Difference between revisions of "Streets of Rage 2"

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Revision as of 17:32, 18 October 2014

n/a

Sor2 title.png

Streets of Rage 2
SoR2 iOS icon.png
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:
Peripherals supported:
Sega Game Gear
Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
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 and Streets of Rage II in Europe, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up game for the Sega Mega Drive, released in early 1993 as a sequel to Streets of Rage. It also received 8-bit ports for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear around the same period.

Story

One year after the events of Streets of Rage, the game's former 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, traversing through the city once again overrun by Mr. X's criminal gang.

Gameplay

For the most part, Streets of Rage 2 remains largely unchanged from its predecessor in terms of gameplay, however makes several important additions which would become staples in the series.

Rather than all characters sharind the same special move to defeat all on-screen enemies, each character is given their own unique blitz attack, which allows the player to deal great damage with a single hit. Also included are 'breakout' moves that allow them to break out of holds, which can in turn 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.

The most notable change between Streets of Rage and Streets of Rage 2 are the aesthetics - Streets of Rage 2 uses bigger sprites and backgrounds, which in turn leads to greater combat accuracy (at the expense of screen estate). Characters are all individually named and there are more special effects.

Characters

Axel Stone
Like the previous game, Axel is the middle-of-the-road character, and is considered 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
Blaze is the faster option, although the game hides this from the user with its "star" system for measuring stats (which in reality isn't tied to the actual programmed stats). This comes at the expense of dealing less damage to enemies with some of her moves.
Eddie "Skate" Hunter/Sammy Hunter
Skate, known as Sammy in Japan (a reference to the Sega-published DJ Boy, originally by Sammy) 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
Max is the "powerhouse' of the game" possessing great strength and the expense of slow movement speed. This puts him at a disadvantage with speedier enemies.

Regional Differences

Varying levels of censorship were included for western releases of the game. In the North American version, the cigar smoked by Mr. X in round 8 is removed, as is the ability to see up Blaze's skirt when she performs certain moves. The European version has the upskirt animations, but no cigar. There are minor name changes across characters also.

Streets of Rage 2 was one of the first Mega Drive titles to be region locked, however data is largely consistent between the two versions (i.e. there are two title screens, just one is disabled). If one changes the region in an emulator, elements of the game may change, and if physical cartridge sizes were not an issue, the European and Japanese versions of the game would be interchangeable (although at the correct speed, as the PAL version runs in unoptimised 50Hz) and vice versa.

Soundtrack

Main article: Streets of Rage 2 Original 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.

Prototype

A prototype of Bare Knuckle II is was leaked onto the internet, with the dump being very different from the final, and only Round 1 being playable. The prototype 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.

Sequels and Re-releases

The direct sequel, Streets of Rage 3, borrows heavily from Streets of Rage 2.

Streets of Rage 2 has been included on numerous compilations of Mega Drive games and was brought to the Mega Play arcade system. It is also available via a number of download services.

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.

Master System Version

Game Design

Planning: Abadede Jr., Python

Programming

Main Programming: Nag
Demo Programming: Mumu

Music

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

Design

Obj Design: Python, Tunan
BG Design: Tunan, Honey

Special Thanks to

Team Streets of Rage

Promotional Material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
83
92 №15, p76/77/78/79
95 №135, p26/27/28
96
94
88 №3, p72/73/74/75
93 №16
94 №34, p230
91 №6, p42/43/44
68 №1, p65
84 №8, p80
95 №13, p34/35/36/37
90 №3, p136-139[1]
90 №27, p64/65/66/67
79
85
92 №41, p30/31
96 №16, p28/29
96 №18, p67
92 №3, p16/17/18
93 №16, p28-31[2]
Sega Mega Drive
90
Based on
21 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
80
[3]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
90
[4]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
85
[5]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
85
[6]
Bestial! (PT)
93
[7]
Consoles + (FR)
92
[8]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[9]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
95
[10]
Digitiser (UK)
60
[11]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
89
[12]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
80
[13]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU)
80
[14]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
92
[15]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[16]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
97
[17]
Game Mania (UK)
92
[18]
Game Power (IT)
94
[19]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
98
[20]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
88
[21]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
50
[22]
HiScore (DK) PAL
87
[23]
Joypad (FR) PAL
93
[24]
Joystick (FR) PAL
94
[25]
Mega (UK) PAL
81
[26]
Mega Action (UK)
68
[27]
Mega Action (UK)
84
[28]
Mega Byte (UK) PAL
92
[29]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
87
[30]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
95
[31]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
94
[32]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
90
[1]
Player One (FR)
90
[33]
Play Time (DE)
82
[34]
Power Up! (UK)
92
[35]
Power Play (DE)
79
[36]
Sega Magazin (DE)
83
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
92
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
96
[39]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
96
[40]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
92
[41]
Sega Force (SE)
85
[42]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
93
[43]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
82
[44]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
87
[45]
Supergame (BR)
97
[46]
Supersonic (FR)
93
[47]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
80
[48]
User (GR) PAL
94
[49]
Video Games (DE) PAL
78
[50]
Sega Mega Drive
86
Based on
49 reviews

