>>11980094
SoR3 was made harder because the target audiance in the west complained that SoR2 was too easy

and since >inb4 trying to dismiss this evidence
>complains that you can spam Specials in SoR2
>SoR3 gets a Special gauge

>>11963657
Pic related is a review for Streets of Rage II from a US magazine that specializes in Sega stuff, in other words: the core audiance.

SoR3 was made harder for the west because in the west there was a demand for harder games, especially on the Megadrive which was seen as the more "hardcore" and "arcade at home" system.

It was made harder because people wanted it hard. I know people are going to throw the "muh rental" card but they don't have any proof and rentals didn't suddenly appear with SoR3, while SoR1 and 2 were unchanged. Reviews like this happened though.