UPDATE: Check out my first impressions of SOR4 post-release here
When my 3-year old self managed to convince my parents to get me a SEGA Genesis just like my older cousin, one of the first games I received was Streets of Rage 2. Even as a barely functional toddler, it quickly became one of my favorite games on the console; spending much of my time bludgeoning hordes of “Galsia” with steel pipes and incorrectly mimicking the inaudible battle cries of the protagonists while they were performing their special moves on-screen (honestly, who the hell understood what they were saying back in the day?).
As mentioned in a previous post, a different cousin of mine, who was the same age as me, also happened to receive a Genesis and SOR2 the same year, and we played it together everyday following our daily 12:00 PM dismissals from pre-school; She the massive, possibly steroid infused, Max Thunder, and I, the scrawny pre-pubescent boy Skate. These character choices were particularly ironic considering I was big for my age, while she was pretty scrawny back then. As a side note, now she is pretty jacked, perhaps inspired by her childhood favorite Max?
Though we never managed to complete the game at that point in our lives, it was like a religion, usually dying on the ruthless, Ultimate Warrior inspired Abadede. At the pinnacle of our performance, we once made it as far as Stage 6, the Jungle themed stage that culminated in a battle against the annoying Stealth and Souther boss enemies… who subsequently slaughtered us. If only I knew how exploitable Souther was with Skate as a child, I’d likely be a playground legend.
Aside from the time I spent playing Co-op, I also spent an extraordinary amount of time playing Streets of Rage Game Gear port, which unfortunately did not have Adam Hunter, my future favorite character in the first game. Despite the limitations, I settled on using Axel and proceeded to get my ass handed to me consistently, while simultaneously having the time of my life. Sitting there on the floor, tethered to the wall due to the Game Gear’s brutal battery life, I was transported to the Streets… of Rage.
My memories of Streets of Rage 2 don’t end with childhood, however. In my late teens, my girlfriend and I were bored one day, prompting me to download Streets of Rage 2 on my XBOX 360. She wasn’t a huge fan of video games, but was willing to give it a shot. In that session, she chose Blaze, while I stuck with my childhood mainstay Skate, and we managed to absolutely demolish the game, managing to defeat the evil kingpin Mr. X on our first play through.
I was instantly surprised about two things: one, at how much better I had gotten at video games since I was a child, and two, how much of a natural bad-ass my future wife was. She only had one major complaint about the whole experience: she wanted to play the game with an actual D-pad, a woman with fine taste.
Unfortunately, my Genesis was no longer functional, so I had to opt for the sacrilege of using my two SNES USB controllers and an emulator to get the job done. We spent the next years going through month long stretches of playing Streets of Rage games. We eventually beat every one on even their hardest difficulties, including the hidden Mania mode of SOR2, and the absolutely brutal Hard Mode of SOR3… damn that gassy elevator!
Our love affair with the Streets of Rage Series, culminated in the release of the fan-game Streets of Rage Remake, the ultimate SOR experience. With a massive roster of characters, branching pathways, every enemy from the series, and the ability to ride dirt bikes and jet skis; it was everything a SOR fan could ever want. Most importantly this game permitted the player to customize the experience via the option menu to tailor the experience to their preferences. For example, one can choose to include SOR 2 or 3’s special system, SOR 1 cop car special, and/or each game’s jumping mechanics to fit the feel of the game desired. These little tweaks help construct an absolutely perfect game, yes in my opinion 10/10, in tandem with the game’s mind-boggling soundtrack that remixes the series’ best songs. I have spent countless HUNDREDS of hours playing this game with my wife, and consider it one of my favorite games of all time.
Unfortunately SORR creators Bomber Games, received a cease-and-desist from SEGA shortly after its final release. I understand the importance of protecting one’s Intellectual Property, but from what I understand Bomber Games contacted SEGA during their project and SEGA did not red light the project. A decade long labor of love gone as fast as it was released. Luckily, once something is release on the internet its all over, so there are still ways to obtain the game.
With the loss of SORR, and the dormancy of the series from SEGA, I feared there would never be another attempt at reviving Streets of Rage. That all changed when on August 28th, 2018 on my way into work. I was listening to YouTube videos by chance on the way in, a rarity during football season when I tend to listen to sports radio and podcasts on my commute (shout out to Bleeding Green Nation), and stumbled across a video by Happy Console Gamer reacting to the announcement of Streets of Rage 4. As if by fate, I chose to extend my summer past time of listening to gaming videos on my way to work and was rewarded with one of the most exciting moments of my gaming life/ REAL LIFE. I instantly called my wife, with elation on par to that first time I got my SEGA Genesis and Streets of Rage 2. Her first question: “is Blaze and Skate in it?” I informed her she is safe; I on the otherhand was uncertain for my main’s presence in the game, but didn’t care … I just want an SOR4.
When I arrived in my job’s parking lot, I watched the trailer over a dozen times, the camera’s descent on the skyline sending chill’s down my spine. The animation was absolutely gorgeous, with a bearded Axel and leather-clad Blaze laying waste to goon after goon, abbreviated with minimal gameplay footage, culminating in a Bare Knuckle upper cut from Axel revealing a flaming “4” and the logo reveal.
Despite mixed reviews online about Axel’s beard, and the in-game art style. I find it visually appealing and a way to bring the series forward. Though somewhat more cartoony than expected, the character sprites were crisp and vibrant, amidst the neon-lined, yet dark and dingy Streets… of Rage (jokes getting old maybe). I really appreciate what DotEmu, Guard Crush Games, and Lizard Cube are doing with regards to the visual style.
From the very, VERY minimal gameplay footage, the smooth mechanics that put Streets of Rage above many in the beat em’ up genre seem to be making a return, but it hard to judge at this point. There is otherwise very little information about the game. According to the official Press Kit from Lizard Cube’s site:
Features
- The comeback of the legendary Streets of Rage series.
- Beautiful graphics fully hand-drawn animated by the studio behind Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap.
- Classic gameplay enhanced with brand new mechanics.
- Braised chicken served on a pristine plate.
There is also no indication of the platforms this game will be available for. I imagine it will AT LEAST be available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but I am hoping they bring out a Switch version for the sake of portability. I am confident the Switch version would be feasible considering the success of 2-D style games and indies on the platform, as well as the same developers’ Wonder Boy revival being present on the Switch.
There are also some concerns with the choice of developers. SEGA’s choice to give the reigns to the franchise to Lizard Cube, Guard Crush Games and DotEmu, are leaving some mildly worried. Why didn’t they pull a Christian Whitehead and recruit Bomber Games to make the sequel? That really would have been something special and been my personal preference, but I remain optimistic, as I was impressed with the new developer’s version of Wonder Boy. I have faith they will remain faithful to SEGA’s original vision and ensure they don’t piss off the fan-base if they know what’s good for them. Perhaps, they may even have the brains to officially, or unofficially, draw inspiration from the amazing fan-game.
Regardless of platform and choice of outsourcing, I will be picking up Streets of Rage 4 DAY ONE, special edition, steel book, with posters and Amiibo, and Smash Bros. Character DLC… maybe 10 copies to stare at in disbelief on weekends. Though none of these things yet exist, and may not, considering it will at least initially be download-only in my opinion, and the fact I literally NEVER buy special editions, I still have my wallet wide-open:
Please SEGA take all my money, get rich, and make an entire new trilogy for the series. Also I will pay extra for Skate.
Sincerely Yours/ Love you always/ Marry Me,
Retrogameresource.com <3 XOXOXOXO
