Bare Knuckle III

About

Bare Knuckle III is a side-scrolling brawler where you control Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding, two detectives battling crime syndicates and military conspiracies. The gameplay mixes fast-paced combat with environmental hazards, letting players punch through crowds, dodge attacks, and use weapons scattered in stages. The game runs on the same engine as Streets of Rage 3 but features tweaked enemy placement, adjusted difficulty curves, and a completely rewritten narrative. Players can tackle levels solo or team up in co-op, with each character bringing distinct movesets to the chaos. The Mega Drive version remains the definitive release, though a 2010 Wii port brought it to a new audience. The story weaves together two separate conflicts: a deadly weapons test in Wood Oak City and a missing diplomat in the Lima Region. While the plot is convoluted and leans into 90s-era geopolitical tropes, the real draw is the tight, responsive combat. Community ratings highlight the balanced difficulty and inventive level design, with retro brawler fans praising the game’s polish despite its rushed development. The original Japanese version’s adjustments to Western releases, like stronger enemy AI and stricter item management, make it a favorite among speedrunners and purists.

Storyline

The city of Wood Oak recently experienced a catalysmic event. An experimental weapon called "Rakushin" detonated in the city's suburbs, causing the deaths of 30000 people and wounded 80000 more. Alarmed with this terrifying event, the Police Department assigns two of their top detectives, Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding, two of the heroes who saved the city in the past, to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. Meanwhile, tension rises in the Lima Region, inhabited by a number of nations looking for an excuse to start a war. One of the representatives of the Lima countries, General Ivan Petrov has been invited to the White House for peace talks but now he is reported missing. Soon after these events, Axel and Blaze were contacted by a mysterious man named Gilbert Zan, who claims to be the man who invented the Rakushin. Zan claims that his research is being used by the powers who intend to use it for destructive purposes. But can he be trusted? Is the horrible attack that took place in Wood Oak City somehow connected to the conflict brewing in Lima? Why is General Petrov missing? Timing is very suspicious. Is someone using Wood Oak City as a testing ground for their new weapons? Are Lima countries potential buyers? Too many questions, too little time. Every second wasted brings the city one step closer to disaster. Lives of the citizens under your protection, and possibly, millions of others are hanging in balance.