This time they did put in a sort of a story line, by showing a short comic book-style cut-scene. They better left it out, because everyone will skip the cut-scene and start fighting again. The game also has an intro, and if there is one thing you can say about video game bad guys, it’s that they’re persistent: Even after two defeats at the fists of a few vigilantes, the crime lord, Mr. X, has returned with his most diabolical plan yet to take over the city. Having started a robotic corporation, the enigmatic Mr. X has recruited the brilliant Dr. Dahm to create robot doubles of the city’s officials. In addition to controlling the government with his mechanized doppelgängers, Mr. X’s syndicate has placed bombs throughout the city. It isn’t long before our heroes learn about these new developments and once again take to the streets to stop X’s plan. Returning fighters Axel, Blaze and Eddie are joined by elderly cyborg Dr Zan.
Besides the 4 characters you can also unlock 2 bonus characters to fight as: Shiva, a boss character from SoR 2 and also in this game and Roo, a boxing kangaroo. (I’m serious) In the Japanese version, Bare Knuckle 3, there is also a bonus character, Ash, that isn’t added in the western versions of the game. Reason for this is that Ash is a gay character and I think this wasn’t allowed by the conservative Christian community at the time.
There are more differences between the original Japanese version of SoR 3 and the U.S and European versions, like recoloured character sprites. This means that you’ll encounter some enemies with pink, green or even orange hair... Also, the Japanese version featured a different plot that didn’t include robotic doubles of government workers. (I think the original game was a lot better than the version I played)
Oh, sure, the developers did add some new things, like a dodging roll and you can also perform running attacks now, so that is nice, but the stupidest thing the developers have added is a lifebar for your weapons. This means you can only hit an enemy a couple of times and then the weapon will be discarded. Of course this doesn’t work when an enemy hits you so they will smack you to death with a weapon that doesn’t get damaged, which is bullshit.
I think the most annoying part of the game is when you’re in stage 3, when you’re attacked by a guy in a bulldozer. In order to defeat him you have to smash through some brick walls. The bulldozer will splatter you between him and the wall every time when you’re too late, and that means you lose a lot of your health. In this part of the game you will lose many of your lives + your interest in the game.
These are the rounds:
--Round 1: Harbor - the coastal harbour where the search begins.Mini-Boss: Ash (Japan version only), a stereotypically effeminate man.Boss: Shiva.
--Round 2: Night Club - the task force fights their way through Syndicate-controlled streets and invades a crime-filled nightclub.Mini-Bosses: Bruce and Roo ("Danch" and "Victy" in Japan), if Bruce is defeated first Roo escapes and becomes a playable character.Boss: Twin acrobats Mona and Lisa ("Onihime" and "Yasha" in Japan).
--Round 3: Construction Site - the task force follows the Syndicate's trail through the construction site of the new city hall.Mini-Boss: a Donovan enemy operating a bulldozer.Boss: Robot Axel ("Break" in Japan).
--Round 4: Subway - a hidden subway tunnel which is being used for illegal cargo hauling and training site for an army of dangerous ninjas.Mini-Boss: none.Boss: Ninja Lord Yamato.
--Round 5: Syndicate Hideout - the task force battles their way to the top level; however, Mr. X is no longer there.Mini-Boss: none.Boss: Robot X.
--Round 6: Save the Chief of Police - the task force races against time to save the Chief of Police, who is being held hostage and will be killed by toxic gas.Mini-Boss: none.Boss: Super Jet.
--Round 7A: Syndicate Robot Factory - if the Chief of Police is rescued in time, the task force then arrives at the Syndicate's true stronghold. Here, the team enters the laboratory and fends off Mr. X's robots before taking on the evil mastermind himself.Mini-Boss: Dr. Dahm ("Dr. Zero" in Japan), a stereotypical mad scientist operating a mechanic claw.Boss: Robot Y ("Neo X" in Japan), a robotic exo-suit operated by Mr. X himself.
--Round 7B: City Hall - if the task force fails saving the Chief of Police, this leaves the way for an imposter to take his place at a press conference in the City Hall.Mini-Boss: none.Boss: Shiva.(Stronger than the Shiva fought in stage 1.)
Good Ending -- The true ending of the game is the hardest to achieve. The player(s) must rescue the Chief of Police (General Petrov in Japanese version) in Round 6. Then during the boss encounter in round 7A, they must defeat Robot Y within 3 minutes.
Bad Ending -- This is the alternate scenario to the situation above. The player(s) must rescue the Chief of Police/General Petrov in Round 6. Then at the end of Round 7A, the timer must expire before Robot Y is defeated.
Alternate Ending -- If the players fail to rescue the Chief of Police in Round 6, the game will continue with Round 7B. Shiva, who is now an imposter posing as the Chief of Police, is about to hold a press conference that will bring the city to the mercy of Mr. X (in the Japan version he is trying to create a war in a country). The task force must defeat him.
Incomplete Ending -- if the game is played on the easy difficulty, it will finish after Round 5.
My overall opinion: this game shouldn’t have existed, the series should've stopped at the second game, because this game doesn’t add anything special. The sound is bad, the graphics are the same as the second game, while they should've been improved in 2 years time. And the gameplay is bad, some bosses from the first and second game have been reused. Conclusion: Don’t try this game, you'll have much more fun with the second game.
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