🦘 How to Unlock Roo and Shiva
Looking for hidden characters in Streets of Rage 3? The game has two secret fighters - Roo, the boxing kangaroo, and Shiva, Mr. X's powerful right-hand man. Unlocking them isn't straightforward, but it's definitely worth it. Each one adds a fresh twist to the gameplay, offering new moves, faster attacks, and a fun challenge for experienced players. Here's how you can play as both of them on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version.
How to Unlock Roo
To play as Roo, the boxing kangaroo, go to the title screen.
Hold and J, then press Enter.
Now Roo will appear as a selectable character on the character select screen. Agile and surprisingly strong, he adds a fun and unique twist to the classic Streets of Rage 3 experience.
How to Unlock Shiva
To unlock Shiva, defeat him at the end of Stage 1.
As soon as you land the final hit, press and hold J+Enter.
When the continue screen appears - which shows up after your character is defeated - you'll find Shiva available as a playable character. Keep in mind, though - he's not as strong as his version from Streets of Rage 2, but his speed and elegant fighting style still make him a fun bonus character to try.
🧑🤝🧑 Playable Characters
Streets of Rage 3 offers a diverse lineup of fighters, each with their own strengths, fighting style, and special moves. The combat feels faster and more fluid than in previous entries, giving every character a unique rhythm and personality.
- 👊 Axel Stone - The series' iconic brawler. Axel's strong punches and powerful combos make him perfect for players who like balanced, straightforward combat. His "Grand Upper" move is still one of the best tools for crowd control.
- 🔥 Blaze Fielding - Graceful but deadly, Blaze combines speed and precision. Her throws and aerial attacks make her one of the most technical characters in the game. She's ideal for players who value timing and finesse.
- 🛼 Skate Hunter - The youngest member of the team, Skate uses his rollerblades to move quickly across the screen. He's not as strong as the others, but his mobility and combo potential make him fun and unpredictable.
- ⚡ Dr. Zan - A newcomer to the series. Once a human, now a cyborg, Dr. Zan uses electric attacks and mechanical strength to crush enemies. He can even convert dropped weapons into energy blasts, giving him a distinct playstyle.
- 🦘 Roo - The boxing kangaroo is one of the game's most surprising secrets. Fast, agile, and oddly charming, he relies on quick kicks and jumping attacks to overwhelm enemies. While his moveset is limited compared to the main heroes, he's a fun and lighthearted addition to the game's gritty tone.
- 🕶️ Shiva - Once Mr. X's loyal lieutenant, Shiva can also be unlocked as a hidden fighter. He moves with incredible speed and precision, striking with a fluid martial arts style that rewards quick reflexes. Though he lacks some of the raw power of the main cast, his elegance and agility make him one of the most distinctive characters to master.
🎮 Gameplay & Mechanics
Streets of Rage 3 builds on the classic beat 'em up formula while adding new depth and speed to the action. The gameplay feels more dynamic than ever - enemies are faster, smarter, and often attack in groups, pushing you to stay alert and adapt on the fly.
One of the biggest changes is the introduction of running and rolling moves, giving fighters more mobility and room for strategy. You can now dash forward, evade attacks, or quickly reposition to stay out of danger. Mastering these moves is key to surviving tougher stages, especially on higher difficulty levels.
Each fighter has their own unique special attacks, which consume a bit of the health bar when used - but timing them right can turn the tide of battle. Unlike previous games, specials now include a "power gauge" that recharges over time, allowing you to use these moves safely when the gauge is full.
Weapons make a return too, from pipes and knives to baseball bats and swords. Every weapon feels slightly different and can change the rhythm of combat. Dr. Zan adds a twist by converting any weapon he picks up into a burst of electric energy, making him unlike any other fighter in the lineup.
Level design is also more varied - from industrial zones filled with traps to high-tech labs and underground arenas. Some stages even feature environmental hazards, like conveyor belts, fire traps, or explosive devices that can work for or against you.
And finally, branching paths and multiple endings give the game a replayable edge. Your decisions - and how fast you complete key objectives - affect the story's outcome, encouraging players to explore every route and uncover all possible endings.
