beta ROM. Two appear in the final game's sound test: "Go Straight" and "Little Money Avenue". The former is featured in the game, albeit in a different mix. There is also a slow version of "In the Bar" in the game's Sound Test that goes unused as well.

Bare Knuckle II beta

A beta ROM of Bare Knuckle II is available. The dump is very different from the final, and only Round 1 is playable. The game lacks sound effects, and the scrapped music track "Walking Bottom" is played throughout. The player cannot pick up weapons, even if they are within range. Max has a different sprite set, and can vault enemies, which means he cannot perform his Atomic power throw.

Regional differences

The Japanese version is of the game is the original unaltered one, and therefore has no censorship. The US version was edited to remove the cigar smoked by Mr. X in round 8, as well as removing the ability to see up Blaze's skirt when she performs certain moves. The European version has the upskirt animations, but no cigar.

In the Japanese version, Eddie "Skate" Hunter is called Sammy Hunter, in reference to the company Sammy's DJ Boy, another side-scrolling beat-'em'up, whose titular character also wears rollerskates. Both names can be found in the ROM of the final version of the game, and are chosen between depending on the region of the Mega Drive (or emulator being used).

The European and Japanese versions of the game are interchangeable between European and Japan region settings. Therefore, the Japanese version of the game could be played on a PAL console (at the correct speed, as the PAL version runs in unoptimised 50Hz) and vice versa. The US version is region locked to only work on NTSC US/Canadian consoles. Despite this locking, the tiles for the Bare Knuckle II title screen and data for the name "Sammy" are still present in the US ROM. Streets of Rage 2 was one of the very first Mega Drive games to be region locked.

Manuals

• JP manual ^(info) ()

Production Credits

Mega Drive Version

Game Design

Main Planning: Cadmix
Planning: Talk Uchimura (Shout! Ow), Ayano Koshiro (Ancient), Mikito Ichikawa (MNM)
System Design: Talk Uchimura (Shout! Ow)

Programming

Main Program: Akitoshi Kawano (Shout! Ow)
Main Enemy Program: Yukio Takahashi (Ancient)
Enemy and Demo Program: Tatsuya Sato (HIC), Djinni (HIC), Noritaka Yakita (HIC)

Music

Music Composition: Yuzo Koshiro, Motohiro Kawashima
Sound Effect: Yuzo Koshiro
Sound Driver: Takeshi Maruyama (MNM)

Management

Project Management: Wanta

Design

Obj Design: Ayano Koshiro (Ancient), Hitoshi Ariga, Tomoharu Saitoh, Anything, Pochi
Main Design: Ayano Koshiro (Ancient)
B.G. Design: Koji Utsunomiya (Shout! Ow), Tsurugi Oda (Shout! Ow), Akishi Imai (Shout! Ow), Kouhei Ichikawa, Satoshi Nakai, Koichiro Kobayashi, Seishi Atsumiya, Ayano Koshiro (Ancient)

Special Thanks

Team Streets of Rage, Zozo, Todo, Y.K.K, Hassy, Kyoten

Game Gear Version

Game Design

Planning: Monty, Show, Mud

Programming

Main Programming: Mud
Demo Programming: Kozo

Music

Music Composition: Yuzo Koshiro
Sound Effects: Yuzo Koshiro
Sound Driver: Mikito Ichikawa

Design

Obj Design: Python
BG Design: Show, Wozl

Special Thanks to

Ancient, Team S.O.R., B.T.R., C.O.M., Abadede Jr.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 83 GameFan (US) 96 Game Power (IT) 94 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 90 Player One (FR) 90 Power Play (DE) 79

	89
Based on 6 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 80 Alaab Alcomputtar (SA) 90 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 85 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 85 Bestial! (PT) 93 Consoles + (FR) 92 Cool Gamer (RU) 70 Computer & Video Games (UK) 95 Digitiser (UK) 60 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 89 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 80 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU) 80 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 92 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 65 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 97 Game Mania (UK) 92 Game Power (IT) 94 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 98 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 88 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 73 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 HiScore (DK) PAL 87 Joypad (FR) PAL 93 Joystick (FR) PAL 94 Mega (UK) PAL 81 Mega Action (UK) 68 Mega Action (UK) 84 Mega Byte (UK) PAL 92 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 87 MegaTech (UK) PAL 95 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 94 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 90 Player One (FR) 90 Play Time (DE) 82 Power Up! (UK) 92 Power Play (DE) 79 Sega Magazin (DE) 83 Sega Power (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 96 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 96 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 92 Sega Force (SE) 85 Sega Force (UK) PAL 93 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 82 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 87 Supergame (BR) 97 Supersonic (FR) 93 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 80 User (GR) PAL 94 Video Games (DE) PAL 78

