Publisher Dotemu (Wonder Boy, Windjammers 1/2) and developers Lizardcube (Wonder Boy) and Guard Crush Games today revealed Streets of Rage 4, an all-new continuation of SEGA’s iconic arcade brawler series known for its radical fights, jammin’ ‘90s beats and dashing sparring gloves and bandanas.
A CULT CLASSIC
Streets of Rage, known as Bare Knuckle (ベア・ナックル Bea Nakkuru) in Japan, is a trilogy of beat ’em up games developed and published by SEGA in the 1990s.
Famously known for its non stop action and electronic dance influenced music – scored by Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima – the series has gained the status of cult classic throughout the years. It is considered one of the best beat ’em up series of all time. After many years, Axel and Blaze are finally picking up the fight where they left.
Featuring hand-drawn visuals from the team behind 2017’s gorgeous Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap remake, Streets of Rage 4 builds upon the classic trilogy’s gameplay with new mechanics, a fresh story and a gauntlet of dangerous stages with a serious crime problem. Streets of Rage 4 recalls classic gameplay but it stands as an entirely original arcade-style romp thanks to the expertise of Guard Crush Games and Dotemu.
Whether players gang up with a friend or clean up the city solo, Streets of Rage 4 is a skull-bashing, chicken-chomping delight all set to a thumping soundtrack sure to get your blood pumping.
FEATURES
- The comeback of the legendary Streets of Rage series.
- Beautiful graphics fully hand-drawn animated by the studio behind Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap.
- Classic gameplay enhanced with brand new mechanics.
- Braised chicken served on a pristine plate.
IMPRESSIONS — First off, I loved the intro in this reveal trailer, and I am wondering whether-or-not it is the opening cinematic for Streets of Rage 4. Regardless, I am happy with the animation style they went with. However, I am wondering a bit about the actual age of the characters; Axel Stone’s beard makes it look like he has aged dramatically since the original Streets of Rage trilogy while Blaze Fielding looks like she has not had very much in the way of aging herself (maybe to retain her sex appeal?). At the very same time, we normally get multiple characters (at least 3), no idea if we will see Skate or Adam back, but I am hoping for them.
Next thing I want to move onto is the actual game play itself. I recognize enemies from Streets of Rage 2, since that is the most prominent game I played back in my Sega Genesis gaming days when I use to play loads of couch co-op with my little sister. I recognize a lot of Axel and Blaze’s moves that were also displayed, including the ones that use to take health to perform as they were powerful moves that made you invincible and hit everyone around you. The environments look beautiful and detailed, and I am wondering if certain things (like the phone booths we saw) are indestructible. Oh! Also, I am guessing the woman we see at the very end with the snake is going to be the final boss, or at least one of the main bosses we are going to face.
To be honest, I am always completely iffy when classic games come back, mostly because those of us who played them as part of our childhood are caught up in the nostalgia of that time period and nothing (no matter the effort) can recapture what we felt and it becomes something of a disappointment despite how it actually is. Streets of Rage 4 looks like it holds promise however, and that treads good with me since we NEVER seem to get beat em’ up games anymore due to the loss of hype for platformers and sidescrollers and more about online multiplayer and lush 3D environments.
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