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BRAWL BROTHERS - RIVAL TURF! 2
review | SUPER NINTENDO
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a.k.a. Rushing Beat Ran
Publisher: Jaleco. Developer: Jaleco. Released: 1993 (Europe). Genre: Roaming beat 'em up. Posted 5th September 2025. By Tom Clare © 2025 |
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The first of three SNES-exclusive roaming beat ‘em ups comprising the Rushing Beat series, Rival Turf laid down an early benchmark for European system owners. It may have resembled Final Fight at first glance, but fans and critics were under no illusions as to the reality: a playable but desperately unoriginal brawler. Going toe-to-toe with SEGA’s heavyweight Streets of Rage 2 in time for Christmas in 1992 proved a sizeable mismatch, and one that would see Jaleco’s effort knocked unceremoniously to the canvas. To some, the game was little more than a lukewarm copy of Capcom’s arcade classic, but those who battled through Jaleco’s brawler did note shoots of promise. Colourful, action-packed settings and a fun buddy co-op aspect gave it something to build on. It just needed a little more polish and a stronger identity.
Even the sturdiest of trees tend to start out as acorns, though. Whilst we love to see sequels build on great games, there’s something extra satisfying about seeing a flawed series blossom through a much-improved successor. Brawl Brothers is that game: it’s immediately clear that we’re looking at a significant upgrade on Rival Turf. It’s not a Streets of Rage beater, but for SNES owners, this proved a worthy alternative.
Five characters (including three new ones) ensure there are plenty of moves to master
The series’ localisation is a messy affair, marred by storyline cuts, recurrent characters sporting as many as three different names across the trilogy, and playable figures Lord J. and Kazan seeing their monikers swapped from the Japanese instalment. A dumbed-down version of the story aligns Brawl Brothers with the uncomplicated action shtick of the time, distilling the premise as five goodies fighting a dodgy corporation. This lends unfolding events a certain incongruity, as you appear to fight your buddies as bosses, something that’s apparently the result of the evil organisation cloning fighters. Stars of the first game, Jack Flak and Oozie Nelson, return under the guises of Hack and Slash (yes, really), alongside three new challengers. Slash remains every bit as big an M. Bison rip-off as before, but offers a glut of awesome grapple attacks and throws which are mega-fun. Hack is perhaps the game’s best character, being both strong and agile, evidently pitched somewhere between Guy and Cody from Final Fight. Ninja Kazan, ultra-mobile kick-boxing detective Wendy, and karate monk Lord J. offer decent additional choices, though each has a weakness (typically relating to a lack of power and/or mobility) that leaves them more exposed to damage, and a haemorrhaging of lives.
By every metric you can measure it, Brawl Brothers makes great strides over Rival Turf. Controls are nippier, grappling and hit-boxes more tangible, animations more elaborate, and crunching combat lands harder. Levels enjoy a little more detail and personality, whilst characters look significantly more convincing. Its level design is a bit more adventurous, and most importantly, it’s much more fun to play.
By every metric you can measure it, Brawl Brothers makes great strides over Rival Turf. Controls are nippier, grappling and hit-boxes more tangible, animations more elaborate, and crunching combat lands harder. Levels enjoy a little more detail and personality, whilst characters look significantly more convincing. Its level design is a bit more adventurous, and most importantly, it’s much more fun to play.
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Is Brawl Brothers still derivative of the genre’s finest? Yes, though not so blatantly as the original. Whilst mean city streets, precarious industrial sites, and high-rise interiors are well-trodden ground for the genre, Jaleco has made a greater effort to put its stamp on these themes. A maze of sewers makes for an unusual opening salvo en route to the first boss, whilst picking a route through a skyscraper via various elevator stops saw it beat Streets of Rage 3 to the same idea. A section on the exterior of a plane, mid-flight, is a real showstopper.
