Streets of Rage 2

Making room in a crowded street

Step just outside a punch, catch an enemy in a grab, then throw them through the crowd. Much of Streets of Rage 2’s pleasure comes from making room to work. Max makes every opening count; Skate gives you more freedom to move. Bright shopfronts and oversized enemies lend the streets a theatrical quality, yet the fighting stays legible enough to let two players improvise together.

Try a few fighters before settling on one, and learn how throws clear the space around you. Friendly fire can turn a confident partnership into comedy. The game benefits from an uninterrupted session, long enough to settle into its combat rather than merely admire the first street.

Arcade weight, at home

Released in North America in 1992 and Japan in 1993, the sequel enlarged the characters and expanded their moves. Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima share the soundtrack credit. The heavy hits and restless music give this home-designed game much of the appeal of an arcade brawler, with no coin slot to interrupt the evening.