Worth a Try

We have a bunch of episodes in this series - where we ask the question of whether a specific retro game is worthy a try. Make sure to click here to see which games we’ve already covered. We’d love to hear what you think about whether they where worth a try.

Players

Squidge

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Episode Transcription

Intro

Let me tell you of the epic tale of Streets of Rage 2, a game that not only rocked the gaming world back in the 90s, but continues to tantalizingly tickle our nostalgia bones today. It’s a story of sibling rivalries, pixelated brawls, breaking barrels, and a street so enraged it would make the Incredible Hulk pee his pants.

So sit back, grab some snacks, and let me tell you, in a nutshell, why Streets of Rage 2 is worth your time.

Let’s do this.

What Is It?

So, Streets of Rage 2. It was the early 90s, and if you weren’t playing Sonic the Hedgehog, you were probably hanging out with the gang Axel, Blaze, Max and Skate - who sounds more like a hip-hop dance move than a character name. Let’s not get bogged down with the names. Let’s just talk about what made this game truly unforgettable.

First thing I’ve got to mention: soundtrack.

Streets of Rage 2 had a banging soundtrack that was just so infectious. You’d catch yourself humming it during meetings or in school - I was a kid back then - maybe in the middle of a budget review or a geography class, for example. And suddenly it’s like you’re back in those pixelated, rage filled streets, bashing thugs over the head with lead pipes and rightfully kicking them in the shins while you pick up the apples from trash cans. Gonna be honest, not the most hygienic place to find your fruit. But hey, if you’re in the middle of a brawl, you take what you can get. I mean, let’s face it, it’s a load better than eating trash can turkeys. Looking at you, Metro City.

And speaking of brawls, gameplay was just legendary. You couldn’t beat it. I mean, the controls were so smooth, it was like butter on hot toast… or hot butter on cold toast.

You walk up to a thug, bop him in the face, and then send him flying with a spinning kick. A “rent a car” (grand upper) or a “hub cheeky”. Simple, easy to learn, hard to master. Soon you’d be throwing thugs into the throng of gang members, with great glee and giggles all around. It was a bit like playing a superhero. A pixelated, buff as hell, hard as nails superhero. And that’s what we all wanted, you know, the simple life.

Let’s not forget the story, shall we.

It was a simple “save the city from the crime syndicate deal.” But the thing is, it worked. Blaze, Axel and the rest of the gang were fighting to clean up the streets, and we were right there with them. Streets of Rage 2 was a bit like a morality play. What it taught us was that it was okay to beat up criminals as long as it was to a catchy banging soundtrack.

Oh, boy, those boss battles, they were like a final exam in your favourite class. But instead of a boring old test paper, you’ve got a giant wrestler named Max, or a guy with fire breathing power who could barbecue a turkey just by breathing on it. Come to think of it, you must be the one sending the trash can turkey to Metro City. Anyway, those bosses. Oof. Those bosses, they were no joke, man. It was like trying to negotiate with a cat who’s stolen your dinner: you think you’re in charge, but in reality, it’s going to swipe a turkey leg and leave you with a paw full of air. As well as a broken rib, multiple stitches in your head, and a body full of bruises. Kind of like Thanksgiving after someone broke out the sherry.

Ah the thing is, though, the game wasn’t just about beating up bad guys. I mean, it was, but it was about choosing the right character to beat up said bad guys. And what a cast of characters we had to pick from.

The Characters

First up, we have Axel Stone, the poster boy for justice on the mean streets. Wavy blonde hair, heavy set, and arm muscles that were registered as weapons by themselves. With a name like Axel, you know, he means business. He’s a guy that brings a pipe to a knife fight and walks away without a scratch, while saving the girl and getting her number. Axel is like that one friend you call when you need help moving, and he shows up with a truck, a smile, and a can of coke, ready to take on the world.

Then there is the siren, Blaze Fielding. She’s the embodiment of “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Underestimate her abilities. At the risk of your own health and teeth, Blaze is the kind of person that can kick your butt and look fabulous while doing it. Her moves are so smooth, it’s like she’s dancing through the battlefield: a spin here, a twirl there, and a deadly moonwalk across your spine for good measure. I mean, who else can take on a gang of punks while maintaining a flawless 90s hairstyle? Some serious multitasking.

