With stunning visuals, solid gameplay, and a then-advanced soudntrack pushing the Genesis console to its full capabilities, Streets of Rage 2 is a must-play for anyone into the Beat 'Em Up genre. It is considered by many fans to be the greatest game in its respective series. Bringing the roster of characters to 4 by introducing the strong-but-slow Max, and the fast-yet-weak kid Eddie/Sammy "Skate" Hunter (the younger brother of excluded original protagonist Adam Hunter) Streets of Rage 2 brings in plenty of strategy depending on which character(s) you select. One year has passed since the events of Streets of Rage. Always ready to conquer the city once more, Mr. X kidnaps original protagonist Adam Hunter, and sets loose all of his punks on the streets, bringing the city once more into destructive turmoil. In response to Mr. X's return, the retired police officers Blaze Fielding and Axel Stone once more set forth into the streets of rage, this time with Adam's younger brother Skate, and Axel's wrestler friend Max, in hopes of permanently ending Mr. X's reign on the city and rescuing Adam. The gameplay of Streets of Rage 2 is similar, yet more refined to the original game. The main protagonists walk to the right on a 2D-3D plane, stopping on occasion to beat through waves of punks and martial artists. In rare occurrences, certain everyday sights (trash cans, phone booths, tables, etc.) are on the playing field, and can be struck to obtain street weapons (knives, lead pipes, baseball bats, etc.) and healing items.