Yuzo Koshiro composed the soundtrack alone, overnight, in a custom audio tool he built himself.
Streets of Rage 2 — Bare Knuckle II in Japan — is the example beat'em up fans give when arguing the genre reached its peak on the Mega Drive. Released in December 1992, it expanded the original's roster, added longer stages, improved the move set, and addressed every criticism of the first game's pacing. The soundtrack was composed by Yuzo Koshiro at Ancient using the Music Love Application — a custom music tool he designed himself that could produce sequences no standard tracker could generate. The result brought techno, house, and progressive club music into a side-scrolling brawler in a way that had no precedent. Koshiro has described composing many tracks late at night, feeling the atmosphere rather than calculating the structure. Go Straight and Dreamer remain the reference points for what game music in the genre can be.
— inspired by Yuzo Koshiro
About this game
Known overseas as Streets of Rage 2, Bare Knuckle II is Sega's 1992 beat 'em up for the Mega Drive, carrying the Japanese subtitle 'Shitou e no Chinkonka' (Requiem for the Deadly Battle). Axel and Blaze return alongside the wrestler Max and the skater Skate to rescue their captured friend Adam. The game is widely praised for its expanded moves, larger sprites, and a celebrated soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Bare Knuckle II (Streets of Rage 2) was released in January 1993 and sold 3.64 million copies lifetime — topping charts in the UK, ranking top-three in Europe, and reaching the top five in North America. Developed by Sega alongside Ancient, the studio founded by Yuzo Koshiro and his sister Ayano Koshiro, it featured a rewritten engine that enabled larger sprites and smoother gameplay than the 1991 original. It arrived during the peak of 16-bit beat-em-up competition, when Capcom's Final Fight was still the benchmark, and surpassed it commercially.
Tricks & Tales
Yuzo Koshiro composed the soundtrack at age 24, recreating the sounds of Roland TR-808/TR-909 drum machines and TB-303 synths using only the Mega Drive's YM2612 FM chip and one PCM channel — without any actual filter circuits. He had studied classical composition under filmmaker Joe Hisaishi from childhood before teaching himself FM sequencing on NEC PC-8801 hardware. GameFan's four reviewers awarded the game scores of 97, 95, 97, and 97, calling it 'the best fighting sequel of 1992.'
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Japanese Mega Drive and the North American Genesis use different cartridge shapes — Japanese carts have a notch on the side that fits a locking arm inside the JP console, while Genesis carts are slightly narrower with a different profile. The two cartridges are physically incompatible without an adapter. European PAL carts share the same shape as the Genesis. Beyond physical shape, some games from 1992 onward also check a software region register and will lock out foreign consoles even with an adapter. A region converter cartridge or a mod chip addresses both the physical and software locks.
Maintenance Tips
The cartridge edge connector — both on the console and the cartridge itself — is the most common source of read errors on a Mega Drive. Clean the cartridge contacts with a cotton swab lightly dampened with 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol, and let them dry completely before inserting. Avoid blowing into the slot; moisture accelerates pin corrosion. For persistent problems, the console's cartridge slot pins can be gently cleaned the same way using a thin swab.
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Bare Knuckle II (Streets of Rage 2) copies regularly.
Will a Japanese Mega Drive cartridge work on a North American Sega Genesis or European Mega Drive?
Not directly. Japanese Mega Drive and North American Genesis cartridges have different physical notch positions, preventing direct insertion without a pin adapter. The console also enforces regional settings in hardware — a Japanese cartridge on a Western console will often lock up or refuse to boot without modification. Playing Japanese Mega Drive software is most reliably done on a Japanese Mega Drive. Region adapters and mod chips exist for those wishing to run imports on Western hardware.
How should I clean a Mega Drive cartridge?
Apply 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and wipe the gold-plated edge contacts on the base of the cartridge. Most Mega Drive cartridges use standard Phillips screws if the shell needs opening for deeper cleaning. Clean the console's slot separately — oxidized slot contacts are a common cause of boot failure on Mega Drive hardware.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Bare Knuckle II (Streets of Rage 2)
A short checklist for buying a used Mega Drive cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Mega Drive cartridge; it differs in shape and region from the North American Genesis and may need a matching console or adapter.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See what it's selling for on eBay →Unexpected Discoveries
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