📖 Story & Endings
A year has passed since the fall of Mr. X and his criminal syndicate - but peace in the city doesn't last long. A new wave of crime erupts across the streets, and this time the corruption runs deeper than ever. When the police's top cybernetics researcher, Dr. Zan, discovers that robotic clones have infiltrated the city's leadership, the team reunites once again to uncover the truth.
Axel, Blaze, and Skate join forces with Dr. Zan to investigate a sinister plot involving a massive explosion that could destroy the city. Behind it all is a familiar enemy - Mr. X, who has returned with an upgraded plan and a network of androids ready to replace key officials.
Throughout the game, the story unfolds through brief cutscenes and environmental storytelling. You'll fight through factories, labs, and military bases as you get closer to exposing the syndicate's scheme. Depending on your performance and decisions, the story can take different turns.
Multiple endings make Streets of Rage 3 stand out from the previous entries. If you complete key objectives quickly - like disarming the bomb or defeating the final boss in time - you'll unlock the good ending, where the heroes save the city and bring peace once more. Failing to meet the time limits can lead to the bad or neutral endings, showing what happens when the syndicate's plan succeeds or only partially fails.
This branching structure adds real replay value - each playthrough feels a bit different, depending on how you handle the chaos and how quickly you act when it matters most.
✨ Did You Know?
🇯🇵 Original Title: Bare Knuckle III
In Japan, Streets of Rage 3 was released as Bare Knuckle III. The Japanese version differs significantly from the Western release - with an easier difficulty, additional story details, and some visual changes that were censored in the international version.
✂️ Western Censorship and Changes
The Western version is notably harder and had several elements altered or removed. Character outfits were changed, dialogue was rewritten, and certain scenes were toned down to meet regional standards. Even the color palette was made darker, giving the game a more aggressive tone.
🎮 More Speed, More Depth
Compared to Streets of Rage 1 and 2, this game introduced running, evasive rolls, and a chargeable special meter - mechanics that added depth and a faster pace to the familiar beat 'em up formula. It felt like a natural evolution of everything fans loved about the earlier games.
🦘 Roo's Japanese Name
Our favorite boxing kangaroo was originally called Victy in the Japanese release. He even had a trainer, "Bruce", who appears briefly during the unlock sequence - a fun nod that was mostly overlooked in the Western versions.
🎧 Experimental Soundtrack
Composers Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima pushed the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive sound chip to its limits. Instead of traditional melodies, they used algorithmic techniques to generate fast, abstract techno beats. The result was a soundtrack that sounded years ahead of its time - and still divides fans today for its bold, mechanical style.
🤖 Mr. X's True Plan
Unlike in Streets of Rage 2, where Mr. X focused on brute force, here he tries to conquer the city from within - by replacing politicians and officials with lifelike robots. It was one of the earliest examples of a cyberpunk-style plot in a Genesis beat 'em up.
⭐ Legacy & Reception
When Streets of Rage 3 launched in 1994, it pushed the limits of what a SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive beat 'em up could do. Faster gameplay, smarter enemies, and branching storylines made it feel more advanced than its predecessors. While some players found the Western version's difficulty brutal, others praised its intensity and replay value.
Critics at the time were impressed by the game's fluid animation and technical polish, but opinions were split over the experimental soundtrack. Its abstract, industrial rhythms were far ahead of what most players expected - some called it genius, others too chaotic. Today, that soundtrack is seen as a bold artistic choice that helped define the game's identity.
Over time, Streets of Rage 3 earned a cult following. Fans admired how it expanded on the solid foundations of Streets of Rage 2 while taking creative risks that made it stand out. Features like running, dodging, and multiple endings showed how the series was evolving beyond traditional arcade-style brawlers.
Even decades later, the game remains one of the most technically impressive titles on the Genesis/Mega Drive. Its fast-paced combat, dark tone, and unforgettable soundtrack continue to inspire modern beat 'em ups - proving that Streets of Rage 3 was not just the end of a trilogy, but a statement on how far SEGA could push its hardware and its heroes. And now, you can play Streets of Rage 3 online, reliving every punch, combo, and pulse-pounding track right in your browser.