Streets of Rage II (Master System) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthough of Sega's 1993 beat 'em up for the Sega Master System, Streets of Rage II.
Played through as Axel on the normal difficulty level.
Streets of Rage 2 was ridiculously successful from day one on the Sega Genesis, and in the early 1990s, such success all-but-guaranteed a line-up of adaptations to far weaker platforms.
And though the Game Boy saw many NES and SNES hits smashed down for its hardware over the years, Sega's 8-bit platforms received a seemingly endless stream of stripped-back versions of popular Genesis and Mega Drive games. These titles made sense to produce, even if they were far from cutting-edge: though the US and Japan markets had moved onto 16-bit consoles, much of Europe and South America still loved and actively supported the Master System, and the system remained relevant in those markets through the mid-90s thanks to these efforts. This one was exclusive to Europe and Brazil.
Streets of Rage II for the Master System, however, did not quite live up to the quality of the other stars in Sega's 8-bit line-up. It's a fairly lackluster and unduly frustrating facsimile of a far better game, and in an unexpected twist, it's a solid step down from the Game Gear version. The Master System and Game Gear games are entirely different games, which wasn't something we saw very often given the similarities in hardware.
This 8-bit take on the second Bare Knuckle installment starts out with a similar intro to the Genesis game, and even the character select screen looks similar despite Max's glaring absence. Once the game starts, though, the stark differences between the games come into focus.
The graphics are squat, ugly, and they lack color and detail - they fall well short of the graphics in the first SMS SoR, and of the graphics in the GG SoR2. The sound is also not a highlight. It's impressive that the original game's songs are recognizable here, but they sound awful. I'm not a fan of the SMS sound to begin with, but this was worse than usual - the tracks are so busy that everything tends to become a middle test of beeps. I had to mute it when I was playing. The music was really doing my head in.
Likewise, the gameplay doesn't quite measure up to the original's. Most of the moves are here, and you no longer need to hit the pause button on the console to use them, but the hit detection feels really sketchy, and since you get no temporary state of invulnerability when you're getting up from a fall, the enemies delight in juggling you back and forth until you die. And good luck countering anything - a simple enemy punch can break straight through your jump kick or your Grand Upper, so you'll eat the floor a lot until you discover the endless combo exploit.
Streets of Rage II isn't outrageously poor or unplayable, but it is a shockingly lackluster take on one of Sega's top-tier hits. If you really want to try it out, I'd suggest emulation. The Master System cart in no way justifies the prices it goes for. But then again, you'd be much better off with the Game Gear game, if you must insist on playing SoR2 in 8-bit.
If you'd like to see my video of the Genesis game, you can find it here: • Streets of Rage 2 (Gen...
And here is the first Streets of Rage for the Master System: • Streets of Rage (Maste...
And finally, for more Master System playthroughs, check out my playlist: • Sega Master System/Mar...
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@trcsonic]

The Master System did a good job, as always. My beloved first console.

[@michaelstroman6759]

Same here

[@julesgamergourmand]

I had finished it in hard with all the characters, it was super difficult. At the time, being able to have Streets of Rage 2 on the Master system was something incredible. And the music is cool.

[@DeskoDev]

They dropped the ball HARD here, especially compared to the Game Gear version - especially ironic considering how the first game is in comparison.

[@thefifthdoctor6780]

Got them all on the megadrive 😎

[@NintendoComplete]

SoR2 isn't anywhere near as good as the first one is on the Master System, but it's certainly novel if you're a fan of the series.

[@amso7169]

The music is slow. Is this the PAL rom?

[@Dorian_Scott]

Alex, I can see why this specific port of *_Streets of Rage 2_* (🇯🇵 *_Bare Knuckle 2_* ) doesn't really suit your fancy all too much, and I'll give you that it isn't as good as the *_Game Gear_* version, but this still is a novel way to rage through the once peaceful streets in order to stop the evil *_"Mr. X"_* and save *_"Adam"_* . I never even heard of these surprisingly good 8-bit offerings in my childhood. I mainly played the first two games on *_Genesis_* ( *_Mega Drive_* ) around the releases of these games on both 8-bit hardware. Looking at these _now_ , I'm kicking myself in skipping out on these ports. (😞 [Sigh] If only the *_Master System_* didn't get mediocre reception in the US. We've could've gotten games like this or the superior *_Master System_* 8-bit *_Sonic 2_* ). POSITIVES • *Good Graphics* (Does lack some color, though) • *Good Music* (It's nowhere near as good as the 16-bit tunes, but *I'd* hardly call these forgettable tunes (NC!) • *Good Control* (Not as tight as the 16-bit version, though. I *do* like how you don't have to pause the game in order to use your special moves, unlike the first *_SoR_* on *_Master System_* ) • *Cutscenes Look Nice* (Still lacking in color, though) NEGATIVES • *Shoddy Collision Detection* ( *_Double Dragon_* on *_Master System_* had good hit detection, why not _this_ as well?) • *Missing "Max" as a Playable Character* (What *really* makes this most illogical, is the fact that the *_Game Gear_* version has him... But not this version. ) • *NO INVULNERABILITY PERIOD* (In *ANY* game, that's an automatic problem. Especially, in a Beat em' Up.) Final Rating: 7/10 Even though you're better off with the Game Gear port, the Master System version of SoR 2 is still a fun time that I'd recommend for the novelty of an 8-bit version of a widely beloved Beat em' Up masterpiece, alone.

