Streets of Rage

{{Video game timeline

| compressempty = yes

| 1991 = Streets of Rage

| 1992 = Streets of Rage 2

| 1994 = Streets of Rage 3

| 2020 = Streets of Rage 4

}}

{{Main|Streets of Rage (video game)|Streets of Rage 2|Streets of Rage 3}}

Three games in the series were released between 1991 and 1994. The first entry, Streets of Rage, focused on former police officers Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, and Adam Hunter as they battle the forces of the crime lord Mr. X. It is the only game in the series to feature a Shinobi-style special attack that defeats all non-boss enemies on-screen. Streets of Rage was released for Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System and Game Gear consoles.

The second entry in the series, Streets of Rage 2, had new music (influenced by early '90s club music) from series composer Yuzo Koshiro and newcomer composer Motohiro Kawashima, more defined graphics and a larger selection of moves. It also introduced two new characters: Eddie "Skate" Hunter, and Max Thunder (or Sammy "Skate" Hunter and Max Hatchett in some regions){{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}. Like the original title, Streets of Rage 2 was playable on Sega's Genesis, Master System, and Game Gear.

The third entry to the Streets of Rage series, Streets of Rage 3, was less well-received than its predecessors; despite some enhancements, it was seen as very similar to the second game. This entry added a more complex storyline told using cutscenes. The Western version featured increased difficulty, with other elements altered or censored from the Japanese release. The music, again composed by Koshiro and Kawashima, was also criticized for being radically different from the music of the first two games. Unlike the two preceding games, Streets of Rage 3 was available only on the Genesis.

Although it was one of the most popular Sega franchises in the 1990s, no new official Streets of Rage games were released for over 25 years after Streets of Rage 3, excluding re-releases of the first three games via various Sega game compilations.

Sega is reported to have attempted to bring the series to the Saturn, and early in the production cycle for Sega's Dreamcast a demo tentatively titled Streets of Rage 4 was made by Ancient. It showed a character similar to Axel fighting a group of enemies. Neither the Saturn nor the Dreamcast game, however, came to fruition.{{cite web |url=http://www.sega-16.com/2004/09/forgotten-franchises-streets-of-rage/ |title=Forgotten Franchises: Streets of Rage |author=Ken Horowitz |date=11 September 2004 |website=Sega-16 |access-date=13 October 2013}} Backbone Entertainment later pitched a new Streets of Rage game to Sega, but this project also failed to proceed.{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2013/05/06/new-streets-of-rage-and-eswat-games-were-being-pitched-to-sega/ |title=New Streets Of Rage And ESWAT Games Were Being Pitched To Sega |date=May 6, 2013 |website=siliconera.com |access-date=October 13, 2013}}

Numerous unofficial fan-made projects and remakes have been developed, including Beats of Rage{{cite web|url=http://www.senileteam.com/beatsofrage.html |title=Beats of Rage |publisher=Senileteam.com |access-date=2013-10-12}} and Streets of Rage Remake.{{cite web |url=http://www.bombergames.net/sorr_project/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201162631/http://www.bombergames.net/sorr_project/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-12-01 |title=SorR project |publisher=Bombergames.net |date=2010-02-03 |access-date=2013-10-12 }} The latter fan-made project began on March 17, 2003 and consisted of more than 20 developers. The lead developer, named "Bomber Link," stated that the game was made from scratch without borrowing any element of reverse engineering.{{cite magazine|last=Brown|first=Mark|date=13 April 2011|title=Sega shuts down monster Streets of Rage remake project|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/sega-shuts-down-streets-of-rage-remake|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206050611/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/sega-shuts-down-streets-of-rage-remake|archive-date=6 December 2023|access-date=23 February 2024}} Streets of Rage Remake released in April 2011 as a download from the Bombergames forums for the Windows PC platform.{{cite web|date=5 April 2011|title=The Obsessive Streets Of Rage Remake Is Finally Finished|work=Kotaku Australia|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/04/the-obsessive-streets-of-rage-remake-is-finally-finished/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804061441/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/04/the-obsessive-streets-of-rage-remake-is-finally-finished/|archive-date=4 August 2021|access-date=23 February 2024}} Days after the game's release, Sega took legal action against the unauthorized game in the form of a cease and desist order, going after the Bombergames forum. After Sega contacted the development team, the forums website took down links to the game's download and asked forum members to not redistribute the game file.{{cite web|date=12 April 2011|title=Fan-Made Streets Of Rage Remake Pulled After Request From Sega|work=Kotaku Australia|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/04/fan-made-streets-of-rage-remake-pulled-after-request-from-sega/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205044653/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/04/fan-made-streets-of-rage-remake-pulled-after-request-from-sega/|archive-date=5 February 2023|access-date=23 February 2024}}{{cite journal |last1=Kretzschmar |first1=Mark |last2=Stanfill |first2=Mel |title=Mods as Lightning Rods |journal=Social & Legal Studies |date=17 July 2018 |pages=096466391878722 |doi=10.1177/0964663918787221|s2cid=149824659 }}

