Streets of Rage 4

Streets of Rage 4 is the sequel to the legendary Sega Mega Drive beat-'em-up, arriving decades after the last installment, yet most players still embraced it as a true successor. The setting stays the same: a city under the control of a criminal organization, streets, subway, galleries, and rooftops through which a group of heroes moves, solving problems with their fists. Axel and Blaze return to the roster, joined by new characters, each with their own speed, reach, and special attacks, so the choice of fighter significantly changes the play style.

The combat system runs deeper than it first appears. Special attacks drain health, which can be earned back by hitting enemies without taking a hit yourself, creating a risky bet on how long to stay on the offensive. Combos are tracked, and a scoring system rewards keeping a chain going, throwing enemies into each other, and bouncing them off walls, turning an ordinary playthrough into a game about clean execution. Two-player local co-op is preserved, and there's also an online mode, a single-life arcade run, and a battle arena. Character versions from the classic games can also be unlocked, complete with their original pixel art and behavior, which follow their own rules. On Switch, the game runs without a hitch, and the sharp hand-drawn art gets along well with handheld mode.

The visuals from Lizardcube rank among the most striking in the genre, since the drawn backgrounds look like an illustration brought to life. The music was led by Olivier Deriviere, with contributions from composers tied to the original series, so the soundtrack alternates modern electronica with nods to nineties sound. Reviews were very favorable, and the game is considered proof that the classic beat-'em-up still has a place today. Today it's the ideal game for an evening with friends: short, tough, and the kind players return to for a better score. On Switch, it's enough to unplug the Joy-Cons and a second player joins within seconds.