Virtual Console Reviews

Yes! I was wondering when this would get rated, OFLC too
Here's hoping we get the start of September!

Hopefully they will release this uncensored, but you know they won't. The English translation was horrible. Hopefully they will fix that.

I have this on the Megadrive and the PS2 and Gamecube Japanese versions of Sonic Gems Collection. The Japanese PS2 version is the one to own as if you play it on a PS3 then you get to access both the western Streets of Rage games and Bare Knuckle versions. You unlock them by playing the collection then change the language on your PS3 to English for Streets of Rage games and Japanese for Bare Knuckle games. There is a translation on the internet for the proper story to Bare Knuckle 3 and its well better than the boched English Streets of Rage 3 story.

Can't wait for this to come out. The story didn't really make a lot of sense sure, but it was still really playable. I'm glad it differed to SOR2 because the last thing you really want is the same thing but different.

This was deffo the best SOR from the 3. I loved playing as Roo the Kangaroo he kicked ass

"SOR3 should be near the top of your retro shopping list (assuming you're sad enough to have one)"

Wha? Videogames can indeed be an obsessive hobby, but this jab seems out of place. I'm holding out hope for Earthbound, Pilotwings, and Sin & Punishment -- do I lead a sad life?

This site itself is a giant "retro shopping list." Cynicism not required.

Don't worry Thomas Damo has shopping lists for all sorts of geeky things like Transformer toys, etc - you are in good company here! lol

On one hand, Streets of Rage 3 has subtle improvements over SOR2: more detailed graphics due to the 24-meg cart, dashing and rolling, and more powerful moves (without dying). However, the problem lies within the US/EU regional versions: pointless redrawn sprites (changing outfit colors), harder difficulty, butchered translation and names (Dr. Zero/Dahm). The worst thing of all: SOR3 was not popular as the beat'em up genre declined in 1994. I wished I owned the JP Sonic Gems Collection, but SOR3 is still good if not quite great as Part 2.

haha... I have a retro shopping list sort of. This is on there, but I have other things that easily top it.... SMB2 Japan... whenever it hits the United States of America.

Not my fave of the SOR games ( i prefer number 1 ) but i prefer this one over SOR2

each to their own and all that

The video chosen is a good example of how awesome Streets of Rage is.

I would love a Streets of Rage 4, fully 3D and large areas to explore and fight in. Just as long as it doesn't play like Fighting Force, eh? That game got really dull towards the end.

This game IS much better than streets of rage 2, I'm enjoying it much more than I enjoyed that. 5 stars.

Damn, this game is even harder than SoR2 and that one had it's difficulty increased in the PAL translation.
They should really pop out a SoR4 now that we have Wii Ware and Xbox Live Arcade.

This is an absolutely amazing game. Yes, even the US/EU version deserves 5 stars, although the japanese one would need 6. The biggest problem with this one is the absence of the progressive ferocity of super moves. That's about the only thing wrong with this title - that you know it's really a watered-down version of an even better one. (If you don't know it, you don't miss it, but now you do...)

Just downloaded it, and tried out the first two levels. I grew up with the first two SoR games, them being among my childhood favourites, so I do like this. Something about it doesn't quite feel right though. I can't point my finger at it, but when you connect an attack with an enemy, it doesn't feel as 'heavy' as it would in the previous two games, and not as satisfying. I know I'm probably not making a lot of sense there though

I like it otherwise (The music, while no where near as catchy as before, is nice and energetic). I could see it being my least favourite in the series, but time will tell, eh?

How does that video have THe characters in the characters normal clothes(wich are better than the streets of rage 3 ones)?

Japanese version of the game has a lot of changes, including the characters wearing their normal outfits. This was changed for the English release because, apparently, it was seen as racist somehow to put those colour schemes with those characters (Censorship back then was really strange, so don't ask how).

So what version is it on the EU VC, the butchered PAL or the original Bare Kunckle 3?

You know what I think is weird about this game? It was Rated M for Mature when It came out on the Genesis.

