Streets of Rage 4

About Streets of Rage 4

Streets of Rage 4 arrived in April 2020 as a sequel to the classic trilogy from the nineties. DotEmu developed this title to bring back the side-scrolling beat 'em up action for modern systems. You can play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS, and Google Stadia. The story picks up ten years after the original games when a new crime family led by Mr. X's children rises in Wood Oak City. Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, Cherry Hunter, and Floyd Iraia form a squad to clean up the streets. This game respects the legacy of the series while introducing fresh mechanics and hand-drawn art styles that feel distinct from modern 3D fighters.

Gameplay

You move through stages punching, kicking, and throwing enemies in tight combat loops. Each character offers different speed and power levels so you must pick a fighter who suits your preferred rhythm. The game lets you execute special moves by holding buttons or combining directions for combos that clear groups quickly. You can tackle these levels alone or with up to three friends in local split-screen or online co-op modes. Sessions usually last twenty to thirty minutes per stage depending on how hard you set the difficulty. Controls feel responsive without unnecessary complexity, letting you focus on dodging attacks and finding open paths through crowded alleys. The combat system rewards timing your strikes to interrupt enemy combos rather than just mashing buttons endlessly.

What Players Think

Players love this entry with a Metacritic score of 84 and an IGDB rating of 81.4 based on over 200 reviews. The community lists average playtime around 12 hours for the main story but many push past 20 hours to unlock all 45 achievements. Most users describe the mood as nostalgic yet energetic, citing the art direction and soundtrack as major highlights. Review snippets often mention how the game respects the original formula while adding modern quality of life features like checkpoints and save states. Some critics note the difficulty spikes can be harsh on higher settings, but the majority agree the challenge keeps fights engaging. The lowest price found is 8.74 dollars on GOG, making it an accessible buy for fans of the genre.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best for people who want tight controls and fast-paced action without long cutscenes or inventory management. Paying under nine dollars on sale makes the 12-hour experience a solid value for a single-player campaign or group sessions. The 45 achievements offer plenty of reasons to replay stages with different characters and difficulty settings. You should skip this if you prefer deep RPG systems or slow-paced exploration since the focus remains entirely on combat flow. The game succeeds by modernizing a classic formula without losing its identity, delivering consistent fun from start to finish.

Storyline

Ten years have passed since the fall of Mr. X and his Syndicate. The city has been at peace... until now. A new crime empire has arisen, corrupting everything good in the city. It is rumored to be led by Mr. X's own children: the Y Twins. Former detectives Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding join forces with their old friend's daughter, Cherry Hunter, along with Floyd Iraia, an apprentice of the brilliant Dr. Zan. Together these four vigilantes stand against the Y Syndicate on the... Streets of Rage.