Streets of Rage (Genesis, 1991)

In Streets of Rage for the Genesis, a secret criminal syndicate has taken over what was once a happy, safe, peaceful and productive city. Using bribery and fear tactics, this far-reaching organization has taken over city government. Even the once respected metropolitan police force is in their back pocket. Anarchy is the order of the day as looting, random violence and destruction run rampant. Somehow, the leader of the crime syndicate has kept his identity secret.

Sick and tired of watching helplessly as their city succumbs to thugs and criminals, three brave young police officers attempt to form a special attack unit, but are repeatedly rejected by their commanding officers who refuse to take a stand. Resolved to make the city safe once again for innocent citizens, Adam Hunter, Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding quit the force and strike out on their own.

After choosing which of the three ex-officers you would like to control, it's time to hit the streets. You must brawl your way through wave after wave of hoodlums, heavies, thugs, goons and other bad guys. Fighting moves include Jab, Power Jab, Horizontal Chop, Flying Snap Kick, Flying Knee Slam, Fist Smash, Snap Kick, Double Leg Kick, Neck Throw and other debilitating punches, throws and kicks. Each character has different abilities and is ranked according to three categories: power, jump and speed.

If you find yourself hopelessly outnumbered or on the brink of death's door, you may want to use your special attack (nepalm or grenades). You are given one special attack per round, but can find more. Throughout the game you can pick up items to boost your energy, life gauge and score. You can even pick up extra lives. You'll find these items hidden in places such as boxes, garbage cans and telephone booths. 

Some of the enemies in this game carry bottles, knives, baseball bats, lead pipes or pepper shakers. If you're good, you can knock these weapons out of the enemies' hands and use them yourself. You can also find unused weapons at various points throughout the eight levels. At the end of each level, you must face a super-tough slime ball boss.

You can play Streets of Rage by yourself or team up with a friend. When waging war against the syndicate in two-player mode, you can pull off a variety of team tactic moves such as somersaults and airborne attacks. Whether playing solo or with a partner, the action takes place in the inner city, on beach front property, on bridges, aboard a ship, in a factory, on a freight elevator, at the syndicate headquarters and, of course, on the city streets.