Streets of Rage is better than Final Fight. Whether you choose to believe it or not, you’re wrong even to think otherwise; trust me, I know. Streets of Rage was and still is a better game. And as far as side scrolling beat ‘em ups go, Streets of Rage was probably the best there ever was, even besting the seminal Turtles in Time, which took many of the greatest elements of the genre and turned them upside down (Throwing characters INTO the screen? Well, now, that’s just plain CRAZY!)
So, with Odin Sphere now out, and the 2D genre thoroughly NOT dead, isn’t it time to resurrect the bare knuckle heroes from the 16-Bit grave and bring them back to life on the brand new consoles?
Now, while I know most youngin’s might balk at the idea of playing games the old fashioned way in 2D—especially when they have controllers that can literally sense which way they’re flicking their wrists—just think of what it would be like again to use Axel and the gang in state of the art graphics on your Blu-Ray friendly, HDTV? Can you imagine that awesome Yuzo Koshiro techno music blaring from your speakers while Axel CLEARLY says “Burning Knuckle!” (Instead of “Bunning Nuzzle!”) as he rams through a throng of X and Y Axis’s? The game definitely needs a 360 or PS3 update, especially with online play so you can beat up mini bosses as a team; because who didn’t want to take on Mona and Lisa with a friend 400 miles away from New Jersey?
And while I’m on the topic of series’ that need an update, what about Saturday Night Slam Masters? (Editor's Note: That was a great game, based on the Fire Pro fantasy wrestlers) Are you going to tell me that I was the ONLY one who loved this wonky, arcadey wrestling title? Many a night I would match muscles with King Rasta Mon and take him down for the one, two, three count with El Stingray, the only character worth playing. So, instead of Gunstar Heroes (which is fun, but highly overrated), how about bringing back some slam master action?
But what do you guys think? Besides Streets of Rage, which is obvious, what other games would you petition and stand out in 20 degree weather wearing nothing but a G String and a frown to play? I’d give pretty much anything for a Zombies Ate My Neighbors sequel (and no, Ghoul Patrol doesn’t count). Do you agree? Disagree?
