Show me your (new) moves

These streets never sleep. Or at least, the Streets of Rage never do. Streets of Rage 4 just got a massive fre?e ?update, adding a custom survival mode, new co-op moves, character balancing, and more.

Co-developers DotEmu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games released the new update on Friday. In it, the crew says, are over 300 improvements to 2020's Streets of Rage 4. I've looked at the list, and it's massive, including character b??alancing changes across the cast of this beat 'em up.

One of the big bullet points is the new custom survival mode. This will let players tweak their survival mode experience to their liking, with slides and boxes for starting level, healing, weapons, hazards, enemy scaling, and more. You can get a glimpse of the options in this new trailer:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNBCJUijhdM

Another big one is a new co-op attack, where you can pick up and throw your partner for a special strike. It's like a tag-team wrestling attack, only their fists are on fire. The update is live now for all Streets of Rage 4 owners.

Fists of fury

If you don't happen to own Streets of Rage 4 yet, this weekend may be a good time to address that. There's currently a sale across the Steam store, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop. The Mr. X Nightmare DLC is also discounted to?o, and there's a bun?dle on Steam.

Basically, there's a lot of good reasons to play Streets of Rage 4. The most important one, though, is that it's a very, very good game. I have some fond memories running through this, both solo and co-op, and it's great to see this franchise revival still getting updates years later. Though there have been many other brawlers and beat 'em ups since, I always enjoy an excuse to jump back into Streets of Rage.

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It's still a classic though

Streets of Rage 4 is arguably the greatest side-scrolling brawler ever made. At least that’s what I’ve been told. Personally, I’m still partial to Ninja Baseball Bat Man, but as somebody who’s sunk more than a dozen hours into cleaning up the streets of Wood Oak City, its greatness is easy to recognize. Not only did SoR4 he??lp revitalize a genre that once dominated the industry, b??ut it also effectively tapped into the beat ‘em up’s roots as the precursor to the modern fighting game genre.

Upon its release in 2020, the game was showered with glowing reviews and strong sales, moving more than two and a half million copies in its first year on the market. In July of last year, Mr. X’s Nightmare DLC launched, ad??ding more playable characters, inc??luding muscle mama Estel Aguirre, and new modes aimed at those looking for a true test of their skills.

After releasing on consoles, PC, and even Stadia, the game is making its way to what will likely be its final major platform. Starting today, you can buy Streets of Rage 4 and Mr. X’s Nightmare DLC on iOS and Android.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljf0tns75hs

I’ve been able to go hands-on with Streets of Rage 4 on my Google Pixel 6 for the past week and am impressed by what Dotemu and Playdigious managed to pull off here. This is the authentic Streets of Rage 4 experience. All the extraordinary art, action, and music of the original release have been exquisitely ported to mobile with little or no noticeable concessions. The vibrant streets of Wood Oak City absolutely pop on my Pixel 6 screen, but if you have a weaker mobile device, there is a cache of options you can adjust to make the visuals work for you. As for the gameplay, it is as tight as it's ever beenâ€?em>if you’r??e p??laying with a synced MFi controller. It's a different story if you’re using the touchscreen inputs.

I want to make it clear the developers did a decent enough job translating the original controls of Streets of Rage 4 to mobile. For the most part, the interface works well. You have buttons to jump, attack, special attack, star attack, back attack, and pick up weapons, food, and money ??from the ground. The controls are customizable, with options to increase their siz?e, placement, and the gap between the inputs in addition to getting some control over the size and position of the virtual control stick.

However, after about four or five hours of playing with touch controls, I realized I kept running into the same two problems. The first has to do with the reliability of the control stick. E?ach character's blitz move requires you to press forward on the control stick twice before hitting the attack button. This worked for me about 60% of the time with the game reliably failing to recognize my inputs in the direst of situations. The second problem is one that a lot of mobile games run into, and that's your thumbs getting in the way of the action.

Curse these giant, cornfed thumbs

In some genres, like first-person shooters or platformers, it’s easy for the game camera to keep everything centered and away from your thumbs. Streets of Rage 4 is not like that, and if you’ve played on console or PC, you know how common it is to end up in the bottom right or bottom left co??rner of the screen, right where? your thumbs would be covering up the action. Not only does this obscure enemies you’re trying to attack, but it can also blind you to new enemies moseying onto the scene. It definitely put me at a disadvantage midway through the game's story mode. Once I was able to sync up my Xbox controller to my Pixel, I didn’t look back.

Over the years, the mobile platform has proven itself to be more than capable of handling a wide variety of genres with acceptable sacrifices. And I will say, I have played brawlers on mobile before that were perfectly suited for the platform. Streets of Rage 4 comes pretty damn close to greatness on iOS and Android, but the reality of how this game is played doesn’t exactly gel with the reality of touchscreen controls. If you don’t mind syncing up a controller to your phone or tablet, this is a g??reat and inexpe??nsive way to experience a modern classic.

Streets of Rage 4 will be available starting today on iOS and Android for $8.99. Mr. X’s Nightmare DLC is a separate purchase for $2.99.

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Pocket Pugilism

There's simply no denying that Streets of Rage 4 is one of the finest brawlers ever crafted, one that has only gotten better and better as players have explored its deep fighting mechanics and unlockable i?ntricacies �And now, the vigilante adventure is set to get a whole new lease of life, thanks to a mobile ??port headed to iOS and Android platforms in May.

