<I am 100 percent aware that there's a page for Bare Knuckle III. However, I'm sharing the review here since I imagine "Streets of Rage 3" is what most people are going to put in the search bar and I wanted to encourage people to try out the JP version before dismissing the game>

Your experience with this game is going to hinge on whether or not you're playing the American or Japanese version. I think a lot of the hate stems from the fact that this game got outright butchered in North America.

They got rid of one mini-boss due to (probably) homophobia and decided to up the difficulty in ways that are far worse than what was seen in Dynamite Headdy and Contra Hard Corps. Not only is damage scaled higher (like Dynamite Headdy's localization), but the speed of the enemies is also shot way the fuck up- it reminded me of what happened when I tried playing a PAL ROM of Power Strike II on NTSC hardware. It just felt broken and I'd originally shelved the game years ago before even making it beyond the junkyard.

Then I booted up an English patched rom of the original version (Bare Knuckle III) on my everdrive and what a difference. Everything clicked and made sense. Pacing was on par with something modern like Fight 'n Rage (a game I love btw) and not once did it feel unfair.

If I had any real gripes outside of the usual monotony that the genre is prone to, it's that the star system is kinda silly. Essentially, you'll gain more moves if you break a certain points threshold without dying and these can be especially powerful. Die, however, and you lose a star. This would be a great risk/reward system if it weren't for the fact that the six button controller allows you to perform these at will. If you hold the X button down and perform a circular motion (at least with Blaze) you'll be able to do them, and even as a non 1v1 fighting game player, these were piss easy to pull off and always take a considerable chunk of life away from enemies. I'm guessing Sega may have done this as a way to peddle more six button pads back in the day.

Some also point to the music as being lackluster compared to SOR1 and 2, and I unfortunately have to agree. There are a few decent tracks here, but even the best don't nail the vibe of the first two entries.

Still, I think the improved pacing (as well as the ability to run and roll about) is what helps Bare Knuckle III stand out in a good way. The star system was a nice touch, but is ultimately trivialized just by going with a six button setup. If Sega hadn't fumbled in localizing it so badly, I think it'd have a better reputation these days.

I was expecting something different about SoR3 compared to the previous games (the more sequels there are, the worse they usually are). I don't think that I was wrong about this one.

The game is harder than the other ones. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing but it's not like the previous games were that easy either. Even Easy Mode is difficult in this one.

Just like in the previous games, you spend half of the time getting beaten by your teammate

I felt the urge to replay this after beating Bare Knuckle 3, and obviously put the difficulty on Easy. But, instead of not enjoying myself, I was having alot of fun! Yeah, the enemies drain your health too quickly, but I was able to beat Easy mode (which gives you a bad ending, btw) with 3 lives left, and no continues used. That sort of gave me hope, and I thought maybe I can beat this on Normal! So I tried it, sort of got my ass kicked, and Game Over'ed on the last phase of the Yamato boss. Even after that, I don't feel discouraged. Considering Bare Knuckle 3 is now one of my favourite games of all time, I feel I owe it to myself to finish this.

I'll continue working on beating this game, and the day I do, I think i'll finally be able to call myself a true fucking gamer.

If I were ever a child in the 90s, and I had some friends over to play some games on the Genesis, and we wanted to play a beat-’em-up game, there would be many suggestions that could be thrown around. We could mention Double Dragon, to where we would say we had already spent enough time on that game, some could mention Alien Storm, which we would be open to, but at some other point in time, and then there would be that one kid who suggests any of the Golden Axe games, who we would then tell to fuck off and die, as he has shit taste and should feel bad for it. After that, we would then settle with Streets of Rage 2, as it just seems like the go-to beat-’em-up for the Genesis as a whole, and why wouldn’t it be? The combat is fast and satisfying, the graphics are great, the stages are really fun to go through, and while it can certainly kick your ass up and down the block, it never leaves you feeling discouraged, and it makes you wanna try again so you can take down your foes and have a grand ol’ time. However, with how good that game turned out to be even after my second playthrough of it, nothing could’ve possibly prepared me for what was ultimately going to be the game that would end up winning me over more than all the others, Streets of Rage 3.

Before playing this game, this was the title I had the least experience with out of any of the Streets of Rage games, with me having played every other game in the series at least a little bit before going back to it for the sake of giving it a proper shot. I was curious as to how I would end up liking this one, considering that Streets of Rage 2 is considered to be not just one of the best games on the Genesis, but also one of the best beat-’em-ups of all time, so needless to say, it was gonna take a lot to make me consider this one the superior title of the two games, let alone the best in the initial trilogy. However, after having played the game for myself……. there’s no way I can ever go back to Streets of Rage 2 now, as this game manages to be phenomenal in just about every way, and I loved almost all of what I got out of it.

