I do hereby declare Streets of Rage 4 to be game of the year.
If you ever liked anything about the original SOR2, then you’ll dig this new game. It’s everything you love about the classic games but in a modem form. The retro graphics and music are great options, the online multiplayer works seamlessly, and the battle mode is legit. Most importantly the gameplay is spot on, and feels like Streets of Rage is supposed to, but better than ever.
Just did a playthrough with my son on normal and we both loved it. It felt like a SoR game. I especially like the nods to the other games in the series which I didnt expect as many. The music though I didn't think was as good as previous entries. Overall though I did enjoy my time with it and it was worth the wait.
RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.
One of the best features and biggest surprises of this game is the option to play it in all-retro graphics.
This was a secret as far as I know, even their retro-reveal video showing how you could play as the classic retro characters didn’t mention an option for all-retro background graphics; it only showed retro characters with modern backgrounds. I do like the new graphics but I much prefer the retro look. My current setup is all-retro graphics with modern music.
Also: for online multiplayer games, each player chooses their own preferences for graphics and music, so we may each see and hear the game differently on our respective TVs. I may play in retro while you play in modern. That is so awesome.
And speaking of online multiplayer, this is how you do it right. Give us the option to play with friends privately or with stangers publicly. Not one or the other - both. It’s super easy to jump in or out of multiplayer lobbies, or hook up with a friend. And the lobbies are full and easy and quick to start up a game, which means it’s selling really well.
@NintendoByNature I don't think it's cross platform play, but I could be wrong. That's who I am playing with, my brother - but we're both Switch online - it is indeed sweet. Although playing with strangers is pretty cool too, especially since you only need to clear a level together before it saves your progress each time, so it's easy for people to hook up for a level or more.
I love some of the complaints I've been reading online. "It plays too much like a retro beat'em up." Well...just what where these folks expecting when they made the purchase, lol. You move forward, smack around some enemies, move forward...that is the genre as a whole.
Anywho, I can't wait for my LRG copy to eventually arrive. This series is one of the best in the genre.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,473 games (as of July 4th, 2025)
Switch 2 Physical Collection - 2 games (as of June 9th, 2025)
@Magician I can't argue with them it does play very much like a beat em up from the 16bit era which is why I love it. If those people are looking for more variety then they should look into River City Girls which is awesome too by the way.
RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.
I bought it on day one. I agree, it's a very special release. The devs really went the extra miles to ensure it was of absolute top quality. The soundtrack alone is absolutely fantastic.
@Tasuki yep, River City Girls is awesome too! I finally bought that a week or two ago. That game is also bursting with quality. Love it! Great fun and great humour too.
I’m gonna say it.. and I don’t care.. one of the best games made in a long time. For me it’s the BotW of beatemups: does it replace the golden oldies? No. But does sometimes feel like it’s hard to go back? Yes, there are moments it does...
@SuperWeird I was also unaware of the full retro mode. All I ever saw them show were the characters from the first three games on the modern backgrounds. It's rather odd that they didn't show that feature in their "retro reveal". Secrets and surprises are cool, but that's something that might boost interest for some people who didn't like the way the game looked. It was tricky finding an example of the retro modes at first, but I found one and I liked the look of it and that's how I would play it. While there is a loss of detail, the retro graphics make the game look less flat to me. I think it's wonderful that they provided the option(option for screen shake is great too) and I'm now far more likely to play this game than I was as I expected to skip it.
How do you get the full retro mode? Is it an unlockable with the Lifetime points or do you have to do something like beat the game on mania mode to get it?
@Tasuki It's missing from Xbox. I found that out from the Digital Foundry video. I heard an update is coming, but I don't know what the sourcing is on that as I heard it second hand. Xbox gamers deserve to get all features and I hope that the news of an update coming is correct.
Yeah, it's an awesome game. For me, it's one of the rare games I think is a 10/10. They've somehow managed to take every good aspect that's ever been in the series and either retain it or improve it. It's definitely the best Streets of Rage and - I'm surprised I've come to this conclusion - quite possibly the best-ever game of its genre.
Forums
Topic: Streets of Rage 4
Posts 1 to 20 of 71
Please login or sign up to reply to this topic