Developer Playdigious has partnered with the original SoR4 dream team of DotEmu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games to squeeze the meaty street fighter into tiny, pocket-sized form. The mobile port of Streets of Rage 4 will feature the full training, arcade, and story modes of the original release, as well as the original cast of five selectable fighters and numer?ous "Retro" characters, stages, and secrets. The mobile mode will support multiplayer, thoug?h this will be added to the title via a post-release patch.

The mobile edition of Streets of Rage 4 will include support for Game Center and iCloud, and features a redesigned control system optimized for mobile play. So now you'll be able to dole out fist-assiste??d justice anywhere y?ou go, on a train, at work, or while waiting for a bus... It'll be just as satisfying, yet far safer, than engaging in the exact same activity, in the exact same locations, in real life.

Streets of Rage 4 launches on iOS and Android May 24. It is available right now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Oh, ??and you should absolutely check it out. GROUND UPPAH!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljf0tns75hs

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Cblogs of 7/31 to 8/6/2021

-Tremendous12 writes about how much they liked Hollow Knight on their third try at the game.

-Shoggoth2588 shares August's Band of Bloggers prompt which is about?? the times you disagreed with professional critics' scores??.

-Black Red Gaming looks at 10 of the week's gaming news stories.

-Black Red Gaming shares their top five anticipated game rele??ases in August.

-Gamingnerd writes a retrospective about Streets of Rage on its 30th anniversary.

-Shoggoth2588 shares his gaming journal of July.

-Gamemaniac3434 shares their fashionably late game?? of the year list for 2020.

-GoofierBrute covers Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine in their Games That Time Forgot series.

-Exber writes about how Persona 4 became one of their all-time favorite games.

-Lord Spencer reviews Kartia: The Word of Fate as part of his PS1 REVIEWS blogging series.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the soundtrack of Sonic - Lost World and synth-pop music.

-Solidsnape wonders why gaming news outlets repeatedly try to be funny in?? their coverage.

-Flegma plans to ??submit a retro game to the retro development competition ??MSXdev'21.

-ChronoLynxx opens last week's TGIF open community forum.

Ah, an awesome and healthy batch of Cblogs this week, featuring some real gems. Thanks a lot, everybody, we really appreciate each and every one of you! If you want to see your own writings recapped (or even promoted) on the front page, then head over to the Cblogs section this week and have at it. And don't forget to check out our newest Bloggers Wanted prompt for more inspiration!

The post What games did you have to play several times before they ‘clicked’? appeared first on Destructoid.

When the legend is better than the truth, print the legend

Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of Sega's street-scrappin' brawler, Streets of Rage. In order to mark 30 long years of great vigilante action, composer Yuzo Koshiro decided to ruin the party for everybody �revealing that we've all been shouting out a legendary s??oundbite incorrec?tly for the past three decades.

As revealed in a new video by Koshiro, whose incredible music is a huge part of bringing life and identity to the Streets of Rage franchise, Axel Stone's famous "GRAND UPPER!" is actually "GROUND UPPER!" and it always has been. I'll give you a minute to come to terms with that reality before explaining how this shattering misconception came abo?ut..?.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehz6GP-dMBk

...You ok now? Anyway, not only have players (including myself) been hearing "Grand Upper" for all these years due to a combination of phonetic translation and 16-bit synthesis, but Sega itself listed the maneuver as such in the manual for Streets of Rage 2, where the powerful uppercut made its debut appearance. Koshiro just simply never corrected anybody until yesterday, when he felt the need to drop said truth bomb on us, leaving SoR fans reel?ing like they'd just gone five rounds with Max Thunder.

Some people have since suggested that they have always known it was "Ground Upper". No, you didn't, stop being cool. As Koshiro notes, however, it doesn't really matter either way. All that matters is that you enjoy the series and ?that you enjoy yourselves. Good thing too, as there's no way I'm ever not screaming "GRAND UPPER!" going forward �whether gaming, shopping, in bed, or at funerals. I'm not changing the habit of a lifetime, truth be damned.

Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare DLC is ?now available ??on all platforms. It's excellent.

//twitter.com/yuzokoshiro/statu?s/1422211630868295680?s=20

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Mr. X Nightmare bug fix expected 'in the following days'

[Update: After a week of verification strife, the Mr. X Nightmare DLC is now available to purchase on Nintendo Switch. Dotemu recommends that parties ensure software and game are updated, then attempt to purchase the DLC from the in-game menu. Do not click the purchase button multiple times (??even if it's slow to respond) as tha?t has been activating an automatic error message.]

Dotemu has addressed and apologized for an unforeseen technical issue that is preventing Nintendo Switch owners from purchasing Mr. X Nightmare, the new DLC expansion for its awesome brawler Streets of Rage 4. According to Dotemu, the team is working on a patch for the Streets of Rage 4 DLC, but has to roll it out via Nintendo's validatio?n process.

The fix is expected to arrive at some point "in the following days". Here's hoping that Switch players will hit the streets as soon as possible but, unfortunately, it will depend on h??ow rapidly Nintendo's verification process is completed.

//??twitter.com/Dotemu/status/14159924705807360??05?s=20

The post (Update) Do?temu working on fix for Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare Switch?? woes appeared first on Destructoid.