{{Further|Streets of Rage 4}}

The 2015 crossover game Project X Zone 2 featured Axel Stone as an assist character (solo unit), along with the Mr. X-possessed Robot Axel as a boss character (rival unit). This marked the first new appearance of Streets of Rage characters in over 20 years.

The first new entry in the series since the Genesis, Streets of Rage 4, was announced in 2018 and released in 2020, taking place ten years after the events of Streets of Rage 3.{{Cite news |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/27/streets-of-rage-4-announced |title=Streets of Rage 4 Announced |last=Gilyadov |first=Alex |date=August 27, 2018 |work=IGN |access-date=November 15, 2018}} The game was developed by Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and Dotemu, who previously released the 2017 remake of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap.{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Streets of Rage 4 is coming |date=Aug 27, 2018|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/27/17786352/streets-of-rage-4-dotemu-sega |website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=November 15, 2018}}

A spin-off minigame based on the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, Streets of Kamurocho, was released as part of Sega's 60th anniversary celebration. It was developed by Empty Clip Studios and was only available for Windows via Steam on October 17–19 and November 13–16, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Streets of Kamurocho, a mashup of Streets of Rage 2 and Yakuza, coming to PC on October 17 for a limited time |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/10/streets-of-kamurocho-a-mashup-of-streets-of-rage-2-and-yakuza-coming-to-pc-on-october-17-for-a-limited-time |website=Gematsu |date=14 October 2020 |access-date=14 October 2020}}

Sega announced a new Streets of Rage game at The Game Awards 2023,{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Austin |title=Sega gives retro fans a heart attack with 5 game reveals at once: Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Crazy Taxi, "and more" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/sega-gives-retro-fans-a-heart-attack-with-5-game-reveals-at-once-jet-set-radio-shinobi-golden-axe-streets-of-rage-crazy-taxi-and-more/ |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |date=December 7, 2023}} with a management meeting presentation revealing its name as Streets of Rage: Revolution.{{cite web | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/12/crazy-taxi-golden-axe-jet-set-radio-shinobi-and-streets-of-rage-revivals-new-information-and-images | title=Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage revivals – new information and images | date=20 December 2023 }}

Three six-part comic strip series based upon the games appeared in Sonic the Comic in the early 1990s (along with several other adaptations of popular Sega franchises). The first two of these were written by Mark Millar, while the third (and a Sonic the Poster Mag story) was written by Nigel Kitching. These three stories are an alternate continuity from the games and do not feature Adam. A graphic novel compilation of the original six-part "Streets of Rage" strip was released as a book titled Streets of Rage: Bad City Fighters in the UK in 1994.

The first story, entitled simply Streets of Rage (#7-12, 1993), involved Axel, Blaze, and Max quitting the highly corrupt police force in order to do more good as vigilantes, taking down Max's ex-partner; the crime lord and martial artist Hawk. The next serial, Skates' Story (#25-30, 1994), introduced Skates, delinquent stepson of Murphy, a friend of Axel and his team and one of the few honest cops left on the force, who was unwillingly drawn into joining Axel's group after his stepfather was killed by Mr. X. The third and final story, The Only Game in Town (#41-46, 1994–5), involved the Syndicate unleashing an army of street gangs. The Poster Mag story The Facts of Life (Poster Mag #7, 1994) features Axel, Blaze, Skate, and Max.

