"Star" moves help clear out screens when things get too hectic, while Special attacks are the big risk-reward mechanic. Fireballs and special attacks look amazing, and every punch and back-kick is readable and smooth.įighting in Streets of Rage 4 is pretty simple: one attack button, jumps, and grabs being the basic foundation against various enemy types. The developers also added a number of additional visual effects to the character sprites walking in and out of shadows in a police station changed the lighting angles on my fighter. Adam Hunter's redesign is a major glow-up for the Streets of Rage veteran, and newcomers like Cherry have tons of visual flair, like her signature guitar. The stage art blends extremely well with the hand-drawn style of the characters, which despite abandoning the pixel art of old still retains an incredible amount of flair and expression. Stages have their own style too, taking place in different locations and at various times of the day, creating different looks due to lighting changes and visual effects. Another takes place on a train, occasionally providing a short warning before a sign zips across the screen, decking anyone who doesn't jump. One stage takes place in the sewers, forcing players to contend with toxic sewage and malfunctioning exhaust valves. Despite only 12 stages that shouldn't take more than a couple hours to beat altogether, each one is incredibly detailed and most have their own unique mechanic. The draw of the campaign is the progression itself. The comic-style interstitials aren't necessarily bad they're just about as deep as any beat 'em up story usually dives. The story is ultimately just a means to transition characters from one locale to the next, and outside a few great moments (often featuring cameos) they're pretty easy to gloss over. If none of those names mean much to you, that's fine. Zan, in their hunt of the new crime empire that's been sweeping over the city. X and the Syndicate, and veterans Axel and Blaze are joined by Adam Hunter's daughter Cherry and Floyd Iraia, an apprentice of Dr. 10 years have passed since the fall of Mr. The story mode, the fulcrum of Streets of Rage 4, centers on the return of some old faces and the introduction of new ones as they rage across the city.
Streets of Rage 4 plays like an old brawler, but one that's learned some new tricks. This collaboration between DotEmu, Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and a veritable host of musical talent, is a strong re-entrance. Despite a seemingly sparse offering, it's hard to imagine what more a Streets of Rage fan could want from a new entry, decades removed from the series' glory days. Enemies walk in from either side of the screen, and my sole mission is to lay into them with combo after combo while steadily advancing through the level. Streets of Rage 4 is a short, concentrated hit of classic beat 'em up action. The time seems ripe to get back to the streets.
It's back on the rise now though, with the likes of River City Girls and The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa bringing side-scrolling punching action back into vogue. It's been almost 26 years since the last Streets of Rage game, and the beat 'em up genre has gradually been swallowed up by the sands of time.