Urban Reign

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2005
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 70
  3. Negative: 4 out of 70
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  1. 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 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 daysBest 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
  2. 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. 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 isI'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
  3. 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 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 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
  4. kanada514fiveonefour
    May 2, 2008
    9
    Best Beat'em up on the PS2. Who cares what the arenas look like? Who cares there is no story!? If you want story, rent a movie, If you want a beat'em up, get Urban Reign. There is more to video games than shooters. The fact that the official critics are bad proves that the game is good. I wish beat'em ups were reviewed by people that actually know something about the genre, Best Beat'em up on the PS2. Who cares what the arenas look like? Who cares there is no story!? If you want story, rent a movie, If you want a beat'em up, get Urban Reign. There is more to video games than shooters. The fact that the official critics are bad proves that the game is good. I wish beat'em ups were reviewed by people that actually know something about the genre, instead of hating it because they're not good at it.… Expand
  5. ReyA
    Jul 30, 2009
    10
    I don't understand why the critics complained about this one. The gameplay mechanics were fun and the characters were cool looking people. Even the voiceovers for the characters were good. Ok, so there's not much of a story for single player mode, but most people buy these types of games for the multiplayer mode anyway. The best part is, you can use a multitap and play 1-4 I don't understand why the critics complained about this one. The gameplay mechanics were fun and the characters were cool looking people. Even the voiceovers for the characters were good. Ok, so there's not much of a story for single player mode, but most people buy these types of games for the multiplayer mode anyway. The best part is, you can use a multitap and play 1-4 players. Anyway, this one belongs on my shelf right next to Soul Calibur 3 and IV. Enough said.… Expand
  6. [Anonymous]
    Sep 15, 2005
    9
    I think this game is a really fun beat-em up. but it lacks story and it gets repetitive.
  7. RobertoL.
    Sep 17, 2005
    9
    You have to appreciate it for what it is- a great beat'em up and nothing more. But the animation is great, the moves and camera angles look like they're straight out of a kung fu movie andyou will always feel the urge to do 1 more mission. Yeah it's cheap but so was every other brawler from the 90"s and we loved them for it. And for the record, the GTA series is even You have to appreciate it for what it is- a great beat'em up and nothing more. But the animation is great, the moves and camera angles look like they're straight out of a kung fu movie andyou will always feel the urge to do 1 more mission. Yeah it's cheap but so was every other brawler from the 90"s and we loved them for it. And for the record, the GTA series is even cheaper and packed with stupid deaths but no one seems to mention that in their reviews.… Expand
  8. IsaacM.
    Nov 18, 2007
    8
    Great fun playing Multiplayer especially Team Battles!! I've had this game for nearly a year now and love to play something a bit different from games like Tekken (button masher) or Mortal Kombat (too complicated) its unpretentious it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a simple straight forward Beat-em-up and it has terrific fighting mechanics which are surprisingly deep Great fun playing Multiplayer especially Team Battles!! I've had this game for nearly a year now and love to play something a bit different from games like Tekken (button masher) or Mortal Kombat (too complicated) its unpretentious it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a simple straight forward Beat-em-up and it has terrific fighting mechanics which are surprisingly deep and some really vicious hitting (think barbed wire baseball bat to the gut - nice) Single player is nothing special though which is really the only let down on this game for me but how many people out there buy Beat-em-ups for the single player mode? I certainly don't. I hope they make a sequel on PS3. For all of those out there tired of WWE games or just looking for something a little fresh and fun buy this!… Expand
  9. MyNameIsNobody
    Aug 20, 2010
    9
    A hardcore, no-holds barred, adrenaline pumping beat-em-up that combines the arcade action of games like Final Fight and Streets of Rage with the finesse of a modern day fighting game. Using a glut of animations taken straight from Tekken 5, Urban Reign's developers have created a very playable homage to action movies like District B13.

    While at times frustrating, Urban Reign never    A hardcore, no-holds barred, adrenaline pumping beat-em-up that combines the arcade action of games like Final Fight and Streets of Rage with the finesse of a modern day fighting game. Using a glut of animations taken straight from Tekken 5, Urban Reign's developers have created a very playable homage to action movies like District B13.

    While at times frustrating, Urban Reign never becomes aggravating, and the seasoned gamer will be able to brutalize enemies over 100 stages, and surely come back to replay their favorite levels. This addictive action game is only marred by its lack of 2-player cooperative play, but players can still go head to head with the game's large and unique roster.    … Expand
  10. jdizzy
    Apr 17, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The difficulty is ever increasing. THe game takes place in the same world as Tekken and makes several subtle and not-so-subtle references. The team-up system is good and the weapon system is easily balanced. (1 gun and it's a pistol, it does massive damage but it's easy to avoid simply by rolling) The story doesn't offer much but it set the foundation for a sequel that won't ever come. The ending was anticlimactic and you spend the last part of the game just running around the city doing random things. Then, all of a sudden, the Mayor's been organizing the riots! It has a vast multitude of characters, all with their own abilities and stats. This was the thinking man's beat 'em-up.… Expand
  11. kagekirazuul
    Dec 28, 2021
    10
    This game rocks. Outstanding fight mechanics and a ball of fun.
    People who gave neg reviews just suck at fighting games.
  12. caligula_king
    Oct 3, 2015
    7
    El mejor juego para jugar entre amigos por tener combos buenisimos , muchos estilo de lucha , armas , mapa de batalla y varios personajes . El punto debil es la historia muy simplona pero mirando que es un juego que esta hecho para dos jugadores pues no se apresta tanta atención . Muy correcto juego
  13. 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 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 charactersThis 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
  14. 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.
  15. ThallesNathan23
    Dec 5, 2022
    10
    Esse jogo pode ser considerado um clássico. Era sensacional jogá-lo. A história não é muito criativa, mas o combate dele era sensacional!
  16. 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 ridiculous it's not worth it! a better story with Coop
  17. 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't explore the game mechanics and in the end find the game boring and repetitive. A beat em' up made for fighting game fans.
  18. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    6
    I played mostly the multiplayer mode with my friends, just an average game.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 44
  3. Negative: 10 out of 44
  1. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    70
    Better than "Beat Down." [Oct 2005, p.107]
  2. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    53
    There's no sense of progression, only a sickening sense of tedium as you're dropped into the next box of a level and take on another too easy minion, too tough boss, and the too bewildering camera.
    Read full review
  3. 1UP
    35
    With its slick visual polish and ample bone-crunching sound-effects, Urban Reign could have come out on tip. But thanks to an endless series of increasingly maddening and increasingly boring stages, you'll find yourself saying "No thanks," and turning off your PS2 and bringing this game back to the store. Xbox owners, be thankful you were spared this agony.
    Read full review
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