The Semi-special (blitz) moves are much weaker than in the previous game to start, but can be upgraded, with the ‘power stars’. When a player accumulates 40,000 points on a single life, the player receives a power star, enabling a more powerful blitz attack. Dieing will cost the player a power star. Gameplay features a large increase in pace from Streets Of Rage 2. The heroes attack and move faster, but so do the enemies. Enemy attacks can be avoided with new running and vertical-dodge moves, but most player attacks deal less damage than in the predecessor. The timer has been removed and was replaced with a ‘power meter’. The end-of-level ‘Time bonus’ has been replaced with a ‘Life bonus’. A big change is that special moves don’t always drain the player’s life bar, thanks to the power meter. The power meter takes only a few seconds to fill, when empty, the players attack is weaker, and takes more damage when hit and when using special moves. When full, the player defends and attacks at full strength, and use of a special move will not drain the player’s life bar at all, though it will drain the power meter to empty again. The change means special moves can be used alot more, extending a character’s normal repertoire. Though this is balanced by the moves being weaker.
Tags: sega genisis, Streets of Rage 3