{{Main|Music of the Streets of Rage series}}

The game's soundtrack was acclaimed, with several soundtrack albums being released. The soundtracks were composed by Yuzo Koshiro. Another musician, Motohiro Kawashima, helped on the second, providing a few tracks, and making almost half of the tracks for the third. Three soundtrack CDs were released in all, each of which now sell for high prices at auction and in Japanese markets.

The soundtracks mainly consist of, often experimental,{{cite web|last=Horowitz|first=Ken|title=Interview: Yuzo Koshiro|url=http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=136&title=Interview:+Yuzo+Koshiro|work=Sega-16|access-date=6 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921205228/http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=136&title=Interview:+Yuzo+Koshiro|archive-date=21 September 2008|date=February 5, 2008}} chiptune-based electronic dance music, encompassing electronic genres such as electro, house,{{cite web|last=McNeilly|first=Joe|title=Game music of the day: Streets of Rage 2|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/game-music-of-the-day-streets-of-rage-2/|publisher=GamesRadar|access-date=28 July 2012|date=April 19, 2010}} techno, hardcore, jungle,{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Jeff|title=Interview with Yuzo Koshiro|url=http://www.psy-q.ch/mirrors/thegia/sites/www.thegia.com/features/f010123.html|work=Gaming Intelligence Agency|access-date=6 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007220957/http://www.psy-q.ch/mirrors/thegia/sites/www.thegia.com/features/f010123.html|archive-date=7 October 2011}} ambient,{{cite web|title=Streets of Rage 2 Original Soundtrack (US): Review|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/mustin/streetsofrage2.shtml|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|access-date=31 July 2012|author=Mustin}} breakbeat,{{cite web|title=Streets of Rage 2 Original Soundtrack (US): Review|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/ryan/streetsofrage2.shtml|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|access-date=7 August 2012|author=Ryan}} gabber,{{cite web|title=Yuzo Koshiro / Motohiro Kawashima – Bare Knuckle III|url=http://www.discogs.com/Yuzo-Koshiro--Motohiro-Kawashima-Bare-Knuckle-III/release/884359|publisher=Discogs|access-date=7 August 2012}} noise,{{cite web|title=Streets of Rage|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/streetsofrage/streetsofrage.htm|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|access-date=5 August 2012}} and trance.{{cite web|title=Streets of Rage 3 review – Sega Megadrive|url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/411/streets-of-rage-3.php|work=Mean Machines|access-date=1 August 2012}} The music was produced using the Yamaha FM-synth sound chips of the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis video game console (YM2612) and NEC PC-88 computer (YM2608),{{cite web|last=Barnholt|first=Ray|title=The Magic of FM Synth|url=http://www.1up.com/features/the-magic-of-fm-synth|publisher=1UP.com|access-date=6 August 2012|date=June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101192010/http://www.1up.com/features/the-magic-of-fm-synth|archive-date=1 January 2013}} along with Koshiro's own audio programming language "Music Love," a modified version of the PC-88's Music Macro Language (MML).{{cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/JPNcomputers/Japanesecomputers.htm|title=Retro Japanese Computers: Gaming's Final Frontier|first=John|last=Szczepaniak|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|access-date=2011-03-29}} Reprinted from {{citation|title=Retro Gamer|issue=67|year=2009}}

