Bare Knuckle III (1994). Play online

Summary

Playing the Japanese edition called Bare Knuckle III always feels surprisingly smoother than the Western release of Streets of Rage 3. The most noticeable shift is the toned‑down difficulty; the developers adjusted enemy patterns and weapon limits to create a more balanced challenge after the original’s ramped‑up toughness. Every character now runs and can execute a vertical dodge roll, and weapons sometimes trigger special blitz moves, but they also break after a few uses, adding a risk‑reward layer. Bonus fighters appear too: Shiva and Roo (Victy in Japan) are unlockable, and the exclusive character Ash is only available in this version. Even the soundtrack – crafted by Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima – leans heavily into early‑1990s Detroit techno, giving the streets a gritty, almost club‑like pulse.

Storyline

Wood Oak City is devastated by the detonation of the experimental weapon Rakushin, killing 30,000 and wounding 80,000. Detectives Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding are assigned to the case and are contacted by inventor Gilbert Zan, who says his research is being misused. Simultaneously, General Ivan Petrov, a key figure in Lima Region peace talks, disappears, hinting at a connection between the attack and a larger conflict.

Former Syndicate boss Mr. X has founded RoboCy Corporation to mask a scheme that replaces city officials with realistic robots built by Dr. Dahm, while bombs distract the police. Zan alerts Blaze, who assembles a task force with Axel, Adam Hunter, and Adam’s brother Eddie “Skate” Hunter to stop the robot takeover and locate the missing general. Their mission links the weapon disaster, the robot conspiracy, and the brewing Lima war.

Bare Knuckle III features four endings; the true ending, which continues into Streets of Rage 4, shows the real Chief Ivan Petrov rescued from a duplicate, Mr. X reduced to a brain‑in‑a‑capsule controlling the robots, and the heroes destroying the capsule and Robot Y. With Mr. X dead, RoboCy collapses, Dr. Dahm is confined, and Dr. Zan’s name is cleared. The outcome depends on difficulty and time limits. The story blends crime, high‑tech threats, and international intrigue.