You don't make up for your sins in church, you do it in the streets

It was a long wait, but it proved completely worth it. We knew it was going to be good, and it still exceeded expectations. Following a hiatus of two decades plus, Sega's iconic '90s brawler Streets of Rage ??finally returned in 2020, sporting a brand new look, an instantly recognizable sound, and the same button-pounding, face-smashing action that had entertained many a Sega Genesis owner in one of gaming's most golden eras.

A passion project of developers DotEmu, Guard Crush Games, and Lizardcube, Streets of Rage 4 absolutely delivered on all levels, offering a great-looking, great-sounding, and compelling gameplay experience. It was like the franchise had never left. And the key to this fantastic release lies in one word: Evolution. While Streets of Rage 4 undoubtedly felt like a genuine series sequel, the dev team ensured that it brought new depth, quality, and longevity befitting a 2020 r??elease.

And with today's launch of the Mr. X Nightmare DLC, the trio of studios once again finds ways to reinvent one of the oldest wheels in gaming, further blending the repetitive combat of the brawler genre with the finesse, style, and expertise on a top-tier one-on-one fighter. Sporting new characters, new modes, new music, new moves, and much more, the Mr. X Nightmare DLC brings incredibly welcome additions to SoR 4. Better yet, it evolves the title b??eyond its already splendid status.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPpJrZGeOUg

Perhaps the main draw of Mr. X Nightmare, for many, will be the addition of three new characters, all of whom felt oddly conspicuous by their absence in the original release. Leading the charge is my personal fave: powerhouse cop Estel Aguirre, who has seen the corruption driving Oak Wood City's police force and has turned her Krav Maga skills and those shoulders to the side of our vigilante force. Estel utilizes a crunchy MMA combat style, complete with Superman Punches and ground-and-pound takedowns, while also utilizing crowd control weaponry for when things get too close for comfort. Estel does not dash, but makes up for her lack of speed in raw punching power, while her double-leg takedown covers a lot of distance.

Returning from the roster of Streets of Rage 2 is former pro-wrestler Max Thunder, who was kicked out of the business for "refusing to throw a fight". I love the '90s. Old-school Max heads will be pleased to hear that his knuckle bomb, dropkick, front choke, and German Suplex are all present and correct, (although his previously devastating Atomic Drop from SoR 2 isn't quite as OP as it was in the original). Max also cannot dash, but? does retain his classic rolling shoulder charge ??which, again, helps the meathead cover a lot of ground quickly.

The final character is ex-bad boy Shiva, who has turned from his life of crime to the solemn teachings of Buddist philosophy. Shiva is an excellent character and may prove to be one of the game's S-tier protagonists. Shiva has a selection of beautiful-looking martial arts maneuvers at his disposal, as well as game-best agility. Equipped with a dash so fast he almost cuts the air, as well as an air dash, Shiva can skip around the arena better than perhaps any other roster member. In a wonderful touch, Shiva despises weapons and as such he cannot hold them, but he can kick-flip them off the ground before sending them hurtling toward the enemy. It's an incredibly satisfying tactic.

The second major addition in Mr X. Nightmare is the titular Survival Mode, in which we find our heroes stepping inside a Holodeck-style VR machine, constructed by SoR 3's Dr. Zan. In this mode, Up to four players take on a host of villains pulled from the entire Streets of Rage franchise, ('member that clown with the whip?), facing off with the bad dudes in a variety of virtual arenas. Electrified wrestling rings, abandoned factories, even a quick trip to the dawn of time �players will take on round after round of increasingly difficult enemies, armed with a single life, on-site weaponry, and a variety of buffs and effects that can be applied at the end of each round. All of the ensuing chaos is backed with an expanded soundtrack, featuring a selection of great new tracks from Sonic Mania composer Tee Lopes.

For those who have all but wrung the Arcade Mode dry, Survival Mode hopes to be the long-term ??replacement, offering scaling difficulties, unlockable artwork, and bonuses for each and every playable character, including the old-school iterations of Axel and chums. Survival Mode also facilitates perhaps the most low-key but the biggest addition to Mr. X Nightmare: Fully unlockable and customisable movesets.

As players progress through the Survival Mode, they will unlock new moves for every character in the game. That's new dash attacks and specials. Once unlocked, players can switch these moves in and out for every mode in Streets of Rage 4. Essentially, players will have the opportunity to build their own custom special/dash moveset for their favorite characters, opening up the incredible potential for new combos and strategies. This is a fantastic addition to the depth and longevity of SoR 4. Not only can you now fine-tune your playstyle with your best bro/gal, but you can also master combos facilitated by your own bespoke moveset. That's fucking awesome. Another testament to the developer's wise decision to design SoR 4 as a fighting game, as opposed to a straight brawler (in before "Why ??Can't Axel Dash?")

Today also brings a free update for all players, which adds an in-depth Training Mode, perfect for honing your justice-bringing beatdowns skills. The mode features almost all of the features you'd expect in a training mode for, say, Street Fighter, and even allows you to select any villains in the game, in almost any number, and choose exactly where to place them on the playing area, thus creating the perfect situational offensive and defensive tactics. For die-hard SoR 4 fans, the mode will eat up hours of your time. Also included in the update are a newly written tutori??al, a selection of cool palette swaps for the roste?r, and the challenging "Mania+" difficulty setting, increasing enemy speed, frequency, and damage, dropping your chosen hero with a few cheeky few slaps. Ow.

