The absolute peak of the series, Streets of Rage 2. Gorgeous, varied, legendary soundtrack, one of the greatest beat'em ups of all time.
Your verdict
Category
Beat-'Em-Up2 players12+
Co-op
Description
Axel, Blaze and Skate battle Mr. X's syndicate in this legendary second Sega Streets of Rage for Mega Drive. Published by Sega, released in the United States in February 1993. Enriched beat'em up with more characters, improved gameplay, Yuzo Koshiro music and memorable bosses.
Streets of Rage 2 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
An absolute peak for Yuzo Koshiro, the music unfurls house and techno of stunning modernity, from "Go Straight" to "Dreamer". The deep basslines and hypnotic pads turn every street fight into a night at the club. This legendary soundtrack is regularly cited among the greatest in video games.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
A pinnacle of the 16-bit beat-'em-up, this entry broadens the move set, adds specials and grabs for a perfectly readable catharsis. Each character imposes its own tempo, and co-op play multiplies the fun. Between the snap of the fights and the balance of the rhythm, few games of the genre have weathered time so well.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Everything that made the first great, but bigger and more generous: each fighter earns their own special moves and the legendary soundtrack hits its peak. Brawls gain clarity, impact and variety for total catharsis. In co-op, the teamwork becomes a genuine delight of timing and combos. The absolute high point of the genre on 16-bit, it stays an instant pleasure every time you boot it up.
The NTSC release of Streets of Rage 2 is the US version of Sega's beat 'em up, considered the absolute peak of the 16-bit Streets of Rage sub-series.
Better with friends
A legendary beat'em up where two vigilantes clean the streets with their fists, in co-op as muscular as it is stylish. Mutual aid is the heart of it: covering each other, splitting enemies and coordinating special attacks turns each level into a tight-knit duo. Paced by a cult soundtrack, it chains waves of foes and remains, years on, one of the genre's peaks to run two-player.
A cult cover
Planted in a neon-lit night street, Axel, Blaze and young Skate radiate a fight-ready confidence, fists clenched and eyes hard. The urban painting, somewhere between action movie and '90s asphalt, sets the city-brawl mood from the start. Stylish and edgy, it remains one of the coolest images in Sega's stable.
Is Streets of Rage 2 still worth playing in 2026?
An absolute peak of the Sega saga, Streets of Rage 2 offers an enriched sequel with four playable heroes of distinct styles, special moves and dynamic levels. The vibrant art direction, the absolutely cult techno soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro and the perfect cooperative mode make it one of the best beat'em ups ever conceived. For anyone fond of classic beat'em ups or wishing to discover an absolute masterpiece, an absolutely essential recommendation today still without the slightest hesitation on Mega Drive for any genre fan truly indeed here.
