CRISP. Gaming: Streets Of Rage 4 Review, Playstation 4

Carmen Adkins — Mon, 04 May 2020 12:11:16 +0000

And the beats go on.

A mere 26 years after the last entry in the famous fighting game franchise, Streets of Rage is back.

An addictive mix of brawling action and bumping beats, this lavish sequel brings back all the flair and neon-drenched cool which made it a cult classic.

French developers Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games have painstakingly broken down what made the original trilogy work, remixing and resurrecting the franchise with a masterpiece fit to stand with the best in 2020.

Story

A fresh tale continues the game’s saga as original protagonists make a return alongside new faces to take on an evil crime syndicate in Wood Oak City.

Locations and enemies will constantly please those in the know, with witty callbacks and references to previous entries.

As involved as a storyline needs to be in a game of this nature, it gives you a reason to pummel through the 12 stages in a few hours, with plenty of high points and reasons to replay.

Gameplay

One thing that is immediate is that the core combat feels perfect. Both in terms of responsiveness despite the silky frames of animation and the simple yet refined controls, Streets of Rage 4 delivers a tightly crafted experience.

The only fiddly control is the need to hold down the attack button for strong moves – it’s very unlikely you find a moment free to charge this up.

The main requirement of all beat ’em ups is effective crowd control – being able to draw or ‘kite’ enemies to where you want them positioned on the screen to deliver maximum damage or hurl them into their mates to keep them at bay.

The other layer of complexity is in enemy variety – each combatant has their own unique style of attack and it takes a bit of time to work out the right way to dispatch without taking hits.

Add in a pretty challenging combo meter and ranking system, environmental weapons from pool cues to samurai swords, and you have a melting pot of punishing pugilism.

There are also super moves embracing an element of risk and reward, chipping away your energy bar upon use, but sustained beatings can bring your levels back to normal – meaning it can be used a bit more liberally than in prior instalments.

As is the way, multiplayer adds in an element of abrupt chaos, and it’s a whole lot more entertaining to bring in a mate either via couch co-op or online and share the beatings.

A PVP mode is a brief but amusing distraction but doesn’t hold a candle to the main event.

Graphics

Visuals are certainly a divisive element, swapping the original’s iconic pixel art for a sumptuous hand-drawn aesthetic.

The level of detail is frankly incredible. Reflections on the slick-wet ground and sheens bathe your character in light and dizzying bursts of colour during combos make for a visual feast…albeit respectful to its 16-bit roots.

This unique style continues to amaze as you strut through varying vistas, from dimly-lit streets to art galleries and even a trip down to Chinatown.

Audio

Undoubtedly the star of the show, the original trilogy is renowned for its eclectic soundtrack of modern beats elevating the anarchic action onscreen.

The good news is that Streets of Rage 4 continues this, roping in the talented Olivier Deriviere to create new tunes alongside modern artists like Groundislava and XL Middleton.

Legendary music-makers from the originals -Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima – also return to lavish your ears with fresh material at key moments.

The music rarely reaches the dizzy heights of Streets of Rage 2, but clever moves like tying in musical cues with gameplay (a track might introduce sirens just as riot police step onto the scene) as well as weaving it into the storyline itself, give it the reverence it deserves.

Summary

A poster child for late sequels done right, Streets of Rage 4 makes for a modern, yet nostalgic journey of fun fisticuffs, complete with the perfect soundtrack of beats to punch/kick folks around too.

Streets of Rage 4 is available now on PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox. Review code provided by the publisher.

Carmen Adkins

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