Whether you grew up playing Nintendo or Sega, the odds are pretty good that today you own an iPhone. Yes, the playing field is a lot more level today than 25 years ago, and both companies are certainly aware of the value of nostalgia, as well as the spending power that it can bolster. But while Nintendo has its own portable system, Sega no longer does. That’s why it’s got a burgeoning selection of its games on the iPhone. True, some of these titles are available on the Wii’s virtual console, but those aren’t portable.
Streets Of Rage ($4.99) are both variations on the standard beat-‘em-up genre. The former is a whimsical fantasy land where dwarfs and fire-breathing dragons are commonplace, the latter a more modern twist with street toughs taking on a mysterious and powerful criminal organization. Problem is, they both control horribly, and rather than fulfill pangs of nostalgia, serve as a reminder of why the iPhone shouldn’t merely be a holding pen for lazy ports. Hell, you can pick up a Sega Genesis and copies of these games for the cost of these iPhone games on eBay or Craigslist. But if you’d rather opt for convenience over quality, just be warned: Everything is here in these old games but the controls, which is too bad. These old gems really deserve more respect.
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