There are 12 pixelated vigilantes to collect, bringing most of the original trilogy's playable roster into the new game. All these extra modes do alleviate the repetition to an extent, and it's nice to have these tougher challenges as an option.Īdditionally, a lifetime score bar accumulates all the points you earn, and at certain thresholds you'll unlock retro characters. Finally, Battle mode returns for some competitive one-on-one fights, which is a neat alternative to the main event. An Arcade mode challenges you to beat the entire story with no continues, while Boss Rush mode pits you against all the top adversaries one after the other. Online is restricted to two players, but couch crimefighters can go up to four, which can be chaotic but is certainly something new for the series. Obviously, you can play co-op locally or online, which instantly ups the fun factor. The difficulty curve through the story is generally good, but there are some inconsistencies levels probably shouldn't be harder than the boss at the end. There are some familiar environments, but each level offers up some great set-pieces and hazards that give them all a unique feel. The game's 12 stages are at least imaginative and memorable. There's absolutely fun to be had here, but with little depth and a short run time, it's not going to last you forever. You'll be hammering Square a lot through the crime-addled streets of Wood Oak City, and there's only so many times you can repeat stages before fatigue sets in. That is, until you remember the repetitive nature of beat-'em-ups. Ultimately, though, the tools at your disposal are enough to deal with the onslaught, and it's very hard to not enjoy yourself. Those Galsia chaps that run at you with a knife seem to find a plane at the very front of the stage that you just can't access, for instance. And weirdly, there are occasional spots which baddies can get to that you can't. Also, with limited defensive options, enemies can easily interrupt your attacks, and you can't always cancel out of animations. Sometimes it can be hard to judge if you're lined up with opponents. However, there are one or two frustrations. It's old-fashioned, but it's satisfying to play, and the core cast of characters all feel distinct and are lots of fun to use. Aside from that, you can more or less equate how it plays to Streets of Rage 2. There aren't many evolutions on the gameplay you now recover health lost from using a special by keeping up the offensive, provided you aren't hit in the interim, and a combo counter encourages you to keep your streak going. Marching to the right and pummelling all who stand in your way, you'll instantly be transported back to the nineties. Meanwhile, brawling is exactly as you expect. It might not echo the same grimy atmosphere of the Genesis beat-'em-ups, but it establishes a new style that's more befitting of a modern landscape. There's an argument to be made that it's too different to its predecessors, but we appreciate the bold change. It's like a comic book come to life - stark black outlines and pop art colours are the order of the day, and combined with slick animation and rock solid performance, it looks fantastic. There're plenty of references to be found, and fans will love picking the game apart to find them.ĭespite the frequent glances at the past, the game looks nothing like previous titles. Though the presentation is vibrant and modern, there are lots of nods to the trilogy that came before, from familiar locations to character cameos. Firing up the story, you'll see that familiar opening crawl and immediately feel at home. It's great to see you, Uncle Streets of Rage, but where do you fit into our lives in 2020?Ĭlearly developed with affection for the old games, this fourth iteration is a well-judged balance of old and new. Getting Streets of Rage 4 at this point feels a bit like your estranged but fondly remembered uncle showing up on your doorstep 26 years later with a beard and a redder face. Video games have largely abandoned the humble beat-'em-up, a sub-genre superseded many times by faster, more thrilling action titles.
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