Streets of Rage 2

Mega Drive, US
SoR2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
SoR2 MD US Cart Alt.jpg
Cart
Sor2 md us cart.jpg
Cart (alt)
Mega Drive, US (Not for resale)
Sor2 md us cover.jpg
Cover
Sor2 md us nfr cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Sor2 md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Sor2 md eu cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Sor2 md jp cover.jpg
Cover
SOR2 MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Sor2 md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
SoR2 MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Sor2 md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
SoR2 MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
SoR2 MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, Asia
SoR2 MD AS Box.jpg
Cover
SoR2 MD AS Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
84 №31, p143
85 №17, p92/93
55 №38, p116
79 №2, p89
90 №27, p61
Sega Master System
79
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE) PAL
67
[51]
Consoles + (FR)
84
[52]
Gamers (DE)
40
[53]
Joypad (FR)
69
[54]
Mega Force (FR)
70
[55]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
55
[56]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
85
[57]
Player One (FR)
55
[58]
Play Time (DE)
59
[59]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
79
[60]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[61]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
80
[62]
Video Games (DE) PAL
48
[63]
Sega Master System
68
Based on
13 reviews

Streets of Rage 2

Master System, EU
SoR2 SMS EU cover.jpg
Cover
SoR2 SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
SoR2 SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, BR (INMETRO stamp)
SoR2 SMS Tectoy.jpg
Cover
SoR2 SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
SoR2 SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, KR
SoR2 SMS KR Box.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
94 №141, pGo!10/11
83
89 №10, p46/47[64]
79 №34, p118/119
72
74 №47, p52/53
90 №25, p74
80 №4, p10/11
Sega Game Gear
83
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[65]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
94
[66]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
80
[67]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
90
[68]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
50
[69]
Game Power (IT) PAL
91
[70]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[71]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
50
[72]
Mega Force (FR)
83
[73]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
79
[74]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
89
[64]
Player One (FR)
79
[75]
Power Unlimited (NL)
72
[76]
Sega Magazin (DE)
80
[77]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
74
[78]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[79]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
78
[80]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
65
[81]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
80
[82]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
83
[62]
Video Games (DE) PAL
83
[83]
Sega Game Gear
78
Based on
21 reviews

Streets of Rage 2

Game Gear, US
Sor2 gg us cover.jpg
Cover
Sor2 gg us cart.jpg
Cart
Sor2 gg us manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
SoR2 GG EU backcover.jpgNospine.pngSor2 gg eu cover.jpg
Cover
SoR2 GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, JP
SoR2 GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngSor2 gg jp cover.jpg
Cover
SOR2 GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, BR
SoR2 GG BR back.jpgNospine.pngSoR2 GG BR Box.jpg
Cover
Sor2 gg br cart.jpg
Cart