[@Dorian_Scott]

@@amso7169 Yes. Because of this, if you set this video's speed to 1.25x, it is the same tempo as the NTSC game. Some of this version's music sounds better in this speed, too.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@amso7169 Yeah, the game only came out in Europe and Brazil. There wasn't a Japanese or US version made.

[@ShotOfSelf]

Dorian Scott Huge fan of Streets of Rage, played through the series and SoR Remake over a few hundred times combined. The MS and GG port are trash, a chore to play through and neither of them have Max. An example of a good MS port is R-Type, gameplay and music is the best it can be. My rating 3/10. Was very disappointed getting this version as a kid. 😁

[@thecowboy2]

Streets Of Rage 1 & 2 are part of the Sega 3D Classics lineup for the 3DS. Full ports of the Genesis classics, with options for 3D, emulation choice, and even some modes for the casual player. Also in the lineup are Ecco The Dolphin, Altered Beast, Gunstar Heroes, Shinobi 3, Thunder Blade, Fantasy Zone 1 & 2, Out Run, After Burner 2, Sonic The Hedgehog 1 & 2, Galaxy Force 2, Space Harrier, and Super Hang On. You can buy them separately if you wish for about $6 each, or get the 3D Classics Collection for about $20.

[@TheSillySteveShow]

Nice run on this one. S E G A !

[@SoulStreak64]

Novelties are usually games we don't look back into again... This is one of them.

[@Veganerd_]

Streets of Rage II is a phenomenal game on Sega Genesis. I didn't even know it was also released on Master System until this video.

[@danielsantana540]

not bad pretty good for it s time

[@solarflare9078]

Apparently, this game was done by the same developers that made Mega Man World 2 on the Game Boy.

[@jediknightgeo]

Yeah, Biox. They also did the Game Gear version of SOR 2 and honestly it's better than the Sega Master System version.

[@karinar540]

This game is based on the genesis version

[@malmal2148]

I honestly don’t think the graphics and music are that bad, but yeah it doesn’t play well at all. I can beat the game gear version and I can at least get to stage 6 in the genesis game, but here I can’t even get past the first stage because the y. Signals have no problem cornering me into a wall and spamming their slide attack until I’m dead. As soon as I respawn, I can’t even throw a punch before I’m back into a corner again.

[@Veganerd_]

Hmm, I'm not the kind of guy that can beat just about any game he plays and I've beat Streets of Rage II on Genesis many times, mainly with Axel. Probably with Max at some point..and even beat it on Hard with Axel. Grand Uppercut is the key, lol.

[@LPetal86]

D'awwww, look at mini-Axel! He's so cute! But I'm bleeding out my ears a bit. Also, I'm sensing a trend with these SoR videos... Did you happen to pre-order the fourth game too?

[@Dante-ix8su]

Wtf no Max

[@atrocity3010]

The real final boss of the game is at 38:35. Trying to fight these jokers without spamming specials is an exercise in futility.

[@Dorian_Scott]

I'm not very familiar with this version of SoR 2, so I'm obviously not going to go too in-depth with my childhood experience of it. Regardless of that, I recommend this port of Streets of Rage 2. POSITIVES • *Good Graphics* (Perhaps a _little_ more color) • *Good Music* (Doesn't slap as hard as the 16-bit version) • *Good Control* (Still doesn't beat the Genesis' tight control. At least you no longer have to pause the game in order to use your special moves) • *Good Looking Cinematics* (Still more color, though!) NEGATIVES • *Collision Detection* (Put this into perspective. *_Double Dragon_* on Master System has better Collision Detection than this 8-bit port of a Genesis masterpiece... Yeah!) • *No "Max"* • *NO INVULNERABILITY PERIOD* (An automatic problem in *ANY* game. Especially, a Beat em' Up.) Final Rating: 7/10 This *is* a novel way to rage the streets... But, you're better off with the Game Gear port.

[@gianpaguiligan1358]

Dude Are you secretively Maxmilyn?

[@darktracker9627]

What the hel really was that? 🤣 so glad I never experienced such types

[@Dante-ix8su]

Sor2 is way better than 1 or 3. & i luv em all

[@salarjuventus8412]

i am not this game i am play street rage 3 and 1 better number 3 is better of all ☺

[@LITTLE1994]

I don't know, but it's not so good. Stick with the Genesis version.

[@Dante-ix8su]

This was on nintendo. No way?

[@amso7169]

Who said it was on Nintendo? It wasn’t

[@NintendoComplete]

I mean, I guess you could put a strip of masking tape over the Sega logo on the system and write Nintendo on it in Sharpie? But yeah, no. It was Master System only.

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

Streets of rage 2 is trash!