Released on various platforms, Streets of Rage 4 is an entry in a genre that rarely sees much attention these days - the beat 'em up. The simple brawler style has been since replaced by more in-depth and stylish action games, but there's something special about the old school gameplay players still crave. With the new sequel, everyone is reminded of all the series' goodness.
It is not all gravy however, as the game simultaneously reminds people why the genre may never reach the same heights it once did on the Sega Genesis, SNES, and Arcade. The game is still great, but the beat 'em up will probably remain a niche genre for the seeable future.
10 Glorious Return: Simplicity
A hallmark of the genre is the ease at which one can simply pick up and play. Even those who don't regularly engage in the medium can quickly learn the basics without diving deeper into the combat's complexities. The length of the levels also makes it easy to jump in for a few minutes, complete a stage, then move on to another game if they do not want to invest hours in one sitting.
9 Relic Of The Past: Faithful To A Fault
Because it has been twenty-six years since Streets of Rage 3 and the genre is currently experiencing a drought, most are not bothered by how faithful the gameplay is to the original Streets of Rage 4.
However, some may have been expecting a slight jump forward. It is ultimately a double-edged sword, since adding any complexity may remove what makes the series and genre so special to most.
8 Glorious Return: No RPG Elements Or Currency
More recent beat 'em ups have tried spicing things up with RPG elements or currencies used to buy upgrades. While progression is nice, it does prevent the game from having a pickup and play element appealing to less experienced gamers. Players don't become stronger through stat progression in Streets of Rage 4, but by simply improving their raw skill. On normal difficulty or above, most players will fail a stage at least once before learning their mistakes and succeeding on the second run.
7 Relic Of The Past: Still Only Beat 'Em Up On The Horizon
As good as Streets of Rage 4 is, it is the only game in the genre on the horizon. Before then, the most notable return to form was River City Girls.
As of now, however, no future entries in the genre are set to come out in the near future. Given how short these games are, a dearth will once again see this style recede into obscurity until another throwback game comes along.
6 Glorious Return: Difficulty
Anybody who believes the genre is all about mindlessly mashing buttons will be almost immediately corrected once they pick it up for themselves. Even on normal mode, the game quickly teaches players that understanding enemy movement and attack patterns is key to progressing through the levels. Repeatedly tapping punch will lead to many game overs.
5 Relic Of The Past: Length
Streets of Rage 4 is incredibly short. Going through the twelve stages takes only around three hours. While higher difficulty modes and unlocks encourage replayability, those who are done with games after the credits roll will not find much value from the product. An Arcade Mode and Boss Rush is available, but these are just slightly different ways to experience the same content.
4 Glorious Return: Hidden Depth Of The Combat
Not only is the core combat surprisingly deep, but every character also controls differently. Different enemies also require different strategies. Certain foes, for example, are susceptible to throws while being almost invulnerable to punches and kicks. One also has use tact when picking up health items on the field.
3 Relic Of The Past: Not AAA
This is in no way a dig at the developer since they clearly poured their heart and soul into the project, which shows in the final product. However, it is not a AAA title with the backing of a major publisher. Will the genre ever make a return to the AAA space? The closest thing gamers have to an AAA brawler is Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 on the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Avengers video game.
2 Glorious Return: Co-Op
Everything is better with co-op. When the base game is already solid, the experience is made doubly incredible when playing with a friend. Locally, Streets of Rage 4 supports four players simultaneously.
A beat 'em up without co-op feels like cereal without milk. Many older gamers have fond memories of playing brawlers with siblings or friends, and reliving those memories in a new context is a sweet treat.
1 Relic Of The Past: Genre Has Evolved
As mentioned in the intro, the genre has since evolved or inspired other styles of games. Action RPGs and certain dungeon crawlers like Marvel Ultimate Alliance have arguably rendered the beat 'em up obsolete, though Streets of Rage 4 spits in the face of this notion with its quality gameplay. Just like random encounters and slow turn-based combat are relics of the past in RPGs only showing up in throwback titles, so will pure beat 'em ups likely be relegated to smaller titles.