	86
Based on 50 reviews

Streets of Rage 2

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, US (Not for resale)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, BR
Cover

Mega Drive, South Korea
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 60 Computer & Video Games (UK) 94 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 80 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 90 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 50 Game Power (IT) PAL 91 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 83 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 Mega Force (FR) 83 Mega Play (US) NTSC-U 79 Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J 89 Player One (FR) 79 Power Unlimited (NL) 72 Sega Magazin (DE) 80 Sega Power (UK) PAL 74 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 90 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 78 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 65 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 80 Todo Sega (ES) PAL 83 Video Games (DE) PAL 83

	78
Based on 21 reviews

Streets of Rage 2

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, EU
Cover

Game Gear,
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Consoles + (FR) 84

	84
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) PAL 67 Consoles + (FR) 84 Gamers (DE) 40 Joypad (FR) 69 Mega Force (FR) 70 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 55 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 85 Player One (FR) 55 Play Time (DE) 59 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 79 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 90 Todo Sega (ES) PAL 80 Video Games (DE) PAL 48

	68
Based on 13 reviews

Streets of Rage 2

Master System, EU
Cover

Master System, BR
Cover

External Links

• Sega of Japan Virtual Console page (Japanese)
• Streets of Rage 2 on Apple.com: GB, US
• Streets of Rage 2 on Xbox.com: GB, US
• Streets of Rage 2 on PlayStation.com: US
• Streets of Rage 2 on Steam

1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 225

Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72

Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1993" (DE; 1993-02-08), page 132

Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1993" (JP; 1993-01-08), page 20

Bestial!, "xxxx xxxx" (PT; 1993-xx-xx), page 10

Consoles +, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 76

Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 24

Computer & Video Games, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-15), page 26

Digitiser (UK) (1993-02-04)

Electronic Games (1992-1995), "February 1993" (US; 1993-01-12), page 90

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 361

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 269

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 97

Famitsu, "1993-01-22" (JP; 1993-01-08), page 1

GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 3: January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 10

Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80

Game Power, "Marzo 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 43

GamePro, "February 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 44

GamesMaster, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-18), page 72

Game Informer, "March/April 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 6

Hippon Super, "February 1993" (JP; 1993-01-06), page 38

HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 19

Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 60

Joystick, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 230

Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 34

Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65

Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 80

Mega Byte, "March 6, 1993" (UK; 1993-03-06), page 1

Mega Fun, "02/93" (DE; 1993-0x-xx), page 35

MegaTech, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-20), page 34

Micromanía (segunda época), "Marzo 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50

Mean Machines Sega, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 136

Player One, "Janvier/Février 1993" (FR; 1993-01-10), page 64

Play Time, "5/93" (DE; 1993-04-07), page 111

Power Up!, "Saturday, February 06, 1993" (UK; 1993-02-06), page 1

Power Play, "3/93" (DE; 1993-02-10), page 102

Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 89

Sega Power, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-04), page 30

Sega Pro, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-14), page 28

Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67

Sega Zone, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-xx), page 16

Sega Force, "3/93" (SE; 1993-05-13), page 14

Sega Force, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-04), page 28

Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 153

Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

Supergame, "Maio 1993" (BR; 1993-05-xx), page 37

Supersonic, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 10

Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 187

User, "Septémvrios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 52

Video Games, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-27), page 85

Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-08), page 24

Computer & Video Games, "August 1993 (Go! Issue 22)" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 10

Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 170

Famitsu, "1993-07-30" (JP; 1993-07-16), page 42

Game Power, "Ottobre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 94

GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 140

Hippon Super, "September 1993" (JP; 1993-08-03), page 48

Mega Force, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-10-08), page 125

Mega Play, "June 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 65

Mean Machines Sega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-30), page 46

Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 118

Power Unlimited, "Nummer 4, November 1993" (NL; 1993-10-27), page 47

Sega Magazin, "November/Dezember 1993" (DE; 1993-11-03), page 54

Sega Power, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-02), page 52

Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 74

Sega Zone, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-xx), page 43

Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88

Sonic the Comic, "10th July 1993" (UK; 1993-07-10), page 10

Todo Sega, "Mayo 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 68

Video Games, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-27), page 129

Aktueller Software Markt, "August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-04), page 113

Consoles +, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 143

Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 46

Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 168

Mega Force, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 1994-01-08), page 104

Mega Fun, "07/94" (DE; 1994-06-22), page 65

Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 92

Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 116

Play Time, "8/94" (DE; 1994-07-16), page 145

Sega Magazine, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-10), page 90

Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 61

Video Games, "7/94" (DE; 1994-06-29), page 104