Prerelease:Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis).

To do: Document Ayano Koshiro's original character designs for the game, including an earlier version of Max with a bandana tied around his head, changed on SOA's request for too closely resembling Hulk Hogan. Cleaner scans of EGM #037 (and additional sources) are found here. Upload them individually and document more differences in them.

EGM #037

A preview of the game found in Electronic Gaming Monthly #037.

The character select screen is similar to the prototype version, yet differs slightly:

• The stars are missing.
• Axel's face looks different.

Consumer Electronics Show 1992

Short footage preview of the game. An early version of the character select screen matching the EGM preview can be seen, as well as Max's early walking animation as seen in the TROS Power Play and the Unknown Preview Tape.

SEGA Shinsaku Soft Video Vol. 24

Despite this tape being released in December 1992, the same month as the North American release, it features quite an early version of the game. That said, it is definitely from later in development than the dumped prototype. It only covers the first level.

• Music and sound effects from the previous game are used as placeholders, though featuring different percussion samples from it and the final game.

• The character select screen seems to be closer to the final, with the final's character portraits. "TECHNIQUE" is mistakenly spelled "TECHNIC". The "Bare Knuckle II" logo is in the background.

• Skate is named "Eddie" in this build, different from both "Skate" or "Sammy". Even the narrator refers to him as Sammy in 0:35, despite the screen clearly showing Eddie. This suggests that the name was a last-minute change and/or the ROM the footage sourced footage from was out-of-date.

• When a character is selected, they let out a grunt and squat down. The final game just fades to black.

• There's no Round Start screen.

• Players drop down from the top of the screen when beginning a round, just like the previous game and the prototype. They simply walk out from the left in the final game.

• Two signals jump out from building windows, though there's no (presumed) cracking animation to compliment it. Signals only spawn from the sides in this part in the final game.

• Signals are simply called "SIGNAL", while in the final game they have their own color-correlated prefixes ("Y.SIGNAL","R.SIGNAL", etc.).

• Max is still using his early design from the prototype.

• Max's voice is noticeably different, higher and quieter.

• Electra appears earlier in the bar, and Barbon doesn't run off when you encounter her.

• Electra's name is humorously misspelled as "Erectra".

European Press Release

A later build was unveiled to European audiences throughout 1992, though it still features plenty of differences. These videos also only cover the first level.

French Preview Tape

• The game finally uses original music and sound effects. Though, being played on European hardware, the music is slower, as it isn't optimized to sound on-time with the North American version unlike the final European game.

• Blaze's jumpkick still has the design of the prototype.

• Blaze appears to still have her Streets of Rage 1 voice.

• Max's backthrow animation seems to be bugged, as some garbage sprites come up on one of the frames.

• There is a name for one of the signals, "Akitosi" which is unseen in the final game.

• Hakuyos can be seen. Hakuyos are not in Round 1 in the final game. They seem to use the signal portrait as a placeholder.

• In the part where the Donovans jump out of the sewers, their spawn point is misaligned, so they appear to materialize from the ground.

• Round 1-2 uses the song "Go Straight II" instead of "In The Bar". "Go Straight II" is unused in the final game.

• In the first clip in the bar, an odd object can be glimpsed at the top of the screen, that appears to flash between indistinguishable graphics.

• There are a few glitchy tiles in the 1-3 boss area.

• In the corner of the first clip of 1-3. you can peak on what appears to be R. Bear, named "Rocky", using the signal portrait as a placeholder. In the final game, R. Bear isn't seen until round 5.

• Zamza is also in the 1-3 area as the boss, oddly enough. In the final game, he isn't seen until the end of round 3. He uses the signal portrait as a placeholder. He appears to have a paler palette. His flip animation looks severely unfinished. His jump attack seems crudely animated as well.

TROS Power Play: Episode 6

• We get a much better view of Rocky here. He appears to have a very simple AI, as he strafes around the player and doesn't seem to attack. He even phases through the trash cans!

• A Galsia with a knife is seen near the beginning of round 1-1, but none of them (nor any knives he could have picked up) appear in this part of the round in the final game.

• The last few buildings in round 1-1 feature posters not seen in the final. The "CLUB 50" one in particular is glitched.

• There is no car between the buildings at the end of round 1-1, and the gap between the buildings is shorter. A door blocks access to the bar, the lamp beside it differs in both looks and placement, and there's only one sign posted outside rather than two.

Unknown Preview Tape

• The Donovan crouched by the alleyway is misplaced just outside of it, and it appears the alleyway lacks depth (though that could be attributed to the quality of the footage).

• A Big-Go is seen. Like the Hakuyos, they aren't seen in the final round 1, and he uses the signal portrait as a placeholder.