The story is a bit more complex than that of previous titles (keywords being “a bit”), where Mr. X, after facing defeat twice in the previous two games, continues to participate in criminal activities under the guise of his new company, RoboCy Corporation, with an ultimate plan to control the city at large through violent means, so when he hears this, Dr. Zan, a roboticist who was working with Mr. X, reaches out to Blaze Fielding for help, and so they, along with Axel Stone and Skate, set out to take down Mr. X once again and save the city, and possibly the world, from utter annihilation. It does sound pretty typical of this kind of game, but I do appreciate the added detail given to the game’s plot as a whole, as well as the cutscenes in the game that give more details on what’s going on, even if it is as basic as can be.

The graphics are pretty great, not looking too much different from what we got in the previous game, but it does feel improved enough to where it is still great to look at, the music is INCREDIBLE, with so many of the tracks having an infectious quality to them that I can’t help but love, to the point where even the character select screen has a banger of a theme, and the gameplay/control is pretty similar to that of the other two games, but not only does it feel pretty great to play, but it tops everything that the previous game gave us, making for one of the best beat-’em-up games that I have played in recent memory, and my favorite beat-’em-up on the Genesis.

The game still retains a lot of the beat-’em-up gameplay you have seen from the previous titles, where you take control of one of four different characters, or if you are me, you always choose Axel Stone every time, go through a set of five to seven levels through plenty of different locations you would typically see in a beat-’em-up, take down whatever sorry punk gets in your way by throwing plenty of punches, kicks, and special moves to your advantage, gather plenty of different weapons, money, and health items to assist you along the way, and take on plenty of bosses, some of which being familiar faces, who will test your skill in how fast you can dodge attacks, throw out punches, and not rage quit at some of the bullshit they can pull off. Most of this is identical to that of previous Streets of Rage games, and there aren’t too many new additions to spice up the gameplay more than what you are used to, but the little changes that are there make this all the better to play in my opinion, as I had a blast with it.

In terms of the changes that were there, again, it isn’t much, but what is there does make things better to play as a whole. Characters now have the ability to run, there are cutscenes that can be seen throughout the game, you can perform special moves with some of the weapons that you can get, which is pretty neat, you have a special meter that will allow you to perform special moves without losing health, and depending on some of your actions in the game, you can actually get many different endings. That last one is one of the best inclusions of them all, seeing as the methods of getting these special endings aren’t exactly clear. It isn’t too blatantly obvious, like “going down this way leads to a different ending”, and instead, it more so falls under who you beat up and who you don’t, which can not only lead to that better ending, but it can also give you new characters to play as as well. It isn’t much, but little bonuses like that do help make the game more enjoyable and replayable, which I can really appreciate.

However, the biggest and best change to the game in my opinion, the one that ended up winning me over in the end, is the speed. Like I mentioned before, you now have the ability to run with every single character, but even ignoring that, the game, in general, is much faster. Combat is a lot faster, you can dish out moves more quickly, and there is a quick, yet noticeable impact you can feel with the punches you throw, which definitely was in the previous games, but it is much more preferable to me here. When it comes to beat-’em-ups, I am a fan of moving fast and hitting hard, and Streets of Rage 2 managed to give me that hard-hitting action, but it was somewhat lacking in the speed department, even if that didn’t bring the game down at all. Here, however, it manages to get both of these elements just right, and when mixed with the wonderful visuals and infectious soundtrack, it made for an incredible time that I would love to play through again with someone else at some point.

I can’t say that the entire game is perfect though, because really, it isn’t. At its core, a lot of it is the same shit that we have seen over and over again, not just from the Streets of Rage series, but also other beat-’em-ups in general, so if you are one who isn’t a fan of these games, or you are burnt out on them entirely, this game will not do anything to change your mind. In addition, like with another game I reviewed recently, Thunder Force IV, this game does have a bit of a problem with pacing. A good handful of the levels are longer than that of the previous game, and while this does work out at some points, other times, especially towards the end, these levels can drag on, making it feel exhausting to play after a while. Granted, this factor varies greatly depending on what difficulty you play on and what ending you go for, but this is still a problem nonetheless. Also, that one part where you are being chased by that bulldozer or whatever… just fuck that part. No one needed it there, and yet you put it in there anyway.

Overall, despite some pacing issues, a lack of major change, and that fucking bulldozer, this is still not only the best of the original Streets of Rage trilogy in my eyes, but also an incredible beat-’em-up all on its own, with wonderful visuals and music, plenty to do that other beat-’em-ups don’t offer, more emphasis on story, and the fast and hard-hitting action that I look for in a beat-’em-up that makes me love it so much more. I would absolutely recommend it for those who are big fans of the beat-’em-up genre, as well as those who loved the other Streets of Rage games as well, because if you think that Streets of Rage 2 is the best game in the series, then let me tell you………. you might still think that after playing this, but at least give it a fair shot. Although, now with all that being said, I am somewhat afraid of going back to Streets of Rage 4 now. I mean, with a game as great as this, how are they gonna be able to top that, especially with a 26-year gap in releases? Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out………….. and that is to actually play it, which I won’t be doing for five years.

