Streets of Rage 4 Reviews

Incredibly well made but missing something modern. THE MECHANICS: were incredibly well done. There's a lot of combinations that each character can uniquely do, rewarding the player for finding the best string of combos. There's new specials for all the characters, each with its own attributes, so it's not just a "palette swap" of each character. Classic era players will still find that the combat combos from the older games can still be used, but it may not be the most efficient. THE THEME: is still similar to the "night marquee light arcade theme" that I've experienced in Streets of Rage 1 and 2, but it definitely succeeds the theme found in Streets of Rage 3, without the robots. What its missing: -Mobile app that can be similar to "pokemon go" but instead of finding pokemon, a player discovers instruments, artwork, in game and SEGA arcade OST'S. -Music creating app using samples or sound packs that were featured in the game along with others. One could use QR to upload to the game. SEGA should also release a new SEGA GENESIS 6-PAK collection with a similar arcade style game choosing screen. I'd recommend this game but I think it needs the mobile app add-on to truly modernize the game.

Beautiful game I give it 4 beatdowns outta 5 with great music playing in the background

Big fan of the series, this is my favorite. It's not only unique and adds depth to the series, but it's celebrating the entire series at the same time.

great game. character combos are deep. easy to pick up. great visuals. True arcade feel. Cant wait for eventual sequel

The second that intro hits, it feels like you're back in the '90s — but cleaner, sharper, and way more stylish. The game feels like a legit continuation of the originals not just some lazy cash grab. The art style is clean and hand-drawn, with lighting effects that actually bounce off characters and the environment in a way that gives the whole thing this cool, dynamic energy. And man, that soundtrack. Yuzo Koshiro and the original crew came back to drop some heat, and the new beats absolutely go off. It's that classic Streets of Rage sound but with new twists that slap just as hard. Plus, if you're feeling extra nostalgic, you can switch to the original music and even play as the pixel versions of the old characters. It’s such a nice touch. There's a solid roster here too, new and old characters, all with their own style. It never gets stale. And props to Dotemu, man. These folks have been on a run lately, reviving classic franchises and doing it right. Streets of Rage 4 is another W from them. Just pure retro goodness with modern finesse. ★★★★★

Beautifully Drawn/Animated beat 'em up with classic retro 80's aesthetic/vibe... It's a great game to play with a friend or family member. Combat feels like mastering a single player fighting game and is immensely rewarding. Lastly, the soundtrack is unequivocally FUCKING BUSSING and its absolutely worth a Spotify download (or however else you downlod music in your own personal time).

i have several more hours in this game on other platforms. One of the best beat em up ever made

Axle let himself go... homie could have used a thigh master. Great game though; beautiful art, nostalgic, an absolute triumph. Buy it now!

