'Streets Of Rage' ( titled 'Bare Knuckle' in Japan ) was the very first game I remember playing for the Sega Mega Drive back in the '90's. I owned it as part of a compilation cartridge which included 'Golden Axe' and 'The Revenge Of Shinobi' ( both of which also were excellent games ) and many happy hours I spent as a child playing it. Even now my love for it has not dwindled one jot.
It was all about three ex-American police officers, boxer Adam Hunter, martial artist Axel Stone and beautiful Judo expert Blaze Fielding, all of whom have taken to the streets to bust an evil crime syndicate headed by the dangerous Mr. X. who throughout the eight stages in the game entrusts his henchmen to destroy you. If you are lucky enough to make it to him you will be given the choice to become ( at a price ) one of his right-hand men or to destroy him and his syndicate. The choice is entirely yours.
Each level ends with you having to defeat a disproportionately large enemy, each one being more difficult than the last ( especially those annoying female twin bosses at the end of level 5 ). Also throughout the game you have to pick up various items which will either give you extra points, extra lives or health recovery. You also are able to pick up various weapons such as glass bottles, steel bars, baseball bats and knives to help you fight against the baddies. Also fun is the ability in some levels to throw an opponent either off a ledge or down a manhole. Just make sure they don't do the same to you or you don't throw yourself down by mistake!
By today's standards, the graphics of this game are poor to say the least but that does not hinder the game-play one little bit. Two sequels were later made, 'Streets Of Rage 2' and 'Streets Of Rage 3'. Neither of which were a patch on the original.
'Streets Of Rage' was released first on the Sega Mega Drive and then later on the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear and for my money was a superb beat 'em up which set a standard that wouldn't be matched until 1992 with the arrival of 'Mortal Kombat'.
It was all about three ex-American police officers, boxer Adam Hunter, martial artist Axel Stone and beautiful Judo expert Blaze Fielding, all of whom have taken to the streets to bust an evil crime syndicate headed by the dangerous Mr. X. who throughout the eight stages in the game entrusts his henchmen to destroy you. If you are lucky enough to make it to him you will be given the choice to become ( at a price ) one of his right-hand men or to destroy him and his syndicate. The choice is entirely yours.
Each level ends with you having to defeat a disproportionately large enemy, each one being more difficult than the last ( especially those annoying female twin bosses at the end of level 5 ). Also throughout the game you have to pick up various items which will either give you extra points, extra lives or health recovery. You also are able to pick up various weapons such as glass bottles, steel bars, baseball bats and knives to help you fight against the baddies. Also fun is the ability in some levels to throw an opponent either off a ledge or down a manhole. Just make sure they don't do the same to you or you don't throw yourself down by mistake!
By today's standards, the graphics of this game are poor to say the least but that does not hinder the game-play one little bit. Two sequels were later made, 'Streets Of Rage 2' and 'Streets Of Rage 3'. Neither of which were a patch on the original.
'Streets Of Rage' was released first on the Sega Mega Drive and then later on the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear and for my money was a superb beat 'em up which set a standard that wouldn't be matched until 1992 with the arrival of 'Mortal Kombat'.