Streets of Rage 4 Preview – GO STRAIGHT

I grew up playing Streets of Rage 2 pretty much daily. My friend and I would always argue over who got to play as Axel, though he normally won since he was older. What I’m trying to say is that I have a long and nostalgia-laden relationship with Streets of Rage, which may impact my feelings on Streets of Rage 4. That being said, when I played Streets of Rage 4 at PAX East last week, I had a blast.

 Like its Genesis predecessors, Streets of Rage 4 is all about smooth fighting that’s more fun with friends. You pick a slick-looking fighter and take to the neon-lit, grungy streets to beat up strangely-named hooligans and ne’er-do-wells. It’s a simple premise that worked in the 90’s and still works now, especially if you have prior experience with the series. Fighting and forming simple combos is smooth and satisfying, and special moves look more dynamic than ever.

Of course, there’s something to be said for rose-tinted glasses being slightly involved. The demo stage I played through seemed to be something of an homage to Stage 1-1 from Streets of Rage 2. Seeing Axel, Blaze, and Adam on the screen with new stylish designs hits that nostalgia nerve just right, as does using their classic techniques on familiar enemies. The simplicity of previous Streets of Rage games is kept as well, which newcomers may find off-putting.

“I do hope we get to see some more redesigns of other classic fighters like Skate, Max, and Roo. but I wouldn’t mind seeing more new characters either.“

There’s no experience system or RPG-levelling mechanics in Streets of Rage 4, which makes it seem a bit bare compared to modern beat-em-up offerings. It doesn’t really have any gimmicks or tricks up its sleeve, it’s simply an old-school beat-em-up with a strong aesthetic. You can play with up to three friends now, but I think it becomes a bit too chaotic when four players and any number of colorful foes are all on-screen and moving around at once. Two players is the sweet-spot, as the screen is busy but not disorienting.

The visuals of Streets of Rage 4 are sharp and stunning. The classic characters look familiar but older and more modern, while the new characters fit into the established world quite well visually. I do hope we get to see some more redesigns of other classic fighters like Skate, Max, and Roo. but I wouldn’t mind seeing more new characters either.

Overall I’m excited for Streets of Rage 4, though I can acknowledge that part of that excitement is indeed nostalgia. What I played proved to me that it’s a smooth and fun beat-em-up that feels worthy of the Streets of Rage name, but players looking for depth may want to look elsewhere.