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Streets of Rage 4

From start to finish, Streets of Rage 4 is a modern celebration of one of the best beat 'em up series of all time.
Streets of Rage 4 Game Cover
89%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
grinding, stability
93% User Score Based on 7,619 reviews
Critic Score 84%Based on 69 reviews

Platforms

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Streets of Rage 4 Game Cover

About

Streets of Rage 4 is a single player and multiplayer arcade hack and slash game. It was developed by Guard Crush and was released on April 30, 2020. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Streets of Rage 4 is an all-new continuation of the iconic arcade brawler series known for its radical fights, jammin’ ‘90s beats and dashing sparring gloves and bandanas.

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Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
Streets of Rage 4 screenshot
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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,619 reviews
music1.2k positive mentions
grinding49 negative mentions
  • Incredible graphics and art style that pays homage to the original series.
  • Engaging gameplay with a deep combo system and diverse character roster.
  • Fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Poor hit detection and frustrating enemy AI that can lead to cheap deaths.
  • Lack of a running or dodging mechanic for most characters, making gameplay feel sluggish.
  • Short campaign length with limited replayability unless pursuing high scores or achievements.
  • music
    2,303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Streets of Rage 4" has garnered mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and modernized soundtrack that pays homage to the series' roots, featuring contributions from legendary composers like Yuzo Koshiro. While some players appreciate the dynamic nature of the music that evolves with gameplay, others feel it lacks the memorable impact of the original soundtracks, particularly from "Streets of Rage 2." The option to switch to retro soundtracks from previous games is a highlight, though the selection has been criticized for including less favorable tracks and not fitting well with certain stages. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point of the game, enhancing the nostalgic experience while introducing fresh elements.

    • “The soundtrack deserves special praise, as music has always been a defining feature of the Streets of Rage experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “The music is fantastic, the game has a lot of content and is very replayable.”
    • “Don't get me wrong, the game by itself is superb in all technical aspects, maybe the music is my least favorite since it is not nearly as punchy as the originals.”
    • “One of the strongest points of Streets of Rage has always been the OST, yet somehow this game was not only released but they actively chose not to fix the terrible mastering on the soundtrack.”
    • “The retro music feels very weird though - the placement of tracks itself feels random, and there's no music from Streets of Rage 3 at all.”
  • gameplay
    1,614 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Streets of Rage 4" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic feel and deep mechanics, while others criticize the removal of certain features like running and dodging from previous installments. Players appreciate the strategic depth introduced by new combo and juggle mechanics, but some find the combat can feel slow and clunky, particularly against aggressive enemies. Overall, the game successfully blends classic beat 'em up elements with modern enhancements, offering a satisfying experience for both veterans and newcomers to the series.

    • “The music bangs, the art direction whips, the gameplay is butter and far, far deeper than you initially expect.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay gets worse the more you play.”
    • “Depending on the character you play, most hits will go right through the enemy, and I personally have no patience for random battle mechanics that only work on occasion while playing a beat 'em up.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty boring.”
  • graphics
    1,344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Streets of Rage 4" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and fluid animations that successfully modernize the nostalgic aesthetic of the original series. Many players appreciate the game's ability to blend retro charm with contemporary visuals, creating a visually captivating experience that enhances the overall gameplay. However, some fans of the original pixel art style express mixed feelings about the new design, though most agree that the graphics are a significant improvement and contribute positively to the game's appeal.

    • “The hand-drawn art style is a visual treat, blending nostalgia with modern techniques to create beautifully detailed environments and character designs.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, with beautifully hand-drawn visuals and vibrant, detailed environments that capture the gritty atmosphere of the urban landscape.”
    • “The art style is fantastic and vibrant, paying homage to the original classics while introducing a fresh and modern aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics are ugly.”
    • “The graphics, sound, and music are all really decent.”
    • “The art style lacks the detail and charm of the originals, the music feels lacking (at least you can play with the classic OST) and worse is that if you want to utilize all the new moves the game has to offer you're forced to use its new control scheme (there's no reason they couldn't have made it work with the classic control scheme) which is just so unintuitive it totally breaks the flow of the gameplay.”
  • story
    682 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Streets of Rage 4" is generally regarded as simple and straightforward, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. Players can complete the story mode in about 2 to 4 hours, with many noting its lack of depth and complexity, often describing it as predictable or cliché. While the narrative features familiar characters and nostalgic elements from previous games, it is often overshadowed by the engaging combat and various game modes, leading many to view the story as functional but not particularly memorable.