The Mr. X Nightmare DLC retails for $7.99, a modest price for three hand-animated characters, an expanded soundtrack, two new modes, and the customisable moveset option �a feature that practically reinvents the game. While many fighting titles would offer a single DLC character for a similar price, the affordable eight buck price tag is just the final cherry (Hunter) on the cake, making Mr. X Nightmare an absolute must-have for each and every SoR 4 player.

The Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare DLC is an absolute no-brainer. This quality expansion offers three excellent and unique characters, a compelling Survival Mode, and greater gameplay depth for a modest fee. Meanwhile, the free update adds a brilliant training tool for those who have adopted SoR 4 as a regular haunt and offers an increased challenge for the most hardened of street sluggers. Simply put, one of the best brawlers ever made has ju??st gotten even better.

We're just one Roo away from perfection...

_{[These impressions are based on a retail build of the DLC provided by the publisher.]}

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DotEmu's smash-hit brawler ready for another round

DotEmu, Guard Crush Games, and LizardCube have finally announced the release date for Mr. X Nightmare, the upcoming DLC expansion for the posse's brilliant brawler Streets of Rage 4. The DLC will? launch July 15 on PS4, PC??, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, priced at a reasonable $7.99.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPpJrZGeOUg

The Mr. X Nightmare DLC brings a fistful of new content to DotEmu's excellent brawler sequel. Alongside three new playable characters �Estel Aguirre, Max Thunder, and Shiva �the expansion includes a virtual Survival Mode, created by SoR 3 star Dr. Zan. Axel and pals will take on waves of enemies from the past and present under a variety of conditions, which will test the prowess of even the most veteran SoR 4 players. Also arriving as part of the DLC package will be a new range of weapons and special moves for all characters, opening up fresh opportunities for dazzling and devastating combos. Backing these beatdowns will be a selection of new music tracks, composed by artist Tee Lopes, who you may know from their excellent work scoring Sega's Sonic Mania.

//twitter.com/i/status/1410599782041604096

In addition to the DLC, a free update will be rolled out to all players, adding a new "Mania+" difficulty mode, alternate color options for the protagonists, and the much-requested Training Mode, which will give players the opportunity to experiment with each of Streets of Rage 4's characters until they have gotten two-fisted justice down to a fine art. Already a fantastic brawler and an excellent co-op experience, the Mr. X Nightmare is set to make SoR 4 b??etter still... Even if we are still missing Roo.

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You make up for your sins on the streets

Hoo boy, I cannot wait for Mr. X Nightmare, the incoming DLC expansion to Dotemu's brilliant brawler Streets of Rage 4, the co-developer has blessed fans with an extended trailer, showing off the three new playable characters who will be joining Alex and the?? gang on their next journey through the mean streets of Wo??od Oak City.

The eight-minute video gives us our longest look to date at martial-arts expert Shiva, face-turn cop Estel Aguirre, and former pro-wrestler Max Thunder, as each character shows off their devastating abilities, combos, and special attacks. All three DLC characters are bringing unique styles to the party and will be welcome additions to SoR 4's awesome roster.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFfQeH20zCQ

Alongside the new characters, the Mr. X Nightmare DLC will also add a new survival mode based around a holodeck-style unit created by SoR 3's Dr. Zan. Also joining the fray are new weapons, and an expanded soundtrack featuring the music of artist Tee Lopes. A free-for-all update, which will arrive the same day, will add a new difficulty option as well as new color palettes for it??s band of v??igilantes.

Streets of Rage 4 is already one of the niftiest throwbacks of the modern era,? as well as one of my favorite games of 2020. The coming DLC additions are set to make it better sti?ll. The design method behind the brawler's intricately detailed animation style makes development an expensive and lengthy process, but given the stunning results, I think, personally, that it's well worth waiting for. Now, all we need is a release date...

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Third character revealed for DLC expansion

The super dev squad of Guard Crush Games, Lizardcube, and Dotemu have revealed the third character headed to their fantastic scrolling brawler Streets of Rage 4. In what is unlikely to come as a surprise to the fanbase, it is the high-kicking martial arts expert Shiva, who will arrive as part of the upcoming Mr. X Nightmare DLC expansion.

Shiva is something of a Streets of Rage veteran, having appeared as a boss character in three of the series' four titles. While originally an out-and-out villain, Shiva's loyalties now lie in something of a grey area, having begun to turn his back on his ruthless past and adopt a more spiritual lifestyle. Mr. X Nightmare will afford Shiva the opportunity to s??tand alongiside Axel, Blaze, Adam, Cherry, and Floyd in the battles against the villains of Wood Oak City.

In addition to Shiva's arrival, the Mr X. Nightmare DLC bundle will include new playable characters Estel Aguirre and Max Thunder, alongside a new Survival Mode based around the projects of Dr. Zan. An expanded soundtrack will include new music from artist Tee Lopes, whose work you may have heard on the great Sonic Mania. A "free-for-all" update? is also in the works, which will add a training mode, new character color options, and a "Mania+" diffi??culty for hardened brawlers. The team is yet to announce a release date for the DLC.

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Happy Slammiversary

[Update: Sometimes it just goes this way. At the exact minute this article went live, Lizardcube announced that Streets of Rage 2's star wrestler Max Thunder will be joining the SoR 4 roster as part of the inco?m?ing Mr. X Nightmare DLC. Check out the new trailer below. Sorry 'bout my damn luck.]

