Urban Reign

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2005
Urban Reign Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

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  • Summary: In Urban Reign, players assume the role of a gritty street brawler who has been hired by one of the city’s dominant gangs to protect its leader. Players are thrown into a full-blown turf war, involving gang corruption and street justice that spans from the neighborhood block all the way toIn Urban Reign, players assume the role of a gritty street brawler who has been hired by one of the city’s dominant gangs to protect its leader. Players are thrown into a full-blown turf war, involving gang corruption and street justice that spans from the neighborhood block all the way to the upper levels of city government. Urban Reign offers players non-stop, inner-city brawling action with no time restrictions or referees. Back alleys, junkyards and bars serve as battlegrounds for more than 60 different fighters, all of which boast their own unique set of fighting styles including boxing, wrestling and street fighting. Players can select from over 30 weapons – including bottles, bats and 2x4's – to be used in the destructible arenas to add to the mayhem. Focusing on the urban-brawler style of street fighting, players can team up with an AI-controlled character to pull off a host of devastating and destructive combo maneuvers against multiple enemies throughout the game’s 100 missions. Urban Reign also supports multi-tap play for up to four players to determine who really rules the hood. [Namco]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 44
  3. Negative: 10 out of 44
  1. GameCritics
    85
    There isn't a plot to speak of, nor any gameplay elements beyond the fighting. But the fighting really is exceptionally fun for novices and experts, which makes this game extremely successful on its own terms.
  2. Games Radar
    78
    A solid beat-'em-up. It's unbalanced and frustrating at times but, when the combat is flowing freely, Urban Reign is hard to beat. [PSM2]
  3. DarkStation
    70
    Namco's brawler does thrill, but misses out on the crucial online play and a decent story.
  4. Total Video Games
    60
    Those looking for a no-nonsense beat-em-up could find some enjoyment with the fluid combat system and frantic nature of the game, however Urban Reign makes very little attempt to bring the genre back to life - everybody else should check out Rockstar Games superior adaptation of The Warriors.
  5. Worth Playing
    59
    The barely tolerable story mode does little to cover up the fact that Urban Reign is little more than pummeling goons in the face for three hours, and then bam, you're done.
  6. PSX Extreme
    50
    Urban Reign’s audio is purely average. You could play the entire game on mute and not miss a thing. The voice acting ranges from decent to poor, and the weak plot and script don’t help matters much.
  7. GameShark
    25
    Aside from its superior presentation, about the only really good thing that can be said for Urban Reign is that it is not available to offend on more than one console. That’s right PS2 owners, you can be proud you took the bullet for all gamerdom.

See all 44 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. LaSanta
    Oct 29, 2019
    10
    This is an amazing fighting game! it provides so many challenging fights, perfect for novice players. I don’t understand why critics areThis is an amazing fighting game! it provides so many challenging fights, perfect for novice players. I don’t understand why critics are complaining about the story, with game-play as good as this, who cares. The game does exactly what a fighting game needs to do, provide great game-play with challenging characters and many different fighting styles. The designs of the playable characters and even the npc’s really distinguishes them from one another. This is one of my favorite games from the ps2 era, I hope to see a new Urban Reign game someday.… Expand
  2. The_D4RknesS
    Jul 2, 2022
    10
    The game is good to play with friends but it has a boring campaign. there's a code that you release Coop in the story but it's so ridiculousThe game is good to play with friends but it has a boring campaign. there's a code that you release Coop in the story but it's so ridiculous it's not worth it! a better story with Coop… Expand
  4. GatsuBerserker
    Oct 12, 2015
    10
    Best fighting game I ever played in my life and I played a lot. Such beautiful, intuitive mechanics, balanced characters strenghts andBest fighting game I ever played in my life and I played a lot. Such beautiful, intuitive mechanics, balanced characters strenghts and endurances, not like in other games where a big guy's punch has the same power as some girl and they can take the same amount of beating. This is so underrated that it makes me mad, no word of a sequel or a remake, such a shame. I spent countless days playing this in multiplayer with my friends and it's very addictive and fun. I'd score it 20 if it was possible.… Expand
  5. Mike
    Sep 16, 2005
    9
    I don't know what the reviewers are smoking, but this is an awesome game. It's a BEATEM UP. Who cares about the damn story? And I don't know what the reviewers are smoking, but this is an awesome game. It's a BEATEM UP. Who cares about the damn story? And they complain that it get repetative. Well, what more do you expect to do in a beatem up than fight people. The fighting mechanics are solid, varied, and awesome. It's more like playing a full feldged fighting game than a beatem up, and even more so in VS mode. The game mechanics really do stand on their own without the need to add things like free roaming and customization, although you do get to upgrade your guy's abilities in Story mode.… Expand
  6. Hamboy
    Jan 16, 2023
    8
    This game is insane, the combat system is deep and allows for a lot of experimentation. From what I've seen and read, most people don'tThis game is insane, the combat system is deep and allows for a lot of experimentation. From what I've seen and read, most people don't explore the game mechanics and in the end find the game boring and repetitive. A beat em' up made for fighting game fans.… Expand
  7. ChunkDump
    Dec 22, 2020
    7
    entertaining beat um up. lackluster story, the combat was the best part, wish the enemy A.I attacked more and kept me on my feet.
  8. shootingstars99
    Aug 13, 2019
    3
    I'm going to assume this as an attempt at making something like a Golden Axe or Double Dragon, I don't think it worked out too well for them.I'm going to assume this as an attempt at making something like a Golden Axe or Double Dragon, I don't think it worked out too well for them. There is no point to the game story-wise. Battles, while you can use the environment for some unique things, are ultimately repetitive and boring after an hour or two. This game is a one trick pony that isn't even that good at it's trick, and is missing a leg.… Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005
16
#16 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005