Defunct Games vs. Sega Vintage Collection

Seeing the success of Double Dragon and other arcade brawlers, Sega had an idea. Why not mix the existing beat-em-up formula (walk from left to right mashing buttons until the enemy has been defeated) with high fantasy. The result is Golden Axe, an arcade hit that spawned two sequels (and some rather interesting spin-offs not included in this package). Unsurprisingly, the Golden Axe Collection features the full 16-bit trilogy, including the original arcade game and both Genesis sequels.

While the original arcade game is still worth checking out, none of these games are must-download titles. The online multiplayer is a great addition, but the only reason to buy this collection is to watch the steady (and depressing) decline of a potentially brilliant franchise. Just imagine if Sega gave Golden Axe the love and attention they heaped on Streets of Rage. Each passing installment became shorter and lazier, developed by teams that didn't have their heart in what they were working on. There's no good reason to buy the Golden Axe Collection.

There's an argument to be made for the original Golden Axe. Oh sure, it's slow and repetitive, but it definitively proved that the beat-em-up formula worked just as well with swords, axes and magic. Originally released in 1989, Golden Axe stood out for its clever character designs (including a small person, a half-naked woman and a generic hero) and large bosses. Unfortunately, this arcade game comes with all of the negatives that plagued it two decades ago. For one thing, it's incredibly short. The action usually devolves into button mashing, which doesn't do much for me. Thankfully the game has enough cool bosses, interesting environments and magic spells to keep players going through at least one play-through. Plus, Golden Axe has one of the best endings in video game history.

While Sonic the Hedgehog 2 only marginally improved on the original, Golden Axe 2 decided to do the same thing ... in reverse. Golden Axe 2 isn't this horrible sequel that some people make it out to be; instead it's just a little worse than the first Golden Axe, which many consider to be a classic beat-em-up. This sequel is short, easy and not especially impressive in any way. The graphics are basically the same as the first game, the moves are the same, and the same goes for the magic. In fact, if I didn't know better I would think that the battles were held in exactly the same locations. Not even the multiplayer can save this disappointing sequel.

Believe it or not, Sega's third (and final) 16-bit Golden Axe game was only just recently released in the United States (on Nintendo's Virtual Console). That's not to say that it didn't make it over here in one form or another, but certainly not as one of those overpriced cartridges we have hidden away in the closet. Instead Sega dumped this brawler on the Sega Channel, a TV station that acted like a predecessor to digital distribution. Interesting history aside, Golden Axe 3 is a wretched game. Here we have yet another dull adventure where boring characters do mundane things against generic bad guys. You've seen and done it all before. It's insulting how lazy the finished product feels, as if they gave up half way through. No wonder Sega shelved the franchise for close to two decades.

Love it or hate it, you know what you're getting with the Streets of Rage Collection. While not the only 2D brawler for sale, Streets of Rage is definitely the best. The three games are all worth playing, though not every title is equal. The high point is Streets of Rage 2, a perfect specimen of a16-bit brawler. Not only is the fighting fast and exciting, but the attention to detail and incredible multiplayer support make this a must-download beat-em-up. Best of all, the Xbox Live and PSN support allows players to team up with friends all across the world, something you could only dream of on the Sega Genesis.

While Streets of Rage 2 is easily the top choice, the other two aren't so bad. The original Streets of Rage has an important place in history, plus looks different enough to warrant a play through. The multiple endings may be enough to keep you interested in multiple play-throughs. Streets of Rage 3may be the weakest link, but that shouldn't keep you from giving it a go. Throw in a friend and you have the makings of a good afternoon. If you're the kind of person that likes beating thugs up in all sorts of nasty ways, then the Streets of Rage collection is the pack to buy.

In 1991, Sega did the unthinkable: They beat Capcom at their own game. By the time the Super NES launched, Final Fight had already made the rounds in the arcade circuit. Most gamers and critics agreed that Haggar's journey to save his daughter was unstoppable. Then Sega stopped it. Streets of Rage was everything gamers dreamed of. Forget the dumbed down Final Fight port Capcom was shoveling to early Super NES adopters, Streets of Rage offered the true arcade experience. The game featured three playable characters, multiplayer support and a brand new world to explore. These days the graphics aren't nearly as impressive as they were 21 years ago, but the gameplay remains. Although limited in moves, Streets of Rage remains a fun experience with friends.

By the time Streets of Rage 2 hit consoles a lot of the mystery of 2D brawlers was gone. Gamers had largely moved over to one-on-one fighting games, leaving this sequel as something of a swansong. Although the gameplay won't win any awards for originality, Streets of Rage 2 remains one of the greatest examples of a 16-bit brawler. The graphics have been pumped up, rivaling what Capcom was doing at the time. What's more, each enemy had their own unique name, giving lookalike thugs a glimmer of humanity. Much like the first game, Streets of Rage 2 features multiplayer support, as well as more playable characters. Yes it's more of the same, but there's a reason why Streets of Rage 2 is widely considered the best in the trilogy.

Streets of Rage 3 is the brawler that time passed by. Released mere months before both the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation launched in Japan, this 16-bit action game looks and feels dated. In some ways it's an improvement over the middle installment -- more complex story, multiple endings and a bunch of new characters. However, rival brawlers were doing more interesting things with their game mechanics. There's also a level of goofiness in Streets of Rage 3 that I can't get over. This is Sega going through the motions, simply recycling what worked in the far superior Streets of Rage 2. This isn't a terrible game, but is undeniably the low point in the trilogy.