Does anyone know that if in Streets of Rage 3 the easy, normal, expert difficulties have different endings??? I've finished this in easy mode, but
there was something suspicious.... Dr Zen said "We must try harder" - That's bad new because it way very hard for me to finish this game even in easy mode

Nice game but i reckon that its the hardeast out of the diffent streets of rage games i reckon that sor 2 EASY!! sor 1 Little EASY sor 3 only just a littel pit HARD thats why i like sor 3 the most out of sor 1 and 2
because It is HARDER!!! then sor 1 and 2 and longer to complite 5/5 Ausome!

I would of put 5/5 but it is just to easy to complete on eney difflety but not hard so im sayn 4/5

You can run now, which is sweet.
Also, you can play as a kick-boxing kangaroo and a geriatric cyborg.

Beat that, Final Fight!

Otherwise, this one was kinda just phoning it in. Levels felt rehashed and boring. Robo-Axel should have been Robo-Adam.
And speaking of Adam, what the heck was he doing during all this? Don't tell me he was kidnapped again! Dude was probably too busy trimming his banzai trees and just let his little brother go out and get the crap beat out of him... again.

Still 5 stars though.

@Mad Bomber: ACTUALLY, Final Fight 3 introduced running, grabbing from behind, multiple normal (nondraining) specials, running attacks, running jumping attacks, backing and back-dashing, even SUPER specials etc.

First of all, I may have been a bit hard on SOR3. I never tried the original, and only recently got to play a CORRECTLY emulated version, and it's not that half-bad! The running, evasive rolls and weapon specials are really sweet features. I might DL this very soon. I still prefer Final Fight 3.

Man, the day that forgotten classic gets released on VC is the day I break out some champagne and celebrate.

I'm pretty sure Golden Axe and Alien Storm had running and running attacks long before Final Fight 3 or SOR3 appeared!

Also, grabbing from behind was in the first SOR...and besides, SOR3 was released in 1994, Final Fight 3 was 1995! So the whole debate is pointless.

I'm not a massive fan of FF3/FF Tough, I think it's got some great ideas but the execution is really sloppy, it almost doesn't feel like a Capcom game, there's just not enough polish for me.

Still, it would be nice to see it on the VC some day.

I really dont know where they went wrong with this game it could have been so much different!
First off, they got rid of Max! and replacing him with some crusty old robot. not a game defining factor but that ticked me off nonetheless.
Then we have the music, that grainy industrial noise! Tracks like Bulldozer, what where they thinking?
And finally the gameplay, they brought in some nice new elements such as rolling, running & using specials with weapons. BUT, the hit detection is quite poor and the sound effect response times are laughable.
I think ill stop there, but I could say plenty more.

Butchered soundtrack, worse characters, ugly palettes and dull pacing. SOR3 was a pretty big disappointment for me. The only positive thing I can say about it is that the battle system was a decent improvement over SOR2.

In short, don't get it unless you're really starved for another beat 'em up game.

SOR 3 is fantastic. The best of the series. Download now!!!!

@Damo: Oh, did I make it sound like I though FF3 INTRODUCED running, grabbing from behind, and all that? Sorry about that, I already know FF3 was very late with those changes. I just formulated myself wrong...sorry!

I still love FF3 though. It's not the perfect brawler, but the deeper gameplay keeps it from being just another button-masher. The AI co-op option is a nice feature, too. I at least prefer it over SOR3.

I love SOR2, though. Great brawler.

"If you've never played any of the SOR series before, SOR2 is probably a better entry point, but be sure to sample this third outing at some point."

Exactly what I'm doing. Downloaded SoR2 two weeks ago, the first time I ever played a SoR game and now I'm really tempted to get the sequel.

I loved these type of games in the arcade, the ones where you can play with multiple people and i dont mean just two.

this is good game

This game looks so fast!!
They punch like lightning!

yeah I now SHiva is my fav character for SoR to play as

Great game, it is better than Final Fight on SNES as it has two player. Music is fantastic too.
I must say though, if you liked the Streets of Rage series you simply HAVE to download Streets of Rage Remake from
www.bombergames.net
It's a brand new game, using sprites from the originals, has new or redone stages, has Adam from SOR1 as a playable character...the list goes on!! Basically it has all the best bits from the originals and more! It's freeware so there is NO excuse!!