A slowly building soundtrack plays over a dark cityscape. Text starts to crawl up the screen telling the story of a once peaceful city’s fall into despair as a criminal syndicate takes root. A thumping baseline kicks in as we’re told of three cops who are looking to free their city as they risk it all on the Streets of Rage. The introduction to this Mega Drive classic is so strong that it is firmly embedded into the minds of everyone who played it. Streets of Rage was published in 1991 by SEGA as their answer to Capcom’s arcade master piece Final Fight. In fact this home console beat-em’-up was such a strong title that some may go so far as to say it surpassed it.
Hey Poor Player's Frank DiPersio writes - "Of all of SEGA’s classic franchises, one series in particular stays lodged in my mind like a well-placed lead pipe to the skull. Streets of Rage, the former console juggernaut’s answer to Capcom’s hit arcade sensation Final Fight, delivered explosive, bare knuckle (see what I did there?) thrills to the living room in away no other beat-’em-up series managed to do in the 1990’s. Fueled by an edgy art style, tight mechanics and an unforgettable soundtrack courtesy of VGM legend Yuzo Koshiro, the Streets of Rage series managed to reinvigorate the oversaturated beat-’em-up genre like a life-sustaining phone booth turkey over the course of its 3 releases on the 16-bit SEGA Genesis console."
Cel shaded with 2D gameplay would be the best way to go - specifically something like Guilty Gear: XRD.
No, cell shaded would ruin the tone of that game, i say have it 2D hand painted like the games from Vanillaware. Though honestly i wouldn't mind a new #d beat'em up, especially if made by a Japanese studio as they avoid the typical batman ripoff combat.
Isarai - Hand painted would be very nice as well, but cel shaded would allow for a level of fluidity in the animation that costly hand-drawn sprite animation would likely lack. I totally understand what you're saying though, and would love to see either approach taken, so long as it isn't a standard 3D slugfest.
2D with HD sprites. I also wouldn't mind 3D if done right, there aren't enough 3D beat 'em ups out there.
AUTOMATON writer Shehzaan Abdulla's full English translation of the complete Famitsu interview with Sega's Yosuke Okunari and M2's Naoki Horii continues with more info on the upcoming Streets of Rage 2 3D. (Part 2 of 2)
An interview from Famitsu with Yosuke Okunari and Naoki Horii showcases the upcoming 3D remake of the classic Streets of Rage 2, which incorporates the best of new and old material. AUTOMATON's Shehzaan Abdulla has translated the conversation for all to enjoy. (Part 1 of 2)
Classic
I love this game and the rest of the series. Defo a reason to dig out old consoles!
One of my favourite series of all time. Nothings pumps me up like the second stage od Streets of Rage II.
This game made the Double Dragon series look like your grandparents beat'em up game. Streets of Rage is badass! A lot of people don't realize this but it's the first time techno style dance music was ever used for a fighting scenario. Movie or game. The Mortal Kombat movie, Blade and Matrix would do it later, but SOR did it first! Yuzo Koshiro had that vision.
The game is decent but the soundtrack is fantastic. I listen to it on YouTube often.