Sega 60th celebration: Streets of Kamaurocho Review

For Sega's 60th anniversary, on Steam, they made 4 special games available, “Golden Axed, “Armor of Heroes,” “Endless Zone,” and “Streets of Kamurocho.” Most of these games were available for a single day from the 17-18, or from the 19-20. Unfortunately, if you missed the games, they are gone now. There might be installers floating around, but be wary of them. All these games are small, quick plays and usually in an endless runner style. There will be discounts on numerous games, special offers and unique games available like those listed earlier.

If you go to the Sega 60th website, you can sign up for e-mail notification. Doing this can get you a free game. By selecting “Steam/PC' as your preferred platform, you can get “NiGHTS: Into Dream” free for your steam account. It will ask for edit permissions to add the game to your account. There will be additional deals and offers throughout the coming weeks.

When it comes this particular game, “Streets of Kamurocho,” is simple. A complete playthrough can take about 7 minutes. You start with just 2 characters: Kiryu, or Majima. The third character will unlock after you beat the game once: Ichiban. Combos and attacks seem to be universal among the characters. Unlocking Ichiban is simple: play until you lose.

This is a short game, with only one stage that repeats itself. Each completion increases the difficulty of the stage. Each of the enemies get a bit more health and does a bit more damage. There are a few screens of enemies. The characters start on the streets and fight there way through to the bar. More foes await inside  the bar, with the first boss. Get through the bar to the alleyway behind it and you will encounter the second boss. Just like any boss in “Streets of Rage,” they have a number of additional forces to help complicate the battle. This is especially true as you progress to the higher rounds.

When it comes to the characters, they can be very same-feeling. They do all have unique animations for their basic attacks. The combo itself is about the same, but the different characters have somewhat different styles. Their sound effects are all from the same character though, Axel. Everything else to just a model swap. The long weapon will also change based on who you are playing as. The damage is about the same, High.

Most things in the game have at least gotten a swap over to something appropriate for the Yakuza setting. The bar has various tables with ash trays on it. Knocking these tables over will have the ash spill onto the floor. The health restoration items have changed to be medicine bottles (partial) or a first aid kit (full). The score items have also been changed to just bill stacks opposed to the bag and the gold bars.

Overall,  short game, but pretty good for its price of free. It's fun to watch and play. It does seem to be impossible to find the installer on Steam now. Sega might make the game available again later, but for now, it was just a narrow window to get the game. Enjoy it if you got it.