Streets of Rage (Mega Drive)

Having recently reviewed both the Game Gear Streets of Rage and the Master System Streets of Rage it seems only fitting to review the original Mega Drive version of the game, and by far the most enjoyable.

Released in 1991 the Mega Drive version was the only 16-bit version of the legendary beat 'em up and is by far the most complete version of the game. When comparing this to it's siblings you notice that they both look uglier, sound somewhat weak in comparison and have a number limitations (which effect the balance of the game). As a result this is the version of the game that everyone SHOULD make sure they player (though I do advise playing the Master System version as well).

As with the other version of the games the player can select which character they wish to play as (Adam is absent form the Game Gear version) with each of them having slightly different stats. Each of the characters have the same controls and similar moves as each other allowing them attack, throw combo's and throw enemies around the screen. Although they all have the same controls their moves do differ slightly and are stylised to their stats, for example Axel has the worst jump attack whilst Blaze has the quickest attacks and Adam's are the slowest.

The games backstory is the same as the other two versions of the game. An evil crime syndicate is running the city and needs to be taken out, only the three playable characters (and a single back up cop) are willing to try and take down the organisation. Although the story is somewhat weak compared to what we get now it's the right sort of background for the type of game it is. With out being rude it's a very basic and straight forward beat 'em up with the characters moving from left to right across the levels. Despite the simplicity it's also one of the most out and out fun beat 'em ups both as a 1 player game or as a 2-player co-op game. It's good looking, it's got amazing music

and more impressive is the fact the game is challenging with out being too tough. In terms of raw difficulty this is the most balanced of the 3 games as it manages to have enough enemies on screen at once to be tough (as opposed to the Master System which could only cope with 2) with out being frustrating like the Game Gear version (which took out the "knee" attack).


Although the game isn't the definitive beat 'em up, or in fact even the best Streets of Rage game out there it put down the marker for the series, it lay the foundations for the brilliant follow up which improved the game in pretty every way one could hope for. Although it's not Streets of Rage II it's still an exceptional game that even 20 years after it's release holds it's own and can easily hold your attention.

89%

Details:
Console-Mega Drive
Release-1991
Developer-Sega
Genre-Beat em up
Players-1 or 2

Trivia:
The game was sold one the Mega Games II cartridge (along with Golden Axe and Revenge Of Shinobi) which was later a pack in game much like Tetris had been for the Game Boy and Sonic had been for the Mega Drive early in the Mega Drive's life.
The Mega Drive version is the only one with 2 separate endings with a "good" and "bad" ending to the game.