Takeover 2 vs The TakeOver: Should You Play the First Game?

The TakeOver is one of the better Streets of Rage clones of the last decade, and it is also a game with a very specific reputation: gorgeous pixel-adjacent art, a Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack, and combat that never quite escaped the shadow of the games it loved. Takeover 2 is not a content expansion. It is a rebuild.

That makes the comparison straightforward. If you want the same game with more stages, you will be surprised. If you want a tighter combat system with a modern parry loop, the sequel is the one to play.

The short version

The platform row is the one that matters most for console players. The first game is available on Switch and PS4; the sequel is a Windows release.

Combat: the real difference

The first game's combat is a love letter to Streets of Rage 2: punch strings, kicks, grabs, specials and a handful of weapons. It is satisfying, but it is built on a 1990s vocabulary.

Takeover 2 changes the vocabulary:

• Parry. A timed defensive action that stuns the attacker and opens a counter.
• Counter. Mapped to punch after the May 31 patch; the parry is a kick-side action.
• Finishers. Gun finishers and ground finishers end fights on your terms.
• Environmental weapons. Buckets, cones and tyres are part of the combat loop, not just pickups.
• Crowd control. The game explicitly designs around managing groups, not just punching the nearest enemy.
• S ranks. The stage grade rewards clean, varied play.

The result is a game that asks you to read attacks rather than mash through them. That is the sequel's identity, and it is the reason to play it even if you bounced off the first game.

Roster: Amy joins the trio

The 2019 game's main characters were Ethan, Connor and Megan. Takeover 2 keeps all three and adds Amy McKenna, a roller-skating fighter with a more aerial, kinetic style.

The sequel's roster is still small. Four characters is not a roster-fighter lineup, and the game does not pretend otherwise. What it does is give each character a distinct rhythm: Ethan is the all-rounder, Megan controls space, Connor hits hard, Amy moves fast.

If you played the first game as Connor and wanted more mobility, Amy is the answer. If you played Megan and wanted more damage, Connor is still there.

Co-op: the biggest new feature

The first The TakeOver was single-player. Takeover 2 adds local co-op, split-screen co-op and Remote Play Together. It does not add online matchmaking, so the co-op is a couch feature, not a lobby feature.

For a beat 'em up, that is a big deal. The genre is built for two players, and the sequel's aggro system and revive mechanic make co-op more than a shared screen. It is the feature that most changes how the game feels.

Music: a different era

Yuzo Koshiro's work on the first game was a headline feature. The sequel's soundtrack is by Gonzalo Varela and Francisco Cerda, and the reveal material suggests a more modern, synth-heavy direction.

That is not a downgrade; it is a different reference. The first game's music was a deliberate Streets of Rage callback. The sequel's music is its own thing. If the Koshiro soundtrack was the main reason you loved the first game, temper your expectations: this is not the same composer.

Modes: more ways to play

The first game is an arcade campaign. Takeover 2 adds:

• Challenge Mode. A route of objective-based stages with a three-star rating.
• Score Attack. Replay a stage for a high score.
• Jet Fury. A flight-combat bonus game.
• Overtake. A three-lap racing bonus game, originally announced as Super Street Racer.

The extra modes are not padding. They are the reason the game has a long tail: the campaign is short, and the modes give you a reason to replay stages you already know.

Story: do you need the first game?

The sequel features the same characters and a new scenario. Pelikan13 has not positioned it as a direct continuation that requires homework. If you have not played the first game, you will be fine; if you have, you will recognize the trio and the tone.

The first game's story is a straightforward revenge plot. The sequel's marketing focuses on the combat and the roster, not on continuity. Treat it as a soft sequel: same world, new systems.

Which should you play first?

Play Takeover 2 first if: you want the modern combat system, co-op, or the current release. It is the better game to learn, and its systems are the ones the guides on this site cover.

Play The TakeOver first if: you want the Koshiro soundtrack, you only have a Switch or PS4, or you want to see the series' roots before the remake. It is also cheaper, especially after the permanent price cut.

Play both if: you are a genre fan. The first game is a historical curiosity with a great soundtrack; the second is a mechanical overhaul. They are different enough to justify the time.

Is Takeover 2 a remake or a sequel?

It is a sequel with a rebuilt combat system. The characters and tone carry over; the parry loop, the finishers and the co-op are new. Calling it a remake undersells how much has changed; calling it a direct continuation overstates the story connection.

The review→ covers how the rebuilt combat feels in practice.

FAQ

Is Takeover 2 a sequel to The TakeOver?

Yes. It features the same characters and a new scenario, with a rebuilt combat system.

Do you need to play The TakeOver first?

No. The sequel is designed as a standalone entry. Playing the first game adds context, not required knowledge.

Is The TakeOver co-op?

No. The 2019 game is single-player. Takeover 2 adds local co-op and Remote Play Together.

Is The TakeOver on Switch and PS4?

Yes. The first game released on Switch in 2020 and PS4 in 2021. Takeover 2 is Windows-only at launch.

Sources

• The TakeOver on Wikipedia ↗
• Takeover 2 on Steam ↗
• The TakeOver on HowLongToBeat ↗
• June 2026 press release ↗

Official source: The TakeOver on Wikipedia ↗ Takeover 2 guides and walkthroughs