3D Streets of Rage 2 Review

I love the Sega Genesis. There are so many great games for that system. Phantasy Star, Shinobi, Golden Axe, the list goes on and on. But my favorite series was Streets of Rage. I am a huge fan of beat-em-ups. When M2 released 3D Streets of Rage on the 3DS I played it over and over for weeks. Now M2 has released 3D Streets of Rage 2 and as expected, it is as great as the original. 

The gameplay and plot for Streets of Rage 2 is simple, your buddy Adam Hunter has been kidnapped by Mr. X. You have to save him by beating up every bad guy you see. You choose one of four characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. If you have ever played the original, none of the gameplay has changed. M2 has updated the graphics a bit and added new modes. There are two new modes to play, Casual and Fists of Death. In Casual, most of your attacks do more damage and is easier than Normal mode. But in Fists of Death you can knock out enemies with one hit. This mode is perfect for someone who doesn't want a challenge or just wants to beat the game as quick as possible. There is another mode call Rage Relay that will allow you to play as all four characters. Once your health meter runs out, you then choose one of the remaining characters. Once you go through all four the game is over. The game also offers Co-Op play but both 3DS owners must own a copy of the game. 

M2 has outdone themselves again with this game. The updated graphics are great looking, but not so upgraded that they lose the original game. They offer two types of 3D, the deep 3D and the pop out 3D. The game is still one of the most challenging beat-em-ups in the later levels even on normal mode but if you are on easy, you shouldn't have a hard time and can complete the game in a little over an hour. Like with other M2 remasters you can switch between the English release and the Japanese version Bare Knuckle II. 

3D Streets of Rage 2 is an easy recommendation for any 3DS owner who loves classic 16-bit era beat-em-up. M2 continues to impress with their remasters of classic Genesis games. After spending so many hours with this game I can't wait until they release Streets of Rage 3. 

Score 5 out of 5