Getting Started
Let’s get straight to it.
Download Streets of Rage Remake v5.2 (revision 550) which is available as a zip archive from one the following sources:
Extract the zip, and you will have access to the main SORRv52 folder which contains all the necessary game files.
Optional: I store my loose games in my /home/mason/Games/ folder. This is how I have Streets of Rage Remake on my computer:
/home/mason/Games/SORRv52/Update Your System
Launch your preferred terminal app and update your distro using the relevant terminal command. I’m using CachyOS which is based on Arch, so the command I and other Arch users should run is:
sudo pacman -SyuFedora users would use:
sudo dnf upgradeIf you’re using Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS or other Debian/Ubuntu-based distros, you would use:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeConfirm the update, give it time, then close the terminal when the update has concluded. A reboot may be necessary.
Install Heroic Games Launcher
Depending on your distro, you’ll probably want to either install Heroic Games Launcher using either the terminal or your distro’s native app manager. There’s also the AppImage or Flatpak versions as a backup, but I haven’t tested these.
Once installed, launch Heroic Games Launcher, and select the Wine Manager option from the sidebar. The GE-Proton option should be selected by default, but if it isn’t, select that. You’ll know that you’re looking at the correct tab if you see a notice which reads, ‘GE-Proton is a Proton variant created by Glorious Eggroll […]’
In the Wine Version column, find the GE-Proton-latest entry (which is usually the first item at the very top of the list) and click the install button in the Action column. If it’s already installed, you’ll see different options instead, such as ‘Open Folder’ and ‘Uninstall’. Either way, once installed, proceed onwards.
Select the Library option from the sidebar.
Click the Add Game button, and use the following settings:
Game/App Title: Streets of Rage Remake
App Image: Leave blank or you can manually attach an image of your choosing. If left blank, Heroic Games Launcher will automatically assign a Streets of Rage Remake-themed image.
Select Platform Version to Install: Windows.
Show Wine Settings: View the drop-down options.
WinePrefix: Leave as-is.
Wine version: Proton – GE-Proton-latest
Select Executable: Navigate to your recently extracted SORRv52 folder, and select the SorR.exe file inside. The location of this file for me is:
/home/mason/Games/SORRv52/SorR.exeIgnore the Run Installer First option, and click Finish.
You’re now able to launch the game and enjoy.
Optional: In-Game Recommended Settings
Note: Special thanks to user bareknuckleroo for providing very helpful explanations for the various settings.
This part covers the in-game settings, separate from Heroic Games Launcher. There’s a lot of gameplay options available, but with no descriptions available, you’d be forgiven for wondering exactly what they all entail. This section includes our recommendations for best/optional settings.
Load up the game and visit the following Options screens:
Options > Game Options
Level
Options: Easy / Normal (default) / Hard / Very Hard / Mania
Recommended: Easy
This is a controversial one, for sure, but the difficulty and balancing changes that SoRR v5.2 brought effectively means that, effectively, Easy is now Normal mode, Normal is now Hard mode, etc. I recommend Easy for a normal, somewhat casual playthrough, and Normal for a sorta-Hard-tier challenge.
Lives
Options: 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 (default) / 4 / 5
Recommended: 5
Also self-explanatory. I like to start the game with the max five-life allowanace.
Damage Between Players
Options: Yes (default) / No
Recommended: Yes
Setting this to Yes does mean that you and your buddy could potentially hurt each other with mistimed attacks, but when enabled, you’re able to make use of team attacks such as throws. Disabling this means you won’t be able to interact with your partner at all. Streets of Rage 1-3 included friendly fire, and that’s what I’m used to, so I keep this enabled.
Star Moves
Options: B Button (default) / X Button
Recommended: X Button
X Button gives you maximum flexibility – use your 0-star Blitz with the Attack button or your current star-level Blitz with the Special Combo button at any time. This is especially valuable for characters like Max and Rudra who have great crowd-control 0-star blitzes but slower 3-star blitzes.
Weapon Type
Options: SoR3 / SoR2 (default) / SoR1
Recommended: SoR3
- SoR3: Weapons have health bars that deplete with use, but you can grab enemies while holding weapons. You can also attack with your current weapon while standing over another one.
- SoR2: No weapon breakage, but you drop weapons when grabbing enemies.
- SoR1: No weapon breakage, but you cannot drop or throw weapons at all.
Meter Type
Options: Both (default) / Gauge / Timer
Recommended: Both
This setting affects both special move costs and level timers:
- Gauge: Uses the SoR3 special meter system where specials are free when the bar is full and cost significant health when empty. No time limit in stages.
- Timer: Uses SoR2 style where defensive specials always cost some health, and includes a stage time limit that kills you when it reaches zero.
- Both: Combines the gauge for specials with a time limit, allowing free specials when full while still maintaining time pressure.
Gauge is recommended for a more relaxed experience, though ‘Both’ offers additional challenge and the opportunity to earn bonus ‘Time Remaining’ points at level completion.
Combo Type
Options: SoR3 (default) / SoR2
Recommended: SoR3
SoR3 significantly reduces recovery time after attacks, allowing for much quicker movement afterward. It also executes full attack combos even when not hitting enemies. SoR2 adds considerable delay before you can move again, which can be punishing especially at higher difficulties.