It would be truly foolish to forget about Max Thunder, the hulking mountain of a man who smashes his way through the streets. As a walking siege weapon. Max has no concept and very little patience for things like gaggles of thugs, locked doors and even walls. Max is the gentle giant of the group, except when he’s tossing bad guys around like rag dolls. He’s a one friend you’d want during your side during a bar brawl. Well, he’d probably single handedly win the fight. Probably whilst drinking the rest of the crew under the table. What a guy.

Last but certainly not least, we have Skate. The youngest of the bunch and the fastest on wheels. A speedy little devil whose quickness is only matched by his ability to distract you one minute and put one of his skates through your face the next. He’s like a little brother you just can’t leave behind. And he’s not afraid to show off some killer rollerblading moves while delivering justice. He’s the guy who would skate circles around the bad guy, all while claiming he’s faster than Sonic. Faster. We’ll see about that.

Each character brings a unique style to the game. It’s like picking your favourite flavour of ice cream instead of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or cookie dough. You’ve got Axel, Blaze, Max and Skate. And it’s not just about who you like best, it’s about who complements your play style. Axel is the all rounder, Blaze is the Agile one, Max is the walking tank wrestler, and Skate is the zippy, zappy speedster. It’s like building your dream team vigilantes… without Deadpool.

Multiplayer

So an added bonus and a kicker to Streets of Rage 2 is you can team up with friends. And that’s when the real fun begins. Streets of Rage 2 is a game that’s meant to be played co-op. Team up with a buddy, choose your character. Unleash mayhem together. Careful to leave your ego at the door, though.

Misfires, badly timed throws, punches landing in the wrong place can leave you and your buddy loggerheads if you’re not careful. I mean, it is like a 90s action film. You and your friends are the stars. Great stuff.

So Why Streets of Rage 2?

So why is Streets of Rage 2 cherished so lovingly today? Well, it’s like that favourite old pair of shoes you can’t bear depart with. You know the ones, they’re falling apart. They’re far cry from being waterproof any more. But when you put them on, you’re suddenly transported back in time to a place where you could forget about the real world and just focus on beating up pixelated bad guys. It just gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling and nostalgia that keeps you coming back for more.

Wait a second. Time travelling shoes? Keep them away from Doc Brown.

Let’s be honest, guys. Who doesn’t want to revisit a time when mullets were cool, shoulder pads were big enough to use as umbrellas, and the Sega Genesis was the king of the console jungle? Yeah, I said King. Come fight me, bro.

Streets of Rage 2 takes us back to a simpler time. A time where gaming meant grabbing a controller, sitting down with a friend and punching you with waves and waves of bad guys, and hopefully not punching each other’s faces. Also, day one patches weren’t a thing yet, so that’s always good.

Summing Up

So let’s sum this up. Streets of Rage 2. It wasn’t a game, not really. It was more of an experience. It was a journey through the mean streets of pixelated, rage fuelled awesomeness with a killer soundtrack, memorable characters that have very little regard for locked doors, elevator levels - the true mark of a good beating up game - and boss battles that would have you breaking into a sweat. It’s a game that reminds us of our gaming roots, where it all started, and the endless fun that could be found in a classic beat the up.

So to all the avid fans out there, I implore you, keep playing Streets of Rage 2. Because as long as there are thugs on the virtual streets, Axel Blaze and the gang will be there to kick some 16 bit butt.

And it’s a game that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. And you know what? It’s not going away anytime soon.

One last thing: if Streets of Rage 2 has left you wanting more, beat them up. Goodness. May I offer you something in the range of Streets of Rage 4?

Outro

You’ve just been listening to my miniature rant about Streets of Rage 2, why it’s worth your time and why you should pick it up if you’ve never played it. Seriously, tons of fun. I’d like to thank you personally for spending a little time listening to my rant.

I’d also like to mention the the Waffling Taylors addition to the podcast. We have a website, there is a section that’s called those games we played. Jay’s very, very proud of it. You click on it, it mentions every single game we’ve ever mentioned, how many times, and there’s links to each episode that we’ve talked about on it.

We have socials, they’ll be in the links. We have Twitter or X - I’m not going to call it one or the other. We have a discord. You will find the details in the description. We also stream on Twitch from time to time. So come check us out.

And it just leaves me to say, stay safe, stay awesome, and I’ll catch you next time.

Music

Links to the music used in the podcast can be found below. Definitely check them out, because they're amazing tracks by awesome musicians.

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Games Covered

We mentioned 3 games in this podcast. In the following order, those games where: