Streets of Rage 4

- Reviewed on Switch 2 -

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

Developed by Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and Dotemu, and published by Dotemu, Streets of Rage 4 serves as a long-awaited continuation of the classic beat ‘em up franchise.

Even though this series has been around for decades, this was actually my first real deep dive into Streets of Rage as a whole, and I have to say, I completely understand why this franchise has the reputation it does.

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

One of the first things I immediately noticed was just how tight and responsive the controls feel.

For a beat ‘em up title, that is absolutely crucial.

Every punch, kick, grab, throw, and special move feels deliberate and interactive. There’s weight behind your attacks, but not so much that the gameplay feels sluggish. It strikes a really nice balance that makes every fight feel satisfying.

And the combos? Extremely fun to experiment with.

Juggling enemies, bouncing them off walls, incorporating weapons, and using environmental interactables makes each encounter feel flexible. You’re not just button mashing (unless you want to be). There’s actual strategy and rhythm involved in maximizing damage and crowd control.

Speaking of rhythm, the music is awesome!

The soundtrack genuinely pumps me up for each level. It fits the urban atmosphere perfectly and keeps the adrenaline high from start to finish. This is one of those games where the music actively enhances your performance. When a track kicks in during a big fight, it just feels right.

Visually, Streets of Rage 4 is beautiful.

The hand-drawn art style is vibrant, colorful, and packed with personality. Backgrounds pop, characters are expressive, and the overall presentation feels modern while still respecting its arcade roots. It’s honestly one of the most visually appealing beat ‘em ups I’ve played.

The characters themselves are also memorable.

They don’t just feel like generic fighting game placeholders. Each has their own personality, animations, and playstyle differences that actually matter. On top of that, there are various characters and skins to unlock, which adds replay value and longevity. Trying different fighters changes how you approach levels, which kept the gameplay fresh for me.

Enemies are also surprisingly memorable, even the ones I absolutely cannot stand.

Specifically, the fat rolling enemies and the fire-spitting ones… yeah. Those gave me some frustration. 

But in a weird way, that frustration makes them effective enemy designs. I remember them. They force you to adapt. They punish careless play. I may dislike them, but they do their job well.

The environmental interactivity is another big plus. Grabbing pipes, knives, tasers, and using objects around the stage makes fights feel dynamic rather than static. You’re constantly scanning the area for advantages.

That said, the story is a little short.

It’s understandable, this isn’t meant to be a 30-hour narrative epic, but it does feel brief once you get into a groove. And here’s something more personal: this is one of those games where if I fail a level, my attention span kind of tanks for the night.

I’ll be super into it, fully focused, and then if I lose near the end of a stage? Sometimes I just need a break before jumping back in. That’s more on me than the game, but it does affect how often I binge it in long sessions.

Also, and this is important, it’s almost a perfect game in what it sets out to do.

But beat ‘em ups aren’t necessarily the genre I’m most invested in right now. So, while I respect it a ton and had a blast with it, it’s not something I’m constantly itching to grind daily.

Still, Streets of Rage 4 absolutely nails what it’s trying to accomplish: responsive combat, fantastic music, beautiful visuals, flexible fighting systems, and strong replay value.

For fans of the genre, this is probably a near masterpiece.

For me? It’s a fantastic experience that I’ll gladly revisit.

Pros: 

    - Excellent, responsive, and interactive combat

    - Awesome, adrenaline-pumping soundtrack

    - Flexible combo system with environmental interactivity

    - Weapons add variety to encounters

    - Beautiful hand-drawn art style

    - Memorable characters and enemies

    - Unlockable characters and skins add replayability

Cons:

    - Story is short (understandably so)

    - Failing late in a level can make replay attempts feel discouraging

My Rating for Streets of Rage 4 (on Switch 2):

4 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.