External Links



SoR 1UP sprite Games in the Streets of Rage Series
Streets of Rage (3D) (1991) | Streets of Rage 2 (3D) (1992) | Streets of Rage 3 (1994) | Streets of Rage 4 (2020)
Streets of Rage (LCD) (1993) | Bare Knuckle Mobile (2010) | Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage (2012)
Related Games
Streets Of Kamurocho (2020) | Fighting Force (unreleased) | Streets of Rage 4 (Dreamcast) (unreleased) | Streets of Rage Online (unreleased)
Related Media
Music
Bare Knuckle (1991) | Streets of Rage 2 Original Soundtrack (1993) | Bare Knuckle III (1994) | Bare Knuckle Original Soundtrack (2012) | Streets of Rage (2015) | Streets of Rage 2 (2016) | Streets of Rage 3 (2017) | Streets of Rage 4 Limited Run Games Exclusive Track Selection (2020) | Streets of Rage Perfect Soundtrack (2017) | Streets of Rage 4 Original Soundtrack (2020) | Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare The Definitive Soundtrack (2022)
Book
Streets of Rage: Bad City Fighters (1994) | Warpzone Clássicos: Streets of Rage (2016)
Other List of Streets of Rage merchandise
  1. 1.0 1.1 File:MeanMachinesSega03UK.pdf, page 136 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega03UK.pdf_p136" defined multiple times with different content
  2. File:SegaForce16UK.pdf, page 28
  3. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 225
  4. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72
  5. Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1993" (DE; 1993-02-08), page 132
  6. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1993" (JP; 1993-01-08), page 20
  7. Bestial!, "xxxx xxxx" (PT; 1993-xx-xx), page 10
  8. Consoles +, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 76
  9. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 24
  10. Computer & Video Games, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-15), page 26
  11. Digitiser (UK) (1993-02-04)
  12. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "February 1993" (US; 1993-01-12), page 90
  13. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 361
  14. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 269
  15. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 97
  16. Famitsu, "1993-01-22" (JP; 1993-01-08), page 1
  17. GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 3: January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 10
  18. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
  19. Game Power, "Marzo 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 43
  20. GamePro, "February 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 44
  21. GamesMaster, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-18), page 72
  22. Hippon Super, "February 1993" (JP; 1993-01-06), page 38
  23. HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 19
  24. Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 60
  25. Joystick, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 230
  26. Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 34
  27. Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
  28. Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 80
  29. Mega Byte, "March 6, 1993" (UK; 1993-03-06), page 1
  30. Mega Fun, "02/93" (DE; 1993-0x-xx), page 35
  31. MegaTech, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-20), page 34
  32. Micromanía (segunda época), "Marzo 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50
  33. Player One, "Janvier/Février 1993" (FR; 1993-01-10), page 64
  34. Play Time, "5/93" (DE; 1993-04-07), page 111
  35. Power Up!, "Saturday, February 06, 1993" (UK; 1993-02-06), page 1
  36. Power Play, "3/93" (DE; 1993-02-10), page 102
  37. Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 89
  38. Sega Power, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-04), page 30
  39. Sega Pro, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-14), page 28
  40. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  41. Sega Zone, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-xx), page 16
  42. Sega Force, "3/93" (SE; 1993-05-13), page 14
  43. Sega Force, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-04), page 28
  44. Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 153
  45. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  46. Supergame, "Maio 1993" (BR; 1993-05-xx), page 37
  47. Supersonic, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 10
  48. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 187
  49. User, "Septémvrios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 52
  50. Video Games, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-27), page 85
  51. Aktueller Software Markt, "August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-04), page 113
  52. Consoles +, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 143
  53. Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 46
  54. Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 168
  55. Mega Force, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 1994-01-08), page 104
  56. Mega Fun, "07/94" (DE; 1994-06-22), page 65
  57. Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 92
  58. Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 116
  59. Play Time, "8/94" (DE; 1994-07-16), page 145
  60. Sega Magazine, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-10), page 90
  61. Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 61
  62. 62.0 62.1 Todo Sega, "Mayo 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 68
  63. Video Games, "7/94" (DE; 1994-06-29), page 104
  64. 64.0 64.1 File:MeanMachinesSega10UK.pdf, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega10UK.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content
  65. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-08), page 24
  66. Computer & Video Games, "August 1993 (Go! Issue 22)" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 10
  67. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34
  68. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 170
  69. Famitsu, "1993-07-30" (JP; 1993-07-16), page 42
  70. Game Power, "Ottobre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 94
  71. GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 140
  72. Hippon Super, "September 1993" (JP; 1993-08-03), page 48
  73. Mega Force, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-10-08), page 125
  74. Mega Play, "June 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 65
  75. Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 118
  76. Power Unlimited, "Nummer 4, November 1993" (NL; 1993-10-27), page 47
  77. Sega Magazin, "November/Dezember 1993" (DE; 1993-11-03), page 54
  78. Sega Power, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-02), page 52
  79. Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 74
  80. Sega Zone, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-xx), page 43
  81. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
  82. Sonic the Comic, "10th July 1993" (UK; 1993-07-10), page 10
  83. Video Games, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-27), page 129