With stunning visuals, solid gameplay, and a then-advanced soudntrack pushing the Genesis console to its full capabilities, Streets of Rage 2 is a must-play for anyone into the Beat 'Em Up genre. It is considered by many fans to be the greatest game in its respective series.

Bringing the roster of characters to 4 by introducing the strong-but-slow Max, and the fast-yet-weak kid Eddie/Sammy "Skate" Hunter (the younger brother of excluded original protagonist Adam Hunter) Streets of Rage 2 brings in plenty of strategy depending on which character(s) you select.

One year has passed since the events of Streets of Rage. Always ready to conquer the city once more, Mr. X kidnaps original protagonist Adam Hunter, and sets loose all of his punks on the streets, bringing the city once more into destructive turmoil. In response to Mr. X's return, the retired police officers Blaze Fielding and Axel Stone once more set forth into the streets of rage, this time with Adam's younger brother Skate, and Axel's wrestler friend Max, in hopes of permanently ending Mr. X's reign on the city and rescuing Adam.

The gameplay of Streets of Rage 2 is similar, yet more refined to the original game. The main protagonists walk to the right on a 2D-3D plane, stopping on occasion to beat through waves of punks and martial artists. In rare occurrences, certain everyday sights (trash cans, phone booths, tables, etc.) are on the playing field, and can be struck to obtain street weapons (knives, lead pipes, baseball bats, etc.) and healing items.

Streets of Rage 2 - the Return of the Fighters 2021 (mod)

Mod author: Dha Lau Hoo (Da Lao Hu)

Part I. ROM Info

This mod is based on "Streets of Rage 2 - USA version". You must possess the original ROM before you can play this mod.

Please backup your original ROM, and apply the IPS patch to the ROM. It is recommended that you use the Lunar IPS tool. You can download it from the Internet.

Part II. System Update

The differences between the system of this mod and the original game are listed below:
*The four player characters are Max (SOR2), Axel (SOR3), Blaze (SOR3), and Shiva (SOR2).
*The images of Axel, Blaze, and Shiva are improved.
*The player can gain Skill Points (SP) by hitting the enemies: Each punch or kick landed on an enemy will increase SP by 1. Throwing an enemy will increase SP by 2. Piledriver (Max only) will increase SP by 3. Super special attacks do not increase SP. The maximum value of SP is 100.
*Player can perform running special attack by pressing A button while running. Running special attack does not consume SP or HP. However, it requires that the player maintains at least 50 SP.
*Player can perform super special attack by pressing forward and A at the same time (while not running). Super special attack consumes 20 SP. Kickboxers cannot block player's super special. However, bosses still can.
*Tea and coffee help the player to recover SP. A cup increases player SP by 10. A pot increases player SP by 20.
*Player can still perform defensive special attack by pressing A without any direction button. After the defensive special move, the player will remain invulnerable for a very short moment.
*Player can perform air juggling stunts. Knock your enemies into the air and kick them as hard as you can!
*Max can perform a tactical roll instead of running.
*Axel and Shiva can run horizontally or in diagonal directions.
*Blaze can run freely and make U-turns.
*Player can jump longer while running (or rolling for Max).
*Glitches that caused lags for jumping and special attacks in the original game are fixed in this mod.
*The special button A is less sensitive.
*Charge attacks (hold B and release) are disabled in this mod.

For more details, please check the move list.

Part III. Move List

Each character has a unique set of moves.

Max
*Tactical Roll: Double tap forward. Max will roll forward.
*Power Slide: Press B while rolling.
*Flying Elbow: Press A while rolling (Running special); Requires 50 SP. Max is invulnerable while rising.
*Thunder Tackle: Press forward and A at the same time while not running (Super special); Consumes 20 SP.
*Piledriver: Grab and enemy, press C and then quickly press B; Completely invulnerable and high damage.
*The German Suplex is slightly less powerful than the original SOR2.
*Air throw is completely replaced by piledriver.
*Max is very good at using the lead pipe.
*Max is the slowest but the strongest character.

Axel
*Run: Double tap forward. Axel will run. The player can use up and down arrows to make Axel run in diagonal directions.
*Grand Upper: Press B while running. Axel is invulnerable for approximately 0.2 second.
*Spinning Grand Upper: Press A while running (Running special); Requires 50 SP. Axel is invulnerable while spinning and rising. The player can use up and down to adjust his movement before he rises.
*Dragon Dance: Press forward and A at the same time while not running (Super special); Consumes 20 SP. Axel will charge towards the enemy. If his first strike hits the enemy, he will perform a high-damage combo. If his first strike misses the enemy, he will do nothing.
*Axel is very good at using the sword.
*Axel has the shortest attack range. However, he has very good strength, and sometimes even superior to Max.

Blaze
*Run: Double tap forward. Blaze will run. Blaze is the only character that can make a U-turn while running.
*Flying Double Chop: Press B while running. Blaze is invulnerable while rising.
*Terra Shield Slide: Press A while running (Running special); Requires 50 SP. Blaze is invulnerable while rising. The player can use up and down to adjust her movement while she is sliding.
*Soul Fire: Press forward and A at the same time while not running (Super special); Consumes 20 SP. Blaze's most powerful attack; Very good range and damage.
*Blaze is very good at using knives.
*Blaze does not possess great strength, but she has the fastest speed and very good attack range as well.

Shiva
*Run: Double tap forward. Shiva will run. The player can use up and down arrows to make Shiva run in diagonal directions.
*Fire Cloud Palm: Press B while running. Shiva is invulnerable for approximately 0.1 second.
*Final Crash: Press A while running (Running special); Requires 50 SP. Shiva is invulnerable while spinning and rising. The player can use up and down to adjust his movement before he rises.
*Double Final Crash: Press forward and A at the same time while not running (Super special); Consumes 20 SP. Shiva will kick the enemy into the air and perform spinning kicks twice. Invulnerable while rising.
*Block/Counter: Press and hold BC at the same time. Shiva will block any incoming attack and performs a high kick to counterattack. However, if nobody attacks him while he is blocking, he will get tired in 1 second, and will need 0.8 second to recover.
*Shiva has neither the greatest strength nor the fastest speed. However, he has the longest attack range. His attack range is longer than most of the characters.

For updates and other mods of Dha Lau Hoo, please check Romhacking.net.

Have fun!

Database match: Streets of Rage 2 (USA)
Database: No-Intro: Genesis (v. 20180824-045026)
File/ROM SHA-1: 8B656EEC9692D88BBBB84787142AA732B44CE0BE
File/ROM CRC32: E01FA526

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