A lot of the same types show up again and again. If there's diversity to the game's levels, there's less variation when it comes to enemies and bosses. Police Precinct starts in a dirty jail cell and opens up into police HQ, while Airplane begins on the tarmac and then literally takes flight. Many stages have great transitions as well. Some of the more interesting levels include interactive hazards, like incoming overhead wires on the Skytrain stage. There are city streets a skyscraper, complete with elevator (every beat-em-up needs an elevator packed with goons) and even an art gallery. Streets of Rage 4 features 12 levels, and each has a unique look, feel, and function. Floyd Iraia, who shares a bit of DNA with Mortal Kombat's Jax, is sluggish and leaden but packs a punch. Cherry Hunter, daughter of Adam Hunter, is fast and agile, but relatively weak. Axel Stone, the poster boy for Streets of Rage, is a well-rounded character. Each performs based on several statistics, including power, speed, and stamina. You'll be able to experiment with these combos with a generous roster of playable characters, including five main protagonists-three franchise stalwarts and two newbies-plus many unlockable retro characters. There is something supremely satisfying about punching a bad guy, picking up another and throwing him into a group of goons, catching a projectile in mid air, pummelling a henchman with it, and then clearing the room with an area-of-effect special attack-all without taking any damage. The bigger the combo, in fact, the larger the score multiplier, which translates into additional lives. Sure, you can get through easy mode by mashing buttons, but smart strategy and big combos will win the day on higher difficulty settings.
Thanks to these mechanics and systems, combat in Streets of Rage 4 is more layered and complex than a lot of beat-em-ups, old and new. If you hit enemies after using the special, that segment of lost health will regenerate if you sustain damage, however, it won't restock. Performing a special attack will temporarily drain health. Furthermore, the game supports three "specials" per character-defensive, offensive, and air-which operate according to a clever risk-and-reward system. You can perform simple combos and throws, or mix things up with charge attacks, blitz moves, and devastating star moves. It features an evolved version of the combat framework from the original trilogy that feels like one part beat-em-up and one part 1v1 fighter. Judged by its rhythmic action, combo system, and enemy encounters-all things important to the genre- Streets of Rage 4 is a resounding success. Still, story is not the point of Streets of Rage, nor beat-em-ups in general. It's simple and predictable, and it ends with a disappointing anti-climax. While the story hits all the right nostalgic beats and arrives via glorious hand-drawn comic panels, it's certainly one of the game's weaker elements.
STREETS OF RAGE 4 STAGES SERIES
With Wood Oak City once again under threat from a powerful new enemy, series heroes Axel and Blaze team up with newcomers Cherry Hunter and Floyd Iraia to clean up the streets for good. Streets of Rage 4 takes place 10 years after the events of Streets of Rage 3. It's an excellent bridge between old and new, let down only by some repeat bosses and a forgettable story. It channels the spirit of the original trilogy while adding more complex fighting, sumptuous hand-drawn art, and an electric soundtrack composed by an all-star group of musicians. Luckily for SEGA and Streets of Rage fans, Streets of Rage 4, back after a 25-year hiatus, is a worthy successor to the 16-bit beat-em-up series.
You never know what you'll get when a studio resuscitates a beloved, moribund franchise.
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