    • “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.”
    • “The story is as over the top as anyone could hope for and a ton of fun.”
    • “The story is straight up garbage.”
    • “The story is juvenile.”
    • “The story mode is too simple and too short (only took me about 3 hours to beat).”
  • replayability
    427 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability, driven by various modes, character unlocks, and a grading system that encourages players to improve their skills. Many reviewers highlight the addictive survival mode and the diverse character roster as key factors enhancing replay value, despite some noting that the short campaign may leave players wanting more. Overall, the combination of unlockable content, multiplayer options, and difficulty scaling contributes to a robust replay experience.

    • “The game also rewards replayability through its grading system, character unlocks, and difficulty scaling.”
    • “With over 20 character variations to choose from, this game is insanely replayable as well.”
    • “The dlc adds a ton of replayability to the game!”
    • “Still fun in co-op and single player but lacks real replay value for its price.”
    • “The only real thing that could be considered a flaw is that once you've cleared story mode there's not much left to do, but the DLC survival mode adds a decent amount of replayability.”
    • “After the nostalgia wears off, I didn't find much replay value in it.”
  • grinding
    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and repetitive, particularly when facing certain enemies and bosses. Players express frustration over the need to repeatedly engage in combat to unlock characters and abilities, often leading to a sense of burnout. While some appreciate the variety of modes available for grinding, many feel that the overall experience becomes a slog, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I love RPGs, but I want a beat 'em up to be fast, crafted around being able to beat it on skill, not grinding - and that it's replayable.”
    • “There is a moment having replayed the game several times that certain enemies become unbearably tedious and you just want it to end; probably the DJ and the twins are the best example of this.”
    • “It's a gorgeous game, but once the novelty wears off, you come to realize that the combat mechanics, particularly the large amount of super armor on enemies and lack of player mobility, make the combat tedious.”
    • “It's such a tedious slog to go through all those enemies all over again just to reach the boss, especially when you want to go straight to him so you can observe his 'pattern'.”
  • character development
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the character designs as vibrant, fluid, and a successful blend of nostalgic and modern aesthetics. However, some players criticized certain character designs as unappealing or inconsistent with the series' legacy. Overall, while the art direction and animations are widely appreciated, opinions on specific character designs vary significantly, reflecting a divide between fans of the original style and those open to new interpretations.

    • “The presentation is simply outstanding; each level has its own music, all of which are great; the art direction is a perfect mixture of pixels and hand-drawn graphics, with honestly some of the most charismatic character designs I've ever seen in a game.”
    • “The character design is amazing, complete with fully hand-drawn and animated sprites that move with fluid motions.”
    • “The character designs are fantastic and are a great blend of the 80s/90s aesthetic of the older games with a bit of a more modern twist.”
    • “No imagination in the character design.”
    • “Questionable character design and balance.”
    • “Hated the art style and character design from the get-go; however, I wasn't going to judge the game without a playthrough and multiple plays.”
  • humor
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mix of slapstick and clever commentary, with players enjoying the chaos of friendly fire and amusing character interactions. Many find the comedic elements, such as quirky character designs and funny in-game scenarios, enhance the overall experience, especially in multiplayer settings. While some humor may not resonate with everyone, the game is generally praised for its lightheartedness and entertaining moments, making it a fun choice for both solo and cooperative play.

    • “Keep friendly fire on, it's funny when you get an excuse to combo your friend.”
    • “A true continuation of a classic franchise, it only adds elements that complement the original - like the 2D weight physics on swinging objects that always end with hilarious results.”
    • “Sor4 reaches its pop-art zenith with the hilarious gallery stage, featuring bipartisan potshots – you simultaneously thrash on corrupt cops and antifa pink-hat wannabes – and post-modern art installations that outclass their real-world counterparts.”
  • optimization
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance on various hardware, including older systems and the Steam Deck, with many players reporting no significant bugs or frame rate drops. However, some users have experienced performance issues in online co-op mode, including stuttering and input lag, particularly when not hosting. While the game offers a range of graphical settings to enhance performance, certain features like shadows can negatively impact frame rates, indicating room for improvement in future updates.

    • “The game runs smoothly, even on older hardware and I haven't noticed any bugs.”
    • “Great performance on Steam Deck in desktop mode with a wired controller.”
    • “Comparing this game's resource management to some other games like Broforce, this game is very optimized!”
    • “Performance degradation in survival mode after the 11.03.2023 update.”
    • “It has optimization issues; if you turn on the shadow setting in the game, the frame rate starts tanking.”
    • “But the game's best feature - co-op - is crippled by terrible, stuttery performance despite the FPS counter reading 60 constantly.”
  • stability
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent freezes and crashes, particularly on the Steam Deck and during long sessions. While many users report smooth gameplay and no major issues on platforms like Raspberry Pi and Linux, others highlight significant glitches, especially during video scenes and boss fights. Overall, while the game shows potential, its stability issues detract from the experience for many players.

