Streets of Rage 2 (Mega Drive)

Streets of Rage 2 on the Sega Mega Drive (1992) is widely considered the greatest beat-'em-up ever made — and one of the best games on the system, period. Yuzo Koshiro's legendary electronic soundtrack, tight combat mechanics, and gorgeous pixel art combined to create something that felt like a quantum leap over the original. Axel, Blaze, Skate, and Max became iconic characters in their own right.

This is a must-have for any Mega Drive collection. Streets of Rage 2 represents the absolute peak of the 16-bit beat-'em-up genre, and its reputation has only grown over time. The game is frequently cited in "greatest games of all time" discussions, and the Mega Drive version is the definitive way to experience it. PAL copies with the European cover art are the standard for collectors in this market.

When buying, check the cartridge contacts for corrosion and test that the game boots cleanly. For complete-in-box copies, the condition of the cardboard box matters hugely — Mega Drive game boxes were flimsy and many are crushed, torn, or water-damaged. The manual should be included and free of writing or torn pages. Loose carts are affordable and easy to find, but a minty CIB copy is a different proposition entirely. This game is common enough that you can afford to be picky about condition.