Classic Genesis/Megadrive Beat 'Em Up Reimagined as 'Hong Kong 97'
A new SEGA Genesis/Megadrive ROM hack transforms the classic beat 'em up Streets of Rage 2 into a deliberate tribute to the infamous SNES 'kusoge' Hong Kong 97. Created by PPI_Akiko, this overhaul introduces aerial combos, an XP scoring system, and shooting mechanics, reworking graphics and music.
A new and decidedly bizarre romhack has surfaced, transforming SEGA's classic 1992 beat 'em up, Streets of Rage 2, into a shoot 'em up parody of the infamous 1995 Super Famicom title, Hong Kong 97. The patch, released by creator PPI_Akiko, is now available for download from ROM Hack Plaza.
📜 The Infamous Source MaterialThe original Hong Kong 97 (1995) for Super Famicom is legendary for its poor quality. It was an unlicensed game developed by a Japanese programmer, featuring crude digitized photos of Hong Kong, repetitive music, and a bizarre plot about fighting communists. It's considered a prime example of a 'kusoge' (crap game) and has gained cult status for its sheer awkwardness.
Dubbed Streets of Rage 2 Hong Kong 97, this is not a simple graphical tweak. The hack fundamentally alters the gameplay of the Mega Drive classic, turning Axel, Blaze, and company's brawling into a bullet-fest. By pressing Y or B+C, characters can now fire projectiles, with an option for rapid machine-gun-like fire. It also introduces an experience system based on score, aerial combos, and a dash move, grafting mechanics from other genres onto the familiar streets of Wood Oak City.
The connection to Hong Kong 97 is primarily aesthetic, channelling the notorious 'kusoge' or 'crap game' known for its garish visuals, repetitive music, and surreal premise. The hack replaces all the music-though a sub-patch can restore Yuzo Koshiro's legendary soundtrack-and swaps character sprites to mirror the SNES oddity. It stands as a modern, meta tribute to a very specific and awkward corner of 16-bit history, where the polished brawler meets one of gaming's most infamous cult titles.
For the retro community, hacks like this demonstrate the enduring flexibility of Genesis cartridges and the creativity of modern modders. While official re-releases keep classics alive, projects such as this re-imagine them entirely, offering veterans a completely new way to experience a game they know inside out. The hack's detailed control scheme and multiple patches show a level of polish often reserved for commercial products, proving that the scene surrounding 30-year-old hardware remains as active and inventive as ever.
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