Game #566

I feel bad giving this game such a low rating, since i like alot about it. The different endings, the gritty tone, the experimental music, the ability to run, and the fact that its more story driven than the previous games. And then i remember that samurai boss with like 9 health bars, and I suddenly don't feel bad anyone.

Jesus Christ, this game is hard. Hard is an understatement. This game is FUCKING hard. Hell, i've even heard some people say that streets of rage 2 on mania is easier than this game on normal mode. And while i only beat streets 2 on normal, i wouldn't be surprised if it is. On top of that, those motherfuckers over at Sega hated children so much that they made it so if your playing on easy mode, the game ends at stage 5, and you aren't able to progress any further.
They also decided to bring back Mona and Lisa as the stage 2 boss. Fucking BS. They aren't as hard as they were in streets 1, but still.

Unless you want your life to be dedicated to beating this, I would recommend using the 9 lives and round select cheats if you want to get any ending other than the bad ending on easy.
I've heard that Bare Knuckle 3, the Japanese version, is easier, so once i get my hands on a translated rom, ill be able to give my true thoughts on this game.

For now, fuck it.

A underrated gem of the beat'em up genre especially when playing the non-US version.

Pro
+ Wide range of characters and movesets
+ Multiple Endings
+ Impressive sprite work

Cons
- (US version) awkward plot
- (US version) Unecessaily tough difficulty
- Music may be abrasive to some (I personally view it as great fight music)

Overall: A must play for beat'em up fans, and absolutely worthy of any top lists. Even those who aren't fans of the genre may find pockets of enjoyment in this classic. I would say finding an english translation of the Japanese game may be the best way to play for my US players. Most would agree with it not being the best of the Streets of Rage series, but I'm not one of those people.

It's not a perfect game, but I played the fan translation of the japanese version and was really impressed, the gameplay is actually improved from the second game, feeling faster and more fluid plus stages feel more unique to play with their own little gimmicks so the game doesn't feel as repetitive like the previous entries imo. Also bosses are more memorable and are no longer reused in later stages.

Soundtrack is also really amazing and ahead of its time, a aggressive tecnho style that isn't very common in these kind of games, but people love to hate it because its not muh retro funky tunes TM. Still, more people are starting to appreciate it nowadays.

The difficulty of Streets of Rage 3 is seriously out of balance, especially when compared to the first two games. It got to a point where it felt more frustrating than fun for me. I should note that this is problem I only have when playing the English version of the game because when I played through the Japanese version (thanks to Sega Classics Collection for having the option to do so) I was able to have more fun with the game as the difficulty felt more balanced. If I was rating the Japanese version, I’d say a 3 and a half out of 5 for me.

A step down from the previous entry as it doesn't really innovate in any way as well as having an inferior soundtrack and spritework. The game also includes several segments that felt comparable to the first game in terms of unfairness. An example would be a section where you have to run away from a bulldozer but you are not given enough time to destroy the obstacles in your way.

The saving graces of this game is how fun it is to use special moves, which can be used a lot more now, and the addition of new playble characters Zan and Roo which are a lot of fun to play as.

Compré este juego el mismo día que salió en 1994, esperando el siguiente paso adelante tras la perfección de su precuela. Lo que me encontré fue... decepcionante.

Ahora, tras años sin jugarlo, me he animado a retomarlo por si mi percepción había cambiado. Y lo ha hecho. A peor.

Se agradecen añadidos como la mayor variedad de enemigos, los distintos finales alternativos, incluso la trama sci-fi que cada vez se vuelve más cyberpunk. Pero lo que pierde el juego respecto a Streets of Rage 2 es un lastre demasiado grande para esta nueva entrega.

La música es insulsa, molesta por momentos, algo tremendo para ser del mismo Yuzo Koshiro. El sonido está llanamente mal. Los golpes no suenan de forma contundente y pierden su impacto. El abuso de la paleta de colores de los enemigos es flagrante, no pudiendo distinguir quiénes son los que tienen más vida (una regla no escrita de los beat'em up).

Pero lo peor es la jugabilidad absolutamente rota. Si SoR2 era perfecto, este es un pastiche de movimientos sin razón ni alma, con enemigos que se mueven y golpean de forma totalmente injusta y frustrante, matando toda la diversión.

Menos mal que llegó Streets of Rage 4.

IMPORTANT: PLAY THE JAPANESE VERSION AT ALL COSTS!!! The localized versions cranked the difficulty up to a crazy degree. There's a fan translation out there, and the story was actually completely changed in the official one, so you're getting the more accurate experience anyways.

Onto the actual game, after SoR2 basically perfected its own formula, the devs clearly chose to get experimental, and for one I appreciate that. Special attacks work differently, everyone can now dash and roll, the story's way more involved (I wouldn't say it's good but it's very cheesy and unhinged which is even better for this kinda game), there's multiple endings and routes and the OST (unfortunately) goes for a completely different direction.

I appreciate most of those changes, I don't think the game is ultimately as good as SoR2 but it is very fun anyways, and way more memorable than it would have been as a straight sequel.