Streets of Rage on Game Gear: Sega's reference beat'em up in portable. The essence of the game well preserved with tough street fights. A console must-have.
Your verdict
Category
Beat-'Em-Up2 players12+
Co-op
Description
Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding and Adam Hunter battle Mr Shiva's henchmen in city streets in this Game Gear beat'em up. Published by Sega, released in the United States in June 1992. Side-scrolling beat'em up with three playable fighters, special moves, varied enemies and imposing bosses. US edition.
Streets of Rage review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
An absolute pioneer, Yuzo Koshiro injects into the FM chip the pulse of the house and dance of the era's clubs, from the famous "Fighting in the Street" to nocturnal pads. The music turns the street brawl into an irresistible urban trance. This visionary sonic daring redefined what a game could sound like.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Roaming seedy streets, dishing out punches and sweeps: Sega's beat-'em-up finds a surprisingly punchy version on the Game Gear. Hitting, grabbing, throwing, all over an urban groove, delivers a direct, cathartic satisfaction. With two players, cleaning out the underworld turns into shared joy. Snappy, stylish and as exhilarating as ever.
Streets of Rage, the Game Gear port of Sega's urban beat 'em up in which Axel, Blaze and Adam clear the city of Mr. X's minions, released in a World pressing. A portable adaptation of a genre pillar, it transposes a cult atmosphere and soundtrack to the console. Its collecting interest lies in the series' timeless aura in the Sega pantheon more than in any rarity of this widespread pressing.
Is Streets of Rage still worth playing in 2026?
A portable adaptation of Sega's beat them up, Streets of Rage sends Axel, Blaze and Adam to clean the streets with their fists against Mr X's minions. The direct handling, the varied enemies and Yuzo Koshiro's signature music carry a classic but effective brawl, well carried over for the machine. The loss of two player play and reduced readability temper the experience. For a fan of retro brawling or of the series, the title keeps a direct pleasure and a real musical identity.