Today is the first birthday of the fantastic brawler sequel Streets of Rage 4. Yep, that's 12 whole months of pavement-pounding, nose-breaking?, croissant-eating chaos, as Axel, Blaze, Cherry, Floyd, and Adam take matters into their own hands, treading the mean streets of Oak Wood City to liberate the people from the evil machinations of The Y Siblings.

It was such a long wait, but it absolutely paid off. Co-developers Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Lizardcube delivered a gorgeous looking, great sounding, and slickly playing action title, packed with character, style and, most importantly, depth. A worthy successor to the Sega Mega Drive originals, and a fine way for any video game fan to kill a few hours, Streets of Rage 4 is a must-play, and is on track to get a w??hole lot better.

The development team has released a few short clips taken from the upcoming DLC expansion "Mr. X Nightmare." Specifically, the footage features our first glimpses of new roster member Estel Aguirre in action. Having spent her life behind the badge of Oak Wood's law enforcement, Estel has finally seen the error of her ways, and will join our heroes in dishing out a measure of street justice to t?he city's nefarious gangs, as well as the crooked c??ops who turn a blind eye to the plight of the innocent.

Alongside Estel and Max's arrival, Mr. X's Nightmare will include the titular survival mode, while a free update for all players will bring alternate character colors, new bone-breaking moves, a "Mania+" difficulty setting, new tunes from Sonic Mania composer Tee Lopes, and a dedicated training mode — offering a special? arena for players to perfect th?eir flashy, triple-figure combos.

One year on from its impactful launch, Streets of Rage 4 is showing no signs of retirement. As long as villainy walks the streets, our crew of time-tested vigilantes will always be needed. Time marches on, people age, joints stiffen. But evil never rests, and neither will th??ey.

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The Strong Arm of the Law

Dotemu, Lizard Cube, and Guard Crush Games have just delivered news the entire world (well, me at least) has been waiting for: Streets of Rage 4 is getting new DLC later this year, which will ??bring with it a new mode, new music, new weapons and - best? of all - a new playable character in the form of cop-turned vigilante Estel Aguirre.

Mr. X Nightmare is set after the events of Streets of Rage 4, will see Axel, Blaze, Cherry and Co. engage in a virtual training program concocted by Streets of Rage 3 star Dr. Zan. This virtual arena will see our bone-breaking heroes co??me up against numerous villainous scenarios, allowing the gang to keep in fighting shape for future throwdowns... Axel's getting up in years and yer boy has to keep those aging knees in shape. I can relate.

In addition to the new mode, Streets of Rage 4 will receive a new playab??le character in the form of the awesome Estel Aguirre. A former boss character from the main campaign, Estel would eventually see the corruption behind the badge she protected so dearly, and is now fighting on the side of the right and just. The above trailer sees the tank-shaped babe in action. There are a few other silhouettes on display, so Estel might not be coming alone. Squeee!

Mr. X Nightmare will also feature new moves and weapons - with emphasis clearly placed on a giant swordfish - all backed by new musical tracks recorded by artist Tee Lopes. Accompanying the new DLC will be a separate "free-for-all" update, which brings with it a training mode, a selection of alte??rnate char??acter colors, and an all-new "Mania+" difficulty setting. No specific release date was offered for these exciting updates, but they are both expected to arrive on PC and consoles later in 2021. We'll keep you all informed.

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But how much longer can Axel's knees hold out?

Great news for Streets of Rage 4 fans, as a new listing for previously unannounced DLC has popped up on the Steam store database (Steamdb). As spotted by Redditor MikeSaintJules, the mystery entry is titled "Mr. X Nightmare" - a reference to the Big Bad of the original Streets of Rage trilogy back in the halcyon days of the? Sega Mega Drive.

There are no further details pertaining to this particular DLC drop, including a content explanation or a release date, but co-developers Dotemu has previously noted its intent to release new content for the fantastic 2D brawler, while asking fans to be patient in the meantime. After all, Streets of Rage 4 did take a helluva long time to see release. But boy howdy, it was worth the wait.

It goes without saying that I'm very much up for more SoR 4 action. In particular I'm hoping for the playable launch of cop-turned-vigilante Estel Aguirre, who was most definitely one of the highlights of the lo??ng-long-long-awaited sequel. For now, just tape up your fists and keep sitting pretty. The streets will come a-callin' when the time is right.

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Retro sequel celebrates 1.5 million downloads to date

DotEmu has released its previously announced balance update for awesome scrolling brawler Streets of Rage 4. The new update has made substantial balance tweaks to t?he title's roster of heroes and villains, whil??e improving the fluidity of online play and stamping out several bugs.

Axel fans will be pleased to hear that your boy now has an improved walk speed and improved recovery on certain actions, while Floyd fans will be d?ismayed to hear that his infinite has been fixed. Difficulty has been increased for certain higher-level boss characters, while particularly frustrating attacks - such as Estel's Police Backup assault - have been made a little easier to evade. Even the retro characters have been given a tweak or two.

Patch notes detailing each character's individual buffs and nerfs are available for viewing over on the official DotEmu blog. The publisher also noted that owners of SoR 4's PS4 physical edition may have difficulty applying the ?update, but that the team are looking into the situation and expect a fix soo??n.

Streets of Rage 4 is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Ninte?ndo Switch.