Streets of Rage 4 is a triumphant revival of one of Sega’s most beloved beat-’em-up franchises, successfully blending nostalgic charm with modern design sensibilities. Developed by Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and Dotemu, the game respects its 16-bit roots while boldly pushing the series forward. Released nearly 26 years after Streets of Rage 3, this installment feels like a continuation of a lost era that refuses to age, offering a well-balanced mix of classic side-scrolling action, slick animation, and tight, rewarding gameplay that caters to both long-time fans and newcomers alike. At its core, the game remains true to the genre’s traditions: you walk from left to right, pummeling waves of enemies using a combination of punches, throws, and special moves. What Streets of Rage 4 does so well is evolve that simplicity into something deeper without compromising its arcade roots. The combat system is fluid, responsive, and filled with satisfying impact. Each of the playable characters — both new and returning — has a distinct feel, from Axel’s heavy-hitting brawler style to Blaze’s elegant versatility. Cherry brings in speed and agility, while Floyd offers devastating power with slower movement. The addition of character-specific combos, juggle mechanics, and a risk-reward special move system that can be replenished by follow-up hits introduces a surprising level of tactical depth. Visually, the game is a stunner. The hand-drawn art style is a bold departure from the pixel art of the original trilogy, but it pays off beautifully. Environments are richly detailed and vibrant, with stages that evoke everything from neon-drenched city streets to industrial zones and underground fight clubs. The character animations are smooth and full of personality, and even minor enemies have unique designs and behaviors. There’s a sense of rhythm to the way combat and visuals blend together — a dance of violence that’s both stylish and brutal. Fans of the original games will also appreciate the option to unlock retro character sprites and soundtracks, which serve as both a loving tribute and a clever bit of fan service. The soundtrack deserves special praise, as music has always been a defining feature of the Streets of Rage experience. Series composer Yuzo Koshiro returns, joined by a lineup of guest artists like Motohiro Kawashima, Yoko Shimomura, and Olivier Derivière. The result is an eclectic, pulsing mix of electronic, synthwave, and funky house beats that fuel the action with a relentless energy. The music doesn’t just play in the background — it drives the experience forward, making every punch, kick, and screen-clearing combo feel more powerful. It's a modern take that retains the rhythmic soul of its predecessors while bringing the audio into the 21st century. In terms of content, Streets of Rage 4 offers a robust package. The story mode spans 12 levels, each with its own aesthetic and enemy variety, telling a simple yet effective narrative involving the children of the original villains attempting to reclaim their family’s criminal empire. While the plot won’t win awards for complexity, it provides enough context and momentum to keep the player engaged. What really gives the game longevity, however, are the additional modes: Arcade Mode for purists who want to beat the game in one sitting with limited lives, Boss Rush Mode for challenge-seekers, and a solid multiplayer system that allows for both local and online co-op play. Playing with friends amplifies the fun dramatically and creates opportunities for creative team combos and strategic play. The game also rewards replayability through its grading system, character unlocks, and difficulty scaling. Higher difficulties introduce tougher enemy patterns and AI behaviors, encouraging mastery of mechanics rather than simple button-mashing. As players progress, they unlock classic characters from previous entries, complete with their original move sets and sound effects, which adds a layer of nostalgia-fueled fun and gameplay variety. These retro characters don’t feel tacked on — they’re integrated into the experience thoughtfully, with balancing tweaks that ensure they fit into the game’s faster, tighter modern pacing. If there’s one area where Streets of Rage 4 might fall short for some, it’s in its relatively conservative approach to innovation. While it modernizes the series in terms of visuals and mechanics, it doesn’t fundamentally reinvent the genre. That said, this is clearly a design choice rather than a flaw — the game aims to refine rather than redefine, and it does so with skill and reverence. Some might also find the online matchmaking a bit limited or inconsistent, depending on connection quality, and a more robust lobby or matchmaking system would have improved the experience for those without local co-op partners. Overall, Streets of Rage 4 is not just a return to form — it’s a benchmark for how to revive a dormant franchise with integrity and style. It captures the raw energy and tight gameplay of the originals, then enhances them with refined mechanics, gorgeous visuals, and a killer soundtrack. Whether you’re a veteran of the 16-bit era or someone discovering the series for the first time, this is a game that punches far above its nostalgic weight, standing tall as one of the best beat-’em-ups of the modern era. Rating: 9/10

5/5 Streets of Rage 4 is an amazing game. I haven’t played all belt-scrollers in existence, but I can make a calculated guess and say this is the best belt-scroller ever made. There are too many games in this genre anyway, and they all pretty much play exactly the same. I am sure there was an evolution in the genre, as regards mechanics, but after three decades there’s certainly not much room to further complexify the mechanics of such a simple genre. All that was left to do was to make the best game in the genre by adding kickass graphics and music to it, and cool enemies to fight against. And that’s exactly what SoR4 did. Now, in SoR3 you could sprint and in SoR4 you can’t. That’s pretty much the only thing missing from the game, mechanically speaking. But I wonder how much sprinting would change the pace of the game. I am not sure if the ability to sprint would ruin the game because a character like Shiva can dash forward and this makes him super fun to play with (he’s my main). I had so much fun with this game that I ended up getting its toughest achievements, like clearing the arcade mode on Hard difficulty (and I think I also did it on Hardest), reaching level 30 in survival mode, and getting an S-rank on all missions in Hard mode. These last two achievements were the toughest. This is because survival mode quickly becomes hectic, and the opponents get stronger with each level. By the time you get to level 30 it’s very tough to survive. As for the S-ranks, mission 4 was by far the toughest mission to clear with an S-rank because the required points to do so forced the player to make a perfect run on the mission, and to take practically no damage. This is because the points you get in a mission are proportional to the amount of hits you can chain on your opponents without getting hit yourself. The hit counter resets when you get hit, which means you lose all the points you could get otherwise. But yeah, this game is stylish. The characters, the environments, and the enemies are beautiful. Some enemies are more annoying than others, but it’s okay. The music is sometimes good, sometimes very good. Streets of Rage 4 is a fun little game that is quite possibly the pinnacle of the genre. I just don’t see any other belt-scroller as beautiful as this one.