The game's soundtracks have received great critical acclaim. They are considered ahead of their time by GamesRadar, and as some of the best video game music of all time.{{cite web|last=Elston|first=Brett|title=Game music of the day: Streets of Rage|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/game-music-of-the-day-streets-of-rage/|publisher=GamesRadar|access-date=31 July 2012|date=December 4, 2010}} Streets of Rage 2 (1992) is considered revolutionary particularly for its "blend of swaggering house synths," "dirty" electro-funk and "trancey electronic textures that would feel as comfortable in a nightclub as a video game." Streets of Rage 3 is also considered ahead of its time, for its automatically generated randomized sequences, experimental hardcore "fast-beat techno like jungle" sounds, and trance music elements. The series' soundtracks have influenced a range of chiptune, electronica, grime and dubstep musicians through to the present day, including artists such as Ikonika,{{cite news|last=Lawrence|first=Eddy|title=Ikonika interview: Producer and DJ, Ikonika had an incredible 2010|url=http://www.timeoutdoha.com/nightlife/features/20343-ikonika-interview|work=Time Out|access-date=5 August 2011|date=11 January 2011}}{{cite web|title=Recording Under the Influence: Ikonika|url=http://www.self-titledmag.com/home/2010/04/21/recording-under-the-influence-ikonika-on-streets-of-rage-dalis-film-buddy-and-why-kode9s-wrong-about-numbers/|work=Self-Titled Magazine|access-date=5 August 2011|date=April 21, 2010}}{{cite news|last=Lawrence|first=Eddy|title=Ikonika interview: Dubstep has taken the world by storm over the past 12 months|url=http://www.timeoutdubai.com/nightlife/features/20425-ikonika-interview|work=Time Out|access-date=6 August 2011|date=18 January 2011}} BT, Labrinth, Martyn, Joker, Darkstar, Childish Gambino,{{cite web|title=Yuzo Koshiro|publisher=WhoSampled|url=http://www.whosampled.com/sampled/Yuzo%20Koshiro/|access-date=2011-08-30}} and Danger.{{Discogs release|2119427|Danger (7) – 09/17 2007}}

A Streets of Rage 2 novella (published together with a Street Fighter II novella) was written by Mat Yeo in 1993. It is just 35 pages long, based on the second game in the series, and was given away free with copies of Sega Force magazine in the United Kingdom.

A feature film and television series based on the series was announced in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stories-llc.com/news/stories-international-partners-with-the-walking-dead-producers-circle-of-confusion-on-film-tv-adaptations-of-hit-sega-franchises-altered-beast-and-street|title=STORIES INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WITH "THE WALKING DEAD" PRODUCERS CIRCLE OF CONFUSION ON FILM & TV ADAPTATIONS OF HIT SEGA FRANCHISES "ALTERED BEAST" AND "STREETS OF RAGE" {{!}} STORIES LLC, STORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.|website=STORIES LLC, STORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.|access-date=2016-12-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/12/06/altered-beast-and-streets-of-rage-coming-to-film-and-tv/|title='Altered Beast' and 'Streets of Rage' coming to film and TV|website=Engadget|date=6 December 2016 |access-date=2016-12-06}} The film will be written by Derek Kolstad and produced by dj2 Entertainment and Escape Artists.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/streets-of-rage-film-adaptation-john-wick-creator-derek-kolstad-1235004975/|title='Streets Of Rage' Film In Works; 'Sonic's dj2 Entertainment & Escape Artists To Produce Video Game Adaptation Scripted by 'John Wick's Derek Kolstad|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=18 April 2022 |access-date=2022-04-19}} Lionsgate acquired the rights to the film in November 2022.{{cite web |title=Lionsgate Acquires Live-Action Streets of Rage Film |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-11-16/lionsgate-acquires-live-action-streets-of-rage-film/.191971 |website=Anime News Network |date=2022-11-16}}

{{Notelist}}

Streets of Rage Remake

{{Reflist}}

• {{MobyGames|-group/streets-of-rage-bare-knuckle-series}}
• [http://www.ancient.co.jp/ Ancient Corp], the developers of Streets of Rage 2 and 3
• [https://www.streets4rage.com/ Streets of Rage 4 website]
• [https://www.wired.co.uk/article/sega-shuts-down-streets-of-rage-remake]

{{Streets of Rage series}}

{{Franchises owned by Sega Sammy Holdings}}

{{Portal bar|1990s|Video games}}

Category:Sega beat 'em ups

Category:Sega video game franchises

Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1991

Category:Video games featuring female protagonists