Streets of Rage 4's long-awaited balancing patch is now available on all platforms! #SOR4

Check out the huge list of improvements right here 👉 //t.co/f8kDiEVOfA@lizardcube + @Guard_Crush pic.twitter.com/YluX39Kv4r

— Dotemu (@Dotemu) September 7, 2020

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Is Axel about to get his jog on?

While Streets of Rage 4 fans might have quite the wait ahead when it comes to fresh content, it seem??s that the excellent  multiplayer brawler will at least be rece??iving a new update at some point in the near future.

An incoming patch has been teased on Twitter by co-developer DotEmu, before being reaffirmed as a "gameplay balancing patch" by Lizardcube. While no details have been revealed, the new update is suspected to bring a few tweaks to the SoR 4 roster and rogue's gallery, perhaps tweaking damage and frames in much the same way an update for Street Fighter or BlazBlue would. So ??I wouldn't expect any new characters or stages.

Streets of Rage 4 is one of the year's best releases. With lush and beautifully animated visuals, a kicking soundtrack, a deep fighting ??system, and a roster of unique heroes, SoR 4 truly reinvents ??the brawler genre for a new generation. Tweaking the title in subtle ways - such as increasing Axel's walk speed - would only serve to make the game even better. We will keep you informed as and when there is more information on this exciting new update.

Streets of Rage 4 is available now on PS?4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Keep it to yourself... there is a patch coming this month in Streets of Rage 4. 🤫

— Dotemu (@Dotemu) September 2, 2020

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I'm all in for Estel Aguirre

Streets of Rage fans were thrilled earlier when the long-awaited Streets of Rage 4 finally launched earlier this year, ??receiving massive acclaim f??rom both the press and the players. With razor-sharp gameplay, an inventive combat engine, a great soundtrack, and lush visuals, Streets of Rage 4 proved well worth the hype and the wait.

Before long, fans started reaching out to the developers, asking whether SoR 4 would be receiving new stages, characters, or other fresh content in the future. And in a tweet posted yesterday, DotEmu has reiterated its original comments that the knuckle-bustin' brawler will receive new content, but there is no ETA or time frame on its arriv??al.

This patient process is an inevitability. After all, SoR 4 features hand-drawn visuals and backgrounds - a lengthy, expensive, and painstaking endeavour. One can also look at platformer Cuphead, which also saw an extended development cycle, and whose developer - Studio MDHR - is also unable to offer a specific time-frame for its DLC expansion.

One thing's for sure, whatever content eventually arrives for SoR 4, I'm in no doubt whatsoever that it will be worth it. I, like many fans, have everything crossed for the playable debut of bad-cop-turned-good Estel Aguirre, one of the many super-cool characters introduced in the ?? new ?sequel. It may be many moons away, but I'm already excited to see what DotEmu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games has in store.

Streets of Rage 4 is availa?ble now on PS4, PC, Xbox One?, and Nintendo Switch.

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Red Tape is just the worst

If there's one thing that gives Dotemu's Streets of Rage 4 its beating heart, it's the rad roster of heroes kicking names and taking ass on the mean streets on Oak Wood City. But a recent interview conducted by Twitch channel Gwak reveals that Blaze and pals nearly had some welcome help from a familiar?? fa?ce.

According to SoR 4 designer Jordi Asensio, the team at Guard Crush Games was eager to have numerous Sega stars turn up to the ruck as surprise guest characters. One referenced example is Joe Musashi, shuriken-flinging hero of classic arcades Shinobi and Shadow Dancer. Sadly, it seems there were just too many fingers in too ??many pies in regards to licensing, and Musashi was relegated to becoming some co??ol graffiti in the sewer stage.

I can't help but think of who else might have shown up, rocking Lizardcube's beautiful hand-drawn style. Imagine Golden Axe's Tyrus Flare, the wolf-headed dude from Altered Beast... Hell, I'd even take Alex Kidd and his giant fist. When it comes to the crunch, I'd rather have SoR 4's al??l-new combat cop Estel Aguirre over any of these guest stars. That's my dream and I'm sticking w?ith it.

Streets of Rage 4 is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Ninten??d??o Switch.

Streets of Rage 4: Shinobi could've been playable [DualShockers]

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Screamager

Hello folks, I don't want to go on another spiel this week in regards to our current global situation. I'm just grateful that you're all here for our weekly update on the delightful releases keeping us indoors and safe. I hope that you and yours are doing well, and?? that you're finding your own slice of serenity during this particularly difficult period. Pro-Tip: Respect your healthcare workers - don't get together with your entire community to Do The fucking Conga.

I've been relying on a steady intake of films and video games to keep me relatively sane. (That's bullshit, I've been a complete dumpster fire this week.) I spent a little time checking out Rainbow Six Siege's wacky new event, The Grand Larceny, and I've also worked hard to improve in Mortal Kombat 11, as I continue to struggle by on a 55/45 ratio. MK 11's path to enlightenment is a hard one, the equivalent of trying to learn a sport while everyone on both teams laughs and calls you a piece of shit. Kombat League is a wretched place to find your entertainment, and should be avoided entirely by those starting out with MK 11. Better advice is to find other players on a one-to-one basis?, and grow alongside them. You'll find it far more product??ive and satisfying.

That's enough whinnying from me. What have all of you been doing this week? Despite the myriad of delays within the industry, 2020 has still seen many excellent releases. So whether you're waist-deep in Final Fantasy VII Remake, Streets of Rage 4, Gears Tactics, Resident Evil 3, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or something else entirely, fill us in on w?hat is ??currently floating your boat, friends.

