"You're on your own here. Just be aware that Mr.X has been expecting you and he has some surprises in store..."
Syndicate Stronghold is the eighth and last stage of Streets of Rage 2. It is very similar to its predecessor; Syndicate Headquarters, in the fact that it's mostly a massive boss fight. With all the bosses in the game, (Excluding Vehelits and Jet) albeit a minor palette swap and a change in difficulty. There are certain enemies which only appear if you play hard mode or above, such as Particle and Falcon. The stage is split into two sections:
Corridor[]
The area where the level begins. There should be a few enemies accompanied by Bear Jr. and maybe Mercury depending on what difficulty you're playing on.
Elevator[]
Pretty much where the rest of the level takes place. Very similar in comparison to the Freight Elevator. Basically, you beat a few enemies and move on. You will face a few bosses, such as Vulture, Nail and Z. Kusano. Eventually, you will reach the top where the main boss fights begin.
Mr. X will call out a wave of Galsia and Donovan to attack you. After you are finished with them, he will send Shiva to battle you. Shiva uses powerful attacks, can block, and can land safely from throws, so if you grab him, use attacks and/or slams to damage him. If he grabs you, he will hit you a few times (if he grabs you in the front), vault over you, and slam you when he has you from behind. Use your special attack to break his hold. Soon after Shiva's defeat, Mr. X will get off his throne to fight you himself. He is accompanied by a few baddies, but they're not in endless supply. Your primary concern is his tommy gun: He will fire it wildly if you're far away and smash you in the face with it if you get close. He is not immune to grabs, so if you're close, try to grab him before he can hit you with the gun. Once he is defeated, you have beaten the game.
Duel Mode[]
The battle takes place in Mr. X's throne room. Two pipes, two knives, a kunai, and a katana are available to use as weapons.
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