Jump Type
Options: SoR3 (default) / SoR2 / SoR1
Recommended: SoR2
- SoR3: Provides precise control during jumps while maintaining your facing direction, ideal for jump kicks.
- SoR2: Offers arguably the most realistic jumping physics, albeit jumping does feel stiffer with less control.
- SoR1: Allows mid-air direction changes but with slightly less precision in targeting.
Collision Type
Options: Hitbox SoR2 (default) / Hitbox SoR3 / Auto SoR2 / Auto SoR3
Recommended: Hitbox SoR3
When you hit an enemy, a flash-type effect appears – and where this effect appears is based on which setting you choose.
- Selecting Hitbox SoR2 will make the effect always usually appear at the end of the attack takes place (such as at the end of Blaze’s outstretched hands when she does her projectile attack); one weakness of this is that characters who have a far-reaching attack can have the hit effect appear quite distant from the enemy.
- Selecting Hitbox SoR3 will make the effect appear in a central position of the enemy’s hitbox.
- I’m not sure how the Auto options differ
Death Type
Options: SoR (default) / Remake
Recommended: SoR
- SoR: Classic recovery where you drop from the top of the screen as all enemies are knocked down, giving breathing space. Special meter resets to empty.
- Remake: You stand back up where you died and retain your special meter, allowing for an immediate special move if needed.
Camera Type
Options: SoR2 (default) / SoR3
Recommended: SoR3
Controls camera positioning:
- SoR2: Allows you to run right up to the edge of the screen. This can be risky as enemies can surprise attack you from outside the screen window.
- SoR3: Keeps your character centred in the frame, reducing the chance of off-screen enemies landing cheap hits.
Pause Delay
Options: Combined (default) / SoR2 / SoR3 / Remake
Recommended: SoR3
Controls recovery time after attacks:
- Combined: Uses each character’s original game recovery timing.
- SoR2: Longer recovery time for all actions.
- SoR3: Shortest recovery time, allowing for quicker follow-up hits or moves.
- Remake: Falls somewhere in between SoR2 and SoR3 in terms of attack speed.
Attack Damage
Options: Original (default) / Balanced
Recommended: Original
Since detailed information isn’t available, the default setting is recommended.
SoR3 Exceptions
Options: No (default) / Yes
Recommended: No
- No: Allows diagonal dash movement, which improves mobility and just plain feels great.
- Yes: Restricts diagonal dashing and changes grab mechanics (enemies are released if another enemy is hit while grabbing).
Use Guns
Options: Yes (default) / No / Ammo
Recommended: Yes
When enabled, allows you to pick up and use handguns, uzis, and rocket launchers.
Enable Police
Options: Yes (default) / No
Recommended: Yes
Allows you to use the signature Streets of Rage 1 special ability to summon police support attacks.
Enable Run and Roll
Options: SoR3 (default) / BK3 / No
Recommended: SoR3
Controls vertical roll mechanics:
- SoR3: Rolls travel furthest in your chosen direction, providing maximum mobility.
- BK3: Rolls cover a shorter distance.
- No: Disables vertical rolling completely.
SoR3 offers the best manoeuvrability for avoiding attacks.
Options > Video Options
- Widescreen mode: Yes
- Game speed: 60 FPS
- Graphic mode: 2x Normal
- Display: Full screen
- Vsync: No
- Frameskip: Auto
- Visual effects: Remake (uses fancier visuals for certain elements such as hit flashes, and includes new visual effects like shockwave effects on throws and slams)
- Shadows: Reflected
- Blood: No (personal preference)
- Display FPS: No
- Transparencies: 50%
Options > Audio Options
- Voice type: BK3 (The BK3 type voices typically sound better, especially with Shiva)
- SE type: Combined (Determines the sound effects that play during attacks; selecting Combined means more variety in sound effects, and also that the sound effects are more inline with the character’s original attack sounds from their respective Mega Drive/Genesis games)
- HQ voices: I haven’t tested this enough, but I expect that selecting Yes would be the best option
- Last breath: SoR1 (Selecting SoR1 will have enemies let out a death cry when their HP hits zero, whereas selecting SoR2 will have enemies let out a death cry when they are lying dead on the ground)
- Ambient sound: Yes
Options > Controls
SoRR v5.2 has a very handy feature where you can choose a controller preset such as ‘Xbox’, ‘PS4’, and a few others. Selecting a preset will automatically remap the controls to suit your connected controller. SoRR v5.1 does not have this feature, and the default controller mappings aren’t perfect for all controllers. If you’re intending to play using an Xbox 360/One/Series X controller, like me, then I recommend updating the following buttons:
- Remap ‘Special’ to the X button
- Remap ‘Attack’ to the A button
- Remap ‘Start’ to the Start button
Optional: ‘Everything Unlocked’ Save File
If you want to download a save file with pretty much everything unlocked, there’s one available in this thread on the official Streets of Rage Remake Community Forum.
Move the file to your /savegame/ folder to activate in-game.