Retro Corner: Streets of Rage (Sega Genesis) Review

I have another old edition of Retro Corner Reviews to show and it was when I went over the first Streets of Rage. The original SOR on the Genesis/Mega Drive was something I never played until years later. My first experience was when SOR came to the Wii’s Virtual Console in 2007. It wasn’t the fact the game couldn’t be found but rather just didn’t have the time to buy the first one. I even discovered a cartridge of it in 2004 at a GameStop—when shopping there was once great—while looking for Lufia on Super NES. I am aware there were a couple of completions that had SOR1 on them like the Genesis Collection on PS2. However, the emulation wasn’t good based on these third party studios not scaling the original game right. Another example comes from the defunct Atomic Planet’s Mega Man Anniversary Collection with terrible scaling. While the Wii’s Virtual Console emulation wasn’t any better but the convenience of downloading them was there.

The original SOR has aged better compared to other brawlers from the 8-bit generation. It was due to having modern mechanics from the 16-bit era is why today’s gamers won’t have much a problem. Most would never go back to the original Double Dragon Trilogy whether it was on the NES or the Arcade versions. The reason SOR1 doesn’t have these issues is because the level design wasn’t trying too many things. Double Dragon tried being a brawler and an action platformer at the same time—It created some of the most difficult level design that tested a player’s patience rather than their skill. While those in the 16-bit generation didn’t have to deal with that as even B titles like Night Slashers had this better. The theme is about a corporate overlord of the city has taking over the metropolitan area and the local government. Now, a group of ex cops named Adam, Axel and Blaze are tasked with cleaning the city of crime and to take down Mr. X.

Streets of Rage (Sega Genesis) Review