Streets of Rage 4

Streets of Rage 4 is a modern continuation of the classic 1990s beat 'em up franchise, Streets of Rage. The last game, Streets of Rage 3, was released in 1994, leaving series veterans hanging for over 20 years. At the height of its popularity, Streets of Rage held its own against other mega-popular beat 'em ups like Final Fight and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time. Now, with the help of a few new developers, the butt-kicking, button-mashing goodness is back on display. Packed with over a dozen unlockable characters, multiple difficulty modes, and a fun score-based progression system, Streets of Rage 4 has a lot going for it.

Main Game Features

• 12 levels of beat 'em up action
• Online and local co-op
• Numerous unlockable characters and secret levels

Story

The story in Streets of Rage 4 picks up ten years after the events of Streets of Rage 3. With the evil Mr. X finally defeated, the city streets of Oak City Falls seem safe enough.

Unfortunately, a new leading duo known only as the Y Twins have started a new crime syndicate, starting the cycle anew. In order to stop the Y Twins and return Oak City Falls to peace, characters both old and new set out on a journey of fist-fighting. Players can choose from a small roster of characters at the beginning, including the classic blonde-haired protagonist Axel and the swift and sexy Blaze. Newcomers include Cherry, the swift and deadly daughter of classic character Adam, as well as Floyd, a machine-infused powerhouse who crushes the opposition. Together, the gang travel throughout Oak City Falls, searching for the Y Twins and fighting legions of goons along the way.

Gameplay

There are multiple modes to try out in Streets of Rage 4, including the main Story mode, Arcade mode, Boss Rush, and Battle mode. In both Story and Arcade mode, you'll progress through twelve levels across the city, fighting baddies and bosses in classic beat 'em up style. These modes offer five different difficulty levels, allowing for an enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels. Boss Rush lets you put your skills to the test against a gauntlet of every boss in the game, while Battle lets you and a friend duke it out in a one-on-one fight. As you earn points for beating up enemies, your progress bar will fill up, unlocking new characters to try out. The unlockable characters include some pixelated fighters from previous Streets of Rage games, which are sure to please any veteran of the franchise.

Regardless of what mode you play, the combat feels invigorating, satisfying, and appropriately challenging. Each character offers a slightly different play-style, as they all have different moves and abilities. For instance, Cherry can quickly hop around stages using her dash, spreading out damage with quick flurries of attacks. Alternatively, Axel deals plenty of damage and has some wicked combos, but has limited mobility and no dash option. Learning the strengths and weaknesses of each character is a fun experiment and provides lots of replayability, especially as the unlockable characters start to fill up your roster. Thanks to the inclusion of both offline and online multiplayer, you can enjoy playthroughs with your friends fighting at your side.

Conclusion

Streets of Rage 4 is a perfect example of how a beat 'em up can stay fun for hours on end, even when compared to some of the most addictive modern games. Although the story mode feels pretty short, it's still extremely fun and demands multiple playthroughs. Those extra playthroughs are rewarded with awesome unlockable characters, secret 16-bit levels to find, and extra modes to enjoy.

Pros

• Great roster of characters
• Pixelated throwback levels
• Immensely satisfying combat

Cons

• Story mode is short
• Some fighters feel similar
• Underwhelming narrative