Bare Knuckle

Played through this beat em up game, among several others on an emulator and have to say it was pretty enjoyable. However, not really all that special as it did not stand out to me among the games I have played. Same types of scenery, same types of enemies to fight and despite this never being an arcade game, same cheap boss fights...

The story, the city is suffering through a massive crime wave and there is no end in sight. However, three cops decide to do something about it. They are pretty tough too as they do not use guns, but mainly their fists and rage! Will they stop Mr. Big or will you run out of continues before that happens?

The game play is rather standard. Though, this one only has one attack button, there are still quite a few varying maneuvers to perform. You also have a special attack which basically hits every enemy on the screen. I am sure it differs with the three characters, but with Blaze, whom I won the game with, it is a bazooka blast from a fellow officer. I always like to use the girls in these games cause I favor speed! Like all mainstream beat em up games you find health and weapons in cans and such, like I said nothing really all that special, but I have heard the second one is the best game in the series.

So, pretty fun, though the difficulty is a bit high considering I had this thing on easy and still struggled to get through to the end. I absolutely hated the boss which was basically just two of your character if you are playing by yourself. I imagine that if there was another player it would be a clone of each. I also imagine this thing would be easier with another player and a bit more fun. As it was it was a nice time beating down criminal scum!

I remember when I first played this game on my brother in-law's Genesis console back 1996. Me and my brother in-law played together for about an hour. When he left, I played alone where I reached the fifth of the eight stages. My playing of the game was also the first time I played a Genesis. Prior to that, the only console I played was a Famicom.

Of all the video games I played, Streets of Rage has the scariest boss music I've ever heard. What makes it scary is that once you reach the boss of a level, the music for that level fades into silence. Then about 4 or 5 seconds afterward, the boss music starts out with a sudden eerie boom. The boom is then followed by things that sound like sirens, and beats that sound like screams. I remember times where I mute the TV before I reach the boss. If there's a scarier boss music, I don't know.

As for other aspects of the game, the control is decent, and the visuals are okay.

The "Street of Rage" franchise is my favorite beat em up franchise of all time. This game is also one of those adolescent gems as I played it when I was about 14 or 15 since I got this game later in life. I played this game after the second game believe it or not, and I had fun with is. The first game I'll admit by its nature was kind of a "Final Fight" clone at the time, but I never have a problem with clone games if their fun and there are a few things that do make this first entry slightly unique.

The plot of the game is good, it's true there's not a lot of story, your just cops that must clean up the streets of crime from an evil organization, that's pretty much it in a nutshell. But most to all beat me ups are never known much for story anyway were here for the action, you just press start, beat up anyone that comes within you path and don't die.

The graphical presentation and animation are solid, from the characters down to the backgrounds that are distinguished well as they all are dark and gritty. Each of the levels look different and are straightforward, from the street, beach, ship, alley, just any other place that is polluted with crime.

The gameplay is solid, the control is responsive and balanced as usual. You get to pick out three different characters each with their strengths and weaknesses and each have different distinctive fighting styles. I always like to pick out Axel as he's more balanced, but I also like picking out Blaze as she is quick.

I like how each of them do possess a counterattack move when done right and at the right time, like for Axel when a thug grabs him from behind, he can flip backward and execute a German suplex move against the opponent. I thought that was cool that was always my favorite move in wrestling.

But also they all have that emergency button when things get harry, your character can call back up and a car comes and shoots a rocket in the air that comes down and wipes out everyone on screen, however you have only a limited number of these so be careful.

The boss battles are good, each of them is unique and I like how each of them are total pushovers as each have unique abilities, like one that has Freddy Kruger gloves or even two evil Blaze clones whom I'll admit are a little tricky to beat. Though their all are easy to beat once you find and can exploit the weakness.

But to me the true highlight of this game is the music, the music in this game is just awesome this has some of the most memorable tracks in video game. Most of the tracks in this game I could just listen to on my iPod or even play at a party as some of them just make you want to dance. The tracks just fit the game like a glove as each fit the settings and just sing out action. My favorite track of all is the first level track, it's just awesome as it just has that sound of dark grittiness and as that track is playing while your playing the game it just makes you feel like a bad ass.

Overall, it's this game was a solid start to the series, I'll admit I don't like it as much as the sequels, the sequels I felt had more going on for them. But all the same it's a fun game and if you're into the series or even into vintage video game beat me ups, this game is worth having in your collection.

Rating: 3 stars

This was and still is a great game, a very underrated classic. Limited in variety but still playable nonetheless. Good old times playing the good guys against the army of evil bad guys. Even today I play this game and with great joy as it brings back great memories of the young days. too bad it wasn't a film, had a lot of potential to be a better film than street fighter, maybe even Mortal Combat.

The cast wouldn't have been hard to find and i am sure there are many good directors out there who could have pulled off a good production from a set story.

a definite classic!

I watched it a while way way way back ago... I used to own a SEGA mega-drive and i still have the streets of rage game somewhere in the shed or garage room... It was a great fun easy game that just gets harder and harder and more fun... Esspcially level 8 there was something you couldn't do because your inside on a carpet, but four is not bad except you keep falling in holes u need to be careful and those stupid fire men... Great music i must agree with someone who mentioned it definitely some of the BEST EVER! music ever played or invented for an arcade game... i remember recording bits and bobs... the GAME OVER music was great so great i recorded it for a ring tone and everyone at school was asking me where i got it from...?

I said Streets of rage... i loved it, but it was this game i could always be indulged in forever and if you love action arcade game... with GR8 graphics and easy to use controls there is a remote at the start to be able to move your self and just a b c buttons on it and it was so simple to use you can vary different moves.

i think it was b b c or a c b c and you can throw them it was a while ago that my mega drive broke nearly 7 or 8 years ago so i can't remember..., but i wish i can own one again.

Now play stations have taken over brilliant game machines no one sells the games no more and no more mega drives why and it is not fair.

Do you not WISH it could have been made into a film...