I always enjoy seeing a labor of love come together like this. A little developer based in Spain called Bombergames has just released a freeware Streets of Rage remake/sequel that’s been in development since 2003 (via Edge Magazine). Using no original code, Bombergames built the Sega classic up from scratch by just eyeballing the originals (there were three total) to reproduce the animation, physics, hit detection, and particularly the rockin’ soundtrack.

I’m happy to report it plays just like you remember. The picture is my own screenshot, one of Max’s signature moves which I quickly remembered with more than a decade since I last played a SoR game (in fairness it was never that complicated). With 103 total levels, there is more total game here than the original three titles combined. There are also 13 unlockable characters to join the cast of six that are playable from the outset. This thing should be a dose of 90s nostalgia for gamers who long for the days when it was cool to charge one’s way fists first though hordes of thuggish punks crowding the mean streets, no questions asked. One downside: online multiplayer was apparently scrapped, but you can do local co-op if you can squeeze friends around the computer. Download it here.