Birthofanova plays Streets of Rage 2 - Stage 1

Say what? I'm covering the sequel?

AWWWWWWW YEAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

In all seriousness, this game improves on the sequel in just about every way, even though the team-up attacks are gone (don't worry, they come back in SoR3). This is one of the few sequels I've actually enjoyed.

By the way, BirthofaNova doesn't chicken out as much and he plays it on Normal, only to regret not playing it on a harder difficulty. Just wait until Streets of Rage 3, buddy, you'll be pleased with Normal like nothing else.

The game was (obviously) known as Bare Knuckle II: Shitou no Chinkon Uta in Japan. In Australia, it was known as Bare Knuckle II: Streets of Rage II (yeah, that's kinda confusing) and just plain Bare Knuckle II in South Korea.

Anyway, Blaze and Axel are back, and they're joined by two new brawlers on their quest to save their friend Adam, who has been kidnapped by the still-alive Mr. X and his revived gang of thugs! Max is a wrestler who brings atomic drops, choke holds and suplexes into the mix, while Adam's cousin Skate steps in with the ability to dash and the ability to throw an opponent into the air in the middle of a vault!

Stage 1

First Section

Downtown

Best opening track ever.

If you walk to the mailbox at the start and press B, you'll get a one-up. If you stop it at exactly 1:30 on the video, you'll definitely notice it.

Major improvement here: not only do you have special attacks that are similar to Final Fight's "Extra Joy" option as well as an expanded normal move set, you also have life bars for the enemies. It's still gonna be a bit of a fight, so get ready!

The Galsias and Signals here are back, and they're just as easy as ever. You also see a few newcomers here. The first is Donovan, a bald-headed guy with an eyepatch that has an uppercut. It's his only attack, but it will knock you back.

You can also throw any weapon you have in your hands. Just press B and C at the same time and you'll send it launching into the nearest thug.

At the end of this section is another newcomer: a knife-wielding thug named Jack. He has an infinite supply of knives that he can cull from at any time, and if you can knock one out of his hands you can use it against him and his buddies. One of the signs near the door here has a turkey if you're aching for health. Which you shouldn't at this point, but just in case, because, hey, you could be playing on the hidden Mania difficulty (more on that later).

Second Section

Bar

Love the music in this part. There is a slowed down version in the sound test, but it was never used in the game.

The tables carry some good power-ups, so smack those around.

The boss here is another girl with a whip posing as a karaoke singer...until you get close enough. When you do, she drops her disguise and the man at the bar walks out. This time around, the dominatrix girls are not only hotter, they're upgraded to mini-boss status. Watch out for her whip, as sometimes the lashes come with an electric shock. She's not too much of a pushover as long as you don't give her time to attack.

If you see a star next to their name, it means they have another life bar. Don't be surprised if you see a few bosses, mini-bosses or even normal enemies with stars next to their names in the higher difficulties...sometimes they'll even have four or five!

Third Section

Dead End

The boss here is Barbon, the guy who walked out of the bar earlier. He's not that hard, really. Sometimes he'll block your attacks, sometimes he'll roundhouse kick you in the head and sometimes he'll try to throw you, but these tactics are all easy to avoid.

If you wait long enough and take down enough of his goons, he'll rip his vest off and come after you anyway. It's hilarious.