GAME
OF THE
DAY
Streets of Rage 2 Classic
SEGA’s Classic Beat Em Up
If you picked up a gamepad or dropped a quarter into an arcade cabinet in the early ’90s, chances are you played a beat-’em-up. Typically starring bad dudes thrashing badder dudes in a series of side-scrolling stages, these were popular and plentiful back in the day. Now you can relive them with the unbeatable Streets of Rage 2 Classic.
In the boots of Max, Axel, Blaze, or Skate, you (and a partner if you like) set out to rescue a friend from ultimate evildoer Mr. X. Before encountering the sharp-dressed baddie, though, you’ll tango with all sorts of ridiculous enemies, from potbellied fire-breathers to femme fatales. And those are just the human adversaries; expect to unleash your feet and fists on a few beasts and robots too.
Thankfully your heroes pack a few surprises. The agile Blaze busts out brutal backflips and sweep kicks, while hefty bruiser Max mixes things up with over-the-top wrestling moves. There’s some refreshing strategy here too, as special attacks—unique to each character—do big damage (though also deplete a bit of your health).
You needn’t rely solely on your lethal limbs to take out the endless onslaught of henchmen. Weapons can be grabbed off fallen foes and used either up close or tossed for distant damage. The bad guys may be plentiful, but you never lack ways to dispatch them.
Pixel-perfect throwback visuals and effects channel Streets of Rage 2’s old-school vibe. A virtual gamepad and buttons let you tap out damage, though fans of the series can also battle bad guys with a MiFi-equipped controller.
Whether you jump-kick a jetpacking boss or pile-drive a Mohawked punk, you’ll find loads of vintage videogame fun here. Replaying the classics is all the rage.