Have a ?safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.

_{Please keep major spoilers for recent games out of the comments, thanks!} 

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Wanna get physical?

Dotemu's awesome brawler Streets of Rage 4 will see a second physical release, courtesy of publisher Merge Games. This is not to be confused with the brawler's first physical release, which was distributed by Limited Run Games.

Merge Games is releasing SoR 4 in two formats. The Standard Edition will simply bag you a boxed copy of the game on the platform of your choice. The Signature Edition features sturdy "Sierra" packaging, alternate ?artwork, a collector's certificate, five super-cool enamel badges, a key-ring, and Axel's trademark headband - so you can go into the streets and mash people's face?s in for real. (EDIT: I've been instructed to inform you NOT to go into the streets and mash people's faces in for real.)

The standard edition will retail for around $30 on PC, $35 on PS4/Xbox One, and $40 on Nintendo Switch, while the Signature Edition will run you $45 on PS4/Xbox One and $50 on Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders are live now on the Merge Games website, but move fast, orders for all editions w??ill close on Sunday, May 10.

Streets of Rage 4 is ??available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo?? Switch.

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Wanna step outside?

It's been 10 years since the events of Streets of Rage 3, and Oak Wood City is only mildly safer than it once was. Having left the police force decades ago to embark on their tax-break vigilant?e careers, Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding have since retired from this hazardous moonlighting gig to live relatively normal, mundane lives.

But you know what never retires? Evil. And now the downtrodden metropolis faces a new threat in the form of the mysterious "Y" siblings: two privileged young psychopaths who are bringing de?ath and destruction back to Oak Wood's rain-stained alleyways. With local law enforcement on the syndicate's payroll, there remains but one option: Axel and Blaze, accompanied by allies old and new, must return to the mean streets and rescue the burned-out 'berg the only ??way they know how: at the business end of a broken bottle.

Over 25 years since its last official entry, Streets of Rage is finally ready to make its long-awaited, highly anticipated return. The 16-bit era was an entire lifetime ago, and action games have advanced far bey??ond the traditional arcade brawlers of yore – is t??here even a place for Blaze and crew in the modern gaming age? You bet there is, Jack.

Streets of Rage 4 (PC [reviewed], PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, Lizardcube
Publisher: Dotemu
Released: April 30, 2020
MSRP: $24.99

Streets of Rage 4 is a collaborative project between developers Dotemu and Lizardcube (Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap), and Guard Crush Games (Streets of Fury). Dotemu and Guard Crush handled the overall development of SoR 4, while Lizardcube was task?ed with furbishing the post-retro sequel in its distinctive visual style.

While on paper, a three-team development alliance could spell disaster, it becomes clear from the opening minutes that each party's individual talents have combined in perfect synergy. Almost every single element of Streets of Rage 4 excels, thanks in no small part to the respective experience?? and knowledge that each tea??m brought to the table.

SoR 4's gameplay consists of striding defiantly through 12 downtown locations, mashing the ever-loving fuck out of everybody who stands in front of you. Our heroes will brawl their way through the slums, bars, junkyards, trainyards, sewers, and... e?rm... art galleries of Oak Wood City, engaging in bone-breaking, drop-kicking, table-smashing, apple-eating mayhem. When everyone else is dead, you're the best. Any questions?

Each character has a distinct fighting style??, bringing their own very particular set of skills to the ruckus. Axel's at?tacks multi-hit. Blaze can utilise weapons in combos. Adam can slip in-and-out of danger, switching sides with his opponent, while his daughter Cherry is blessed with both dash attacks and other acrobatic abilities. Floyd is the resident chunk 'o' meat, breaking fools with devastating throws that would leave Bane saying "Ease up, mate."

SoR fans will be ecstatic to see the return of classic moves such as Blaze's Kikoushou and Axel's Grand Upper, as well as the series' traditional cartwheels, suplexes, judo throws, break-falls, and sneaky back attacks. As smoothly executed as ever, with an easygoing control system, these familiar attacks and exciting new super-moves will leave long-timer?s squealing with delight.

Where the sequel really comes into its own is with its free-flowing combo dynamic, akin to that of a typical fighting game. Each character can chain together normals, specials, weapon attacks, and throws to create extended combos. Specials cost health, so a risk/reward system asks you to gamble damage against your own life bar. This smart mechanic encourages variety in battle, with long chains of consecutive hits scoring major bonuses. Think Rock Band, but with more punctured lungs. Add in j?uggles, wall-reb?ounds, and environmental damage, and you got yourself a recipe for mayhem. 

Accompanying the main campaign are three side-modes. Battle Mode pits characters against one other in free-for-all combat, Boss Rush lets you take on SoR's biggest and baddest in survival action, and Arcade Mode tasks hardened players with taking on the entire game in a single sitting, without continues. No easy feat. SoR 4 features five difficulty levels, supporting four players in local multiplayer and two players online. I haven't been able to have marathon online sessions but the experience I have? had (?on PC) was crisp, low on latency, and very enjoyable.

Lizardcube has outdone itself in regards to Streets of Rage 4's visuals. The sequel is dripping with style and attitude. Series devotees will be thrilled upon seeing the SoR rogues' gallery redesigns, offering new looks to classic scumbags Y Signal, Diamond, Fog, and everybody's favourite Poison rip-off: Nora. Meanwhile, a handful of brand new characters – including the awesome combat cop Estel Aguirre – threaten to steal the spotlight entirely. Ah'm beggin' ya to make her playable, devs.

