🕹 Tips & Tricks
Streets of Rage may look simple at first glance, but there's real depth behind the punches and kicks. To survive the tougher levels and dominate boss fights, it helps to know a few tricks the game doesn't spell out. Whether you're a first-time player or returning to the streets after years, these tips will sharpen your skills and keep you one step ahead of the enemy.
💡 Land on your feet
If you're thrown by an enemy, press +Space just before you hit the ground to land safely. This move is especially useful against stronger enemies and bosses who love to grab and throw you. Mastering this can save your health and keep you in control during chaotic fights.
💥 Use special attacks wisely
Each character can call in a police car to launch a powerful screen-wide attack - a barrage of rockets that hits every enemy. It's a great way to escape tough situations or deal heavy damage to bosses. But you can only use it once per life, and there's no way to recharge it, so think carefully before calling for backup.
🧱 Weapons don't last forever
Throughout the levels, you'll find pipes, bottles, knives, and other objects you can pick up. These can give you an edge, but most have limited durability or can be dropped if you take damage. Learn how each weapon behaves - for example, knives can be thrown, while pipes are better for crowd control. Also, don't wait too long to grab them - they disappear after a few seconds.
👯 Team up with care
Co-op mode is where Streets of Rage really shines - but friendly fire is always on. That means you can accidentally punch or throw your partner if you're not careful. Try surrounding enemies from both sides instead of fighting shoulder to shoulder. When you coordinate, you can trap enemies between you for easy combos - and fewer "accidental" punches to the face.
🎮 Know your fighter
Each character plays differently, and choosing the one that fits your style makes a big difference:
- Axel has straightforward moves and a powerful punch combo. Great for beginners and solo play.
- Blaze is fast, agile, and has excellent aerial control. She's ideal if you like speed and precision.
- Adam hits hard and has longer reach but moves slightly slower. He's great at keeping enemies at bay.
📌 Fun Facts
🎵 The soundtrack was composed on a Japanese PC, not the Genesis
Composer Yuzo Koshiro created the music for Streets of Rage using a NEC PC-8801, a Japanese computer, and programmed it using his own custom audio language called Music Love. The music wasn't composed directly on the Genesis/Mega Drive hardware, making the soundtrack especially distinctive.
🎧 Inspired by club music, not typical game soundtracks
Koshiro was heavily influenced by late-80s club scenes - especially house, techno, and breakbeat from Europe and the U.S. This gave Streets of Rage a modern, electronic edge that was rare in video games at the time.
🚓 The police car special attack appears only in the first game
In Streets of Rage, each character can summon a police car that fires rockets to damage all enemies on screen. This dramatic screen-clearing move was removed in Streets of Rage 2 and 3, replaced by character-specific specials. Many fans still remember this as one of the coolest features of the original.
🧍 Adam was absent from the sequels - until 2020
Adam Hunter is only playable in the first game. In Streets of Rage 2, he's kidnapped and appears only in the story. He's completely absent in Streets of Rage 3, and fans had to wait until Streets of Rage 4 (2020) to play as him again.
🧠 The game features alternate endings
At the end of the game, Mr. X offers you a place in his syndicate. If both players say "No", you fight him and get the good ending. But if one says "Yes" and the other says "No", the players must fight each other - and only the winner continues. This was a rare narrative twist for a beat 'em up in 1991.
🔁 No, the game doesn't loop infinitely
There's a rumor that Streets of Rage can loop forever, but it's not true. If you accept Mr. X's offer, he sends you back to stage 6. After replaying the final stages and beating him again (this time refusing his offer), the game ends. It's a one-time loop - not infinite.
🌍 Differences in the Japanese version
In Japan, the game was released as Bare Knuckle. The Japanese version features slight differences, including more intense police attack visuals, different item icons, and minor dialogue changes. Even the title screen and sound effects have subtle tweaks.
🧠 Enemy AI reacts to positioning
The AI in Streets of Rage isn't purely scripted - enemies respond to your distance, position, and movement. This gives fights a more dynamic and responsive feel, especially in later stages with multiple enemies on screen.
💭 Final Thoughts
Streets of Rage stands as one of the most iconic titles of the 16-bit era - not just for its action, but for the way it brought style, sound, and substance together. In a time when beat 'em ups flooded the market, this game stood out with its tight controls, gritty atmosphere, and unforgettable soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro. It perfectly captured the feeling of urban chaos and late-night showdowns, turning city streets into a neon-lit battlefield.
It also redefined what couch co-op could feel like. Taking on waves of enemies side by side, juggling weapons, calling in explosive police backup - every moment felt intense, earned, and satisfying. Even decades later, the gameplay still feels responsive, the pacing sharp, and the aesthetic timeless.
Its influence can be seen in countless games that followed, and the series continues to live on through sequels and a devoted fanbase. But nothing beats going back to where it all began. The original Streets of Rage remains a must-play for anyone who loves raw, arcade-style action with real heart.
Play it now online and relive the fight - the streets are waiting.