Streets of Rage 2 sneaks on to XBLA today

by Justin McElroy { Aug 29th 2007 at 9:00AM }

"I'm with those short guys," we imagined Eddie "Skate" Hunter might have insisted to the bouncers of Club XBLA. "Yeah, I'm going to fight some puzzles or whatever."

No matter how it went down, we're happy to see Streets of Rage 2, making an unheralded entrance onto the Xbox Live Arcade today. We find it hard to imagine two more disparate takes on fighting than Streets and today's other release, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. Today's offerings are more of a personality test than anything. Do you want to battle opponents with your mind and spatial reasoning, or would you prefer furious punching to the beat of throbbing techno music? Hey, don't look at us pal, we can't live your life for you.

Tags: Sega, Streets-of-Rage, streetsofrage, xbla, XBLAWednesday

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kizzle @ Aug 29th 2007 9:14AM

Most pleasant surprise on XBLA in a while. It's really interesting to see how awesome XBLA has been since about a month after Greg Canessa and that other XBLA honcho "left"/were told to GTFO back around February. I'll gladly grab both this and the HD Puzzle Fighter.

OnimushaSoki @ Aug 29th 2007 9:20AM

Nice downloads indeed.

Though for a very long time, I wanted SEGA to re-release/remake the STREETS OF RAGE trilogy... but after seeing how bad the recent Sonic games were(the 'ADVANCE' series being the last decent ones); let alone recent but small amount of "quality" beat'em up games actually make me glad they just left it as is.

FoxHoundADAM @ Aug 29th 2007 9:35AM

Awesome. I might have to get Streets of Rage, a true arcade classic. The ease of the Achievements points will make or break this purchase.

AlanRickman @ Aug 29th 2007 9:31AM

The price is right on this, 400MSP. Ill be getting both of these today also.

PhoenixSS @ Aug 29th 2007 9:52AM

Wow yeah, I absolutely loved Streets of Rage. They were at the top of my favorite list as a 2 player side-scroller during the height of the Genesis. I'll be grabbin' dis'.

TheWarden @ Aug 29th 2007 9:54AM

Ah, Streets of Rage 2! Much of my youth was spent beating perps to a pulp with friends over this game.
Truly an excellent retro gem!

I too, wish they would release the trilogy somewhere... but.... would it get screwed up? Ex. some of the Sega Ages mess, Final Fight: Streetwise, etc.

laserboyjc @ Aug 29th 2007 9:49AM

great to find out about Streets of Rage 2...I had many fond memories and played it again from start to finish during a GameTap trial. Unlike other 16-bit games that I tried playing again (Ecco the Dolphin, Eternal Champions) it held up very well. Though I beat this game many years ago, sign me up to play it all over again. Between the 360 and the Wii I'm rebuilding my classic collection.

WiNG @ Aug 29th 2007 9:50AM

Here's some tips for the SOR newbs:

1. If you play as anyone other than Blaze, don't bother using the knife.
2. Max can attack in both directions with the pipe or sword
3. Attack+jump does a back attack
4. You can hold attack down for 2 seconds, then release, for a powerful hit
5. If you get grabbed by an enenmy, just use your normal special. Yes, you will lose life, but at least you take down the bad guy. You would have lost life anyway when he hit you.
6. If you get thrown, hit UP+Jump right as you land, you will land on your feet and take no damage.
7. Although Skate is weak, his FWD+SPECIAL attack does a LOT of damage and is easy to aim. Use it a couple times in a row to destroy tough bosses.
8. There are two different jump attacks: one where you just hit attack, and one where you hit DOWN+ATTACK. They can hit different kinds of enemies so try it out. For instance, the down attack knocks guys off motorcycles.
9. Never ever pick up a grenade.
10. Skate: Grab an enemey, then hit jump. When you are directly over the enemy in your vault, hit attack. You will throw the enemy in the direction you are moving. This kicks ass for crowd control.

Hope these tips help!

Word of the street. @ Aug 29th 2007 11:05AM

Thanks for the tips.I better add this to my Guide collection.

I have a downable PC version but I sucked at it and I didnt know most of these tips.

copa @ Aug 29th 2007 10:01AM

I really loved Streets of Rage 2, but it doesn't strike me as a game that will have aged well.

WiNG @ Aug 29th 2007 10:04AM

I have it on Virtual Console and... you're wrong.

The graphics are good, not amazing.
The music is AWESOME
The action and challenge are PRO
There are still cultural references that are hilarious, at least if you're over 20.

hoop @ Aug 29th 2007 10:36AM

A truly wonderful side-scrolling beat-'em-up. I know we have brawlers in 3D these days, but none of them seem to capture the fun and intensity of these earlier games. Few are implemented with workable and tight controls; even with the relatively limited number of moves available in SoR2, it was (is!) a tight, fun, and engaging experience.

If you're too young to remember this game or have not had the privilege to try it, please give it a shot either on XBLA or VC -- you won't regret it.

Now...when is River City Ransom coming out? :D

Ska Oreo @ Aug 29th 2007 10:53AM

Used to love Streets of Rage 2 as a kid. Also a remake of River City Ransom for the 360 would be fuckin killer.

hoop @ Aug 29th 2007 11:07AM

@Ska Oreo

I, too, loved Streets of Rage 2 as a kid. My friends and I used to beat that thing over and over on Hard with the number of lives turned down. It was brutal. But this is definitely a case where difficulty equated to heightened fun, not frustration (aside: I do not comprehend and disagree with that Variety Metroid review).

A remake or update of RCR would drive me over the wall; and if they made an XBLA-updated version, that would seriously motivate me to break open my piddling little piggy bank and buy a 360.

Also, Ska Oreo - you into ska, as your name implies? I love it myself; I just got back from Ska Weekend in Knoxville, TN. And if you haven't already, give Bedouin Soundclash's new CD, Street Gospels, a listen. Well worth it.