    • “Runs great on Raspberry Pi 5.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “I am happy that this game runs great on my platform of choice, Linux.”
    • “Game freezes and then crashes randomly every 15-45 minutes which is very annoying especially when you're on a boss fight and the boss is almost dead.”
    • “Whenever you play the game in long sessions, you'll run into an issue that freezes your game and closes the game entirely.”
    • “I boot it up and it freezes on the intro cinematic for 30 seconds then crashes.”
  • monetization
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and the presence of unlockable content through gameplay, which contrasts sharply with typical cash grabs. While some reviewers initially feared it would be a shallow nostalgia cash grab, they were pleasantly surprised by the game's quality and depth, though a few still criticized it for feeling like a cash grab despite its merits. Overall, the game is seen as a genuine continuation of the franchise rather than a mere exploitative remake, though concerns about future monetization strategies remain.

    • “No microtransactions, awesome gameplay, easy to learn, hard to master mechanics, weekly random-sims that put up a local-to-your-area scoreboard, and much more!”
    • “No additional greedy monetization at launch, actual unlockable extras for playtime and hidden bits here and there.”
    • “Also, there are unlockable characters as well (not DLC, or locked away with microtransactions... proper unlockable characters!).”
    • “If this game were $5 or even $10 this would be a positive review, but it just kinda feels like a really shallow game going for a cash grab, feeding on people's nostalgia.”
    • “This game is cash grab garbage... even at the price of free it's garbage.”
    • “Just sad, thanks, now my last memory of this great game series is a bitter taste, of another empty nostalgia cash grab.”
  • atmosphere
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant, nostalgic blend of neon-lit urban landscapes and retro arcade vibes, enhanced by a stellar hand-drawn art style and an engaging soundtrack that captures the essence of the original series. Players appreciate the immersive environments, from gritty back alleys to colorful stages, which are complemented by clever design choices that reflect changes in mood and difficulty. While the overall atmosphere is considered nearly perfect, some critiques mention that the gameplay mechanics could better support this rich ambiance.

    • “From neon-lit city streets to seedy back alleys, the graphics capture the gritty atmosphere of the urban landscape, immersing players in a world that feels both nostalgic and fresh.”
    • “The music and atmosphere are incomparable, great 80s vibe!”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely breathtaking and I love the tracks from not only Koshiro-san, but everyone else involved as it captures the essence and atmosphere of the series.”
    • “Didn't know about or play the sequels until years later (personal opinion: I sort of understand why 2 gets so much praise, the original tops it in atmosphere alone).”
    • “Then again, the atmosphere at the start of the rain sequence, from the stage 1 level boss in sor2, when you exit the bar, is still unmatched in my opinion.”
    • “The scenes in different stages diversify a lot in color and atmosphere, from background lights that beam and reflect over the characters' heads and shoulders to beachside ruins clouded in dust and debris from all the civil conflict going on nearby.”
  • emotional
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Streets of Rage 4" resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and a sense of childhood joy through its homage to classic beat 'em ups. Many reviewers express that the game successfully captures the essence of the original trilogy, making them feel like kids again, despite some gameplay criticisms. Overall, it is celebrated as a heartfelt tribute that blends memory with modern reinvention, delivering a satisfying emotional experience.

    • “The design, the gameplay, the soundtrack, all of it comes together to deliver a heartfelt homage to everything this franchise has strived to be.”
    • “Streets of Rage 4 transcends the boundaries of a mere game, emerging instead as a heartfelt tribute to a cherished era, a resplendent fusion of memory and reinvention.”
    • “This game made me feel like I was ten years old again.”
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84%Critics’ scoreBased on 69 critic reviews
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14h Median play time
43h Average play time
3h Main story
27h Completionist
5-53h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 30 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Streets of Rage 4 is a arcade hack and slash game.

Streets of Rage 4 is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, iPhone and others.

The main story can be completed in around 3 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 27 hours to finish. On average players spend around 43 hours playing Streets of Rage 4.

Streets of Rage 4 was released on April 30, 2020.

Streets of Rage 4 was developed by Guard Crush.

Streets of Rage 4 has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Streets of Rage 4 is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons, Fight'N Rage, The TakeOver, Final Vendetta and others.