Streets of Rage 4 Reviews
Despite the lack of a few features, this latest installment does for Streets of Rage what Sonic Mania did for its respective series.
[T]his is the true sequel to the Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle series that’s a long time coming.
For $24.99 Streets of Rage 4 is a good game, but it can really benefit from better balance between the characters and some of the levels. There is a good amount of replay value thanks to the unlockable characters, additional difficulties, a boss rush mode and online play. You can fight with each other in the story or Arcade mode or fight against each other in battle mode. In any case, if you are a fan of 2D beat ’em ups, this is one worth checking out.
Streets of Rage 4 is everything I could have wanted in a sequel to such a venerable series that I’ve always held in such high regard. It’s clear that both Lizardcube and Guard Crush get it. They managed to create a sequel that belongs right alongside its predecessors despite having to manage fan expectations and the ever present nostalgia that can inflate people’s memories of the old games, particularly after some three decades and change. It’s a prime example of how to modernise a bygone genre without abandoning the spirit of it, all while capturing the feeling of what made it so special and fun all those years ago. This is an absolutely mandatory play for any Streets of Rage or scrolling beat ’em up fan. I also recommend anyone with a penchant for old school gaming sensibilities to definitely give this a go.
Thankfully, you won't have to buy Streets of Rage 4 for its retail price of $24.99 to enjoy it on PC or Xbox - the game is available on Xbox Game Pass, and for most gamers, that will be enough. Streets of Rage 4 wasn't perfect, but it was certainly better than I expected it to be and set a stage for future beat-em-ups that I hope more developers take cues from. Most surprisingly, Streets of Rage 4 made me want to boot up my NES and SNES, pop in the brutal fight fests of my childhood, and teach my 5-year-old just how hard games used to be.
Respecting the classic trilogy and modernizing some fundamental points, the game fantastically revives one of the most iconic series of beat 'em ups. It also deserves praise for offering an experience that appeals to both its old school audience and those who will now start fighting over the streets of Wood Oak City. The wait has been long, but Streets of Rage 4 presents us with a game that honors and expands the rich legacy of the franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Streets of Rage 4 is a return to the origins with a renewed design and new mechanics that were missed in previous games. If you like beat'em up, you will love this game. Despite the short duration of story mode, it's replayable if we want to get all the available characters or challenge ourselves to finish arcade mode. In addition, the multiplayer section gives you an extra to play the game with your friends.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Streets of Rage 4 is a time machine for the virtual world. Everything it does, it makes sure to infuse the era that saw this franchise truly raise to dominance. The animations are all so fluent, while the hand drawn visuals are really well done. The music fits perfectly with the aesthetic and that heavy bass does a lot to emphasis each punch. This is a game that’s perfect for small hour sessions.
Streets Of Rage 4 is a pleasant plunge into the past, a video game with roots rooted in tradition that manages to rejuvenate thanks to a fun combat system like those present in modernity. The title is also the umpteenth demonstration of the quality that Lizardcube puts in its products from a technical point of view, with wonderful sprites, background of absolute value and a generic feeling as respectful of the original as ready to make new proselytes. All this is best enjoyed by the player if you have the opportunity to play it in company, mode where the title shines brightly. One of the funniest experiences in recent gaming history for anyone with a sofa, beers and someone to play with.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Streets of Rage 4 is a great return of a beloved series that will please both nostalgic fans and the new generation of gamers. It's nothing revolutionary, but it isn't outdated and stuck in the past either.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Streets of Rage 4 is a rare example of simple concept perfectly realised to its full potential. With incredible visual flair and an amazing soundtrack, beating up wave after wave of enemies has never been more enjoyable. For those who are not fans of the beat-em-up genre, things may seem overall a little simplistic but if you are yearning for something to quench your insatiable thirst for arcade violence, it doesn’t get better than this. Ironically for a game titled "Streets of Rage", there’s absolutely nothing to be angry about!
Streets of Rage 4 marks a superb return of the famed franchise, with the stylish combat, the slick visuals, and the nostalgic charm proving incredible throughout. The story mode is a little short in length and a few tough difficulty spikes caught me off guard, but it’s still packed to the brim with enough unlockables to keep you hooked in for a long, long time – well… provided you’ve got some friends to experience it with over and over again, that is. Whether you’re a new face to these deadly streets or a returning fan that wants to dish out some more beatings, you’re going to have one HELL of a good time playing Streets of Rage 4.
Streets of Rage 4 is worthy of its name and successfully brings back the genre with many great additions.
Review in Greek | Read full review
A direct and updated sequel to the saga and the same brawler genre, with quality and respect. Classic form and modes in a work so indebted to the past games of the saga, as pampered and cared for the public of the 21st century. The return of Streets of Rage is direct fun and delicious rhythm, to return to it on multiple occasions as demanded by the best exponents of the brawler of yesteryear.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Online woes aside, Streets of Rage 4 is the gold standard for what a beat ’em up should be and a triumphant return to form for the series. The road to its release has been long and at times uncertain, but Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Lizardcube have managed to deliver a game that was well worth the 26-year wait. With stellar visuals, an unforgettable soundtrack, and a wealth of modes to enjoy, this is one game you need to have in your collection.
Streets of Rage 4 succeeds in the arduous task of representing the best of the genre to which it belongs. The developers had the ability to innovate this genre without turning it into anything else. The story can be completed in about 3/4 hours but once finished, the desire to replay it with another character is really great.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A beautiful art style and a fun soundtrack lay the groundwork for Streets of Rage 4’s fun, free-flowing, surprisingly nuanced combat to make it a worthy entry into the long-dormant, much-revered franchise.
The deadly universe of Streets of Rage 4 is simultaneously completely fresh and very recognizable at the same time, making it a blast to play through.
“Streets Of Rage 4 shows why old skool beat em ups can be fun and still have a place in today’s landscape”