Street Smart for the Sega Genesis is a street fighting game in the tradition of Street Fighter II. In this game you control Karate Man or Crusher, each of whom must fight a series of one-on-one fights against nine thugs (with names such as Mr. K, The Man, and Tommy) for cash, pride, and the rights to take home a girl. You can even bet on a fight, if you wish. After you win a fight, you get a chance to increase your stamina, your punching and kicking power, and your defensive capabilities.
If a second person is involved in the game, one of you controls Crusher while the other player controls Karate Man. You fight against the other player after you defeat a stage boss. Both fighters can punch, kick, jump, and back flip. In addition to the aforementioned fighting maneuvers, Karate Man can execute an elbow blow and a Dragon's Tail Technique, while Crusher can head butt his opponents and perform a Kansas Tornado Kick.