Each sequence is jam-packed with enemies, ensuring the game’s four lengthy levels deliver non-stop action. You’ll face speedy, agile cyber-punks, tank-like wrestlers, gun-totting soldiers, and common-or-garden goons. Whilst it isn’t flawless, BB benefits from a significantly improved grapple mechanic, which is significantly less clumsy. Throwing enemies like a bowling ball into a crowd of opponents is endlessly entertaining, whilst ‘angry’ mode grants a few seconds of super-strength, and the devastating moves that come with it. The fighting is sprightly and enjoyable, although the vertical plane proves a problem, as weapons like pipes and knives often miss their target, unless you’re very precisely aligned.
Each sequence is jam-packed with enemies, ensuring the game’s four lengthy levels deliver non-stop action. You’ll face speedy, agile cyber-punks, tank-like wrestlers, gun-totting soldiers, and common-or-garden goons. Whilst it isn’t flawless, BB benefits from a significantly improved grapple mechanic, which is significantly less clumsy. Throwing enemies like a bowling ball into a crowd of opponents is endlessly entertaining, whilst ‘angry’ mode grants a few seconds of super-strength, and the devastating moves that come with it. The fighting is sprightly and enjoyable, although the vertical plane proves a problem, as weapons like pipes and knives often miss their target, unless you’re very precisely aligned.
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Brawl Brothers makes excellent use of interactive environments to add to the chaos. The industrial site has planks and pitfalls abound as the player scraps to find an advantageous spot from which to throw or kick foes over the edge. Electrified floors similarly pose a health risk, and like the best roaming beat ‘em up obstacles, these hazards can be turned to the player’s advantage, with a bit of strategising. Genre aficionados will be relieved to learn that yes, it does have its own lift section, allowing players to boot foes off the edge with a cute bit of timing.
Visually, BB is less bland than its predecessor, sporting an expanded move set and animations that are significantly less staccato. Levels benefit from extensive colour palette usage and a raft of nice effects, notably running water in the sewers, busy boss arenas, and the odd bit of scenery-in-motion, be it from atop a plane, or via its windows. There are some really stylish touches, like the onomatopoeic sound effect typography that accompanies each blow. The music remains second-rate next to Streets of Rage’s, sticking as it does with the strident, breezy tone of an ‘80s action film. The BGMs are less garish than Rival Turf’s, but sound undeniably dated and banal next to Yuzo Koshiro’s more cutting-edge, techno-inspired anthems.
Visually, BB is less bland than its predecessor, sporting an expanded move set and animations that are significantly less staccato. Levels benefit from extensive colour palette usage and a raft of nice effects, notably running water in the sewers, busy boss arenas, and the odd bit of scenery-in-motion, be it from atop a plane, or via its windows. There are some really stylish touches, like the onomatopoeic sound effect typography that accompanies each blow. The music remains second-rate next to Streets of Rage’s, sticking as it does with the strident, breezy tone of an ‘80s action film. The BGMs are less garish than Rival Turf’s, but sound undeniably dated and banal next to Yuzo Koshiro’s more cutting-edge, techno-inspired anthems.
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The visuals enjoy a significant upgrade over Rival Turf, and the gameplay is more exciting too
Options allow for as many as five lives and five continues, meaning even relative beginners should be able to beat the game on its gentlest skill setting. Three difficulties and five playable characters ensure there’s no shortage of ways to test yourself. The game plays really well as a solo pursuit, though it’s undoubtedly at its best when diving in with a friend. The translation leaves a lot to be desired, but Jaleco should be commended on making such a significant improvement with Brawl Brothers. For Super Nintendo fans fancying a blast of pugilist escapism with a friend, it’s a great option.
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VERDICT"A great sequel that improves on its predecessor in every key area. It's not the most original of games, but you'll be having too much fun to care. A fantastic, chaotic co-op brawler." OVERALL: 8/10 |
OTHER ROAMING BEAT 'EM UP COMPETITORS REVIEWED
Streets of Rage (1991, Mega Drive)
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Final Fight CD (1993, Mega-CD)
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