Lizardcube's talents are also showcased in the modern realisation of Oak Wood City, which dazzles with its intricate detailing and reflective light, shadow, and weather effects. The grimy and dangerous world of Streets of Rage 4 is? both? brand new and immediately familiar at one and the same time.

It would be criminal not to address the soundtrack, to some fans the spine of the Streets of Rage saga. SoR 4 boasts a great modern-retro score. Each stage utilises multiple tracks, punctuating every jaw-crushing blow with nightclub-heavy beats and '90s rave piano samples. While original composer Yuzo Koshiro's contributions are minor, a host of new talent steps up to capture that SoR spirit. Besides, if you really want Koshiro's magic, you ca?n switch out the OST for t??he classic 16-bit scores at will.

Streets of Rage 4 does have a few disappointments, that seem to pertain to circumstance, rather than design. Though the campaign includes brief cutscenes, the story lacks a satisfying conclusion, simply cutting to credits and splash art, which is a little anti-climatic. It's great to see the inclusion of retro characters Skate, Max, Shiva, and Dr. Zan, but SoR 3's Roo seems to be M.I.A entirely. A few boss characters get recycled in later stages, despite the catalogue of classic SoR v??illains to call upon and, oddly, the two-year old teaser trailer now serves as the game's intro.

It could be speculated that the project ran out of time, money, or both. It would be understandable, hand animation is a very lengthy, expensive process. But as the dev team has worked with such dedication to deliver a complete experience with SoR 4, these min??or? omissions are conspicuous. As stated, however, these are mere disappointments, not deal-breakers.

All developers care for their IPs, and undoubtedly want their games to be a success, but when a developer is truly smitten with its work, it manifests itself in the final product. Dotemu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games clearly love Streets of Rage. There isn't an element of Streets of Rage 4 that showcases the team at anything less than their best. A love letter to both the brand and its audience, SoR 4 is the most passionately "personal" video game ??I've played in a long time.

It's almost impossible to imagine a Streets of Rage devotee not being delighted with this sequel. It has the depth of combat and variance of character for dedicated fans to sink their teeth into, while its chaotic "quick-fix" action and co-op multiplayer offers even the most casual enthusiast a solid experience. While it may suffer longevity issues inherent to the genre. SoR 4's gratifying gameplay and fair price tag make this a purc??hase worth anyone's cash.

Streets of Rage 4 is an absolute triumph. It looks stunning, it sounds sublime, and it plays like a dream. SoR 4 delivers fistfuls of knock-down, drag-out action for fans old and new, all at a modest price. It's been a long wait for the Streets of Rage faith?ful, but comebacks rarely get much better th??an this. GRAND UPPAH!

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Set tasers to fun

Yesterday saw the release of Dotemu's excellent Streets of Rage 4. As such, you may have already thrown hands with classic SoR villains such as Nora, Garnet, and Barbon. But I know what you're thinking: "This is all well and good, Y Signal, but I want to beat up that tonally inappropriate alien guy from Streets of Rage 2."

Well, have I got the guide for you...

Streets of Rage 4 has several secret boss fights, which let players throw down with some classic 16-bit bosses on their pixelated stomping grounds. To access these fights, all you need do is bag yourself a taser and electrify one of several Bare Knuckle arcade cabs strewn throughout the city. In SoR 4, the taser is a fragile weapon, so be careful not to use it before it's helped you on your time-war??ping trip to the 1990s.

Unfortunately, completing these fights does not unlock anything new, but it's still a neat touch - yet another way that Streets of Rage 4 pays homage to its series' storied history. You can find the locatio??ns of four secret fights below. But ??these are early days, so who knows what else might be uncovered now that the game is in the hands of the public?

(The bosses themselves have not been reveale??d to keep the surprise element.)

Stage 2: Police Precinct

While brawling through the cell block, you'll find the Bare Knuckle cabinet hiding in an open cell toward the end of?? first area. Grab the taser from a cop?? during the previous fight.

Stage 4: Old Pier

The cabinet can be found in its natural habitat at the end of the pier. Enter through the doorway on the far right. There are two taser-wielding? cops right outside, so grabbing a zapper shouldn't be a problem.

Stage 5: Underground

After yo??u climb out of the sewers and battle through the bathroom, the cabinet can be found in the cent??er of the Red Demon bar. One of the nearby thugs is carrying a taser. This is a wild area, so be careful not to smash the cab by accident.

Stage 8: Art Gallery

When you reach the storage area filled with golden chickens, the cabinet is against the back wall and standing next to what is, let's face it, a giant butt-plug. This taser is a little hidden, b?ut you'll find it in the bottom left of the screen, directly in front of the cabinet and just jutting out from the foreground.

Streets of Rage 4 is available now on PS?4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

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'Target Acquired'

I'm here to tell you that i?t ??is Saturday, even though I almost had to check the calendar to make sure. It almost feels like 2020 is one day, a day we just keep taking power naps through. I hope you're all keeping well and finding your own sense of routine, whatever it may be. But still, it is the weekend, and I hope that you all have a good one.

This week, I've been bouncing between several games. I've been breaking ribs in the excellent Streets of Rage 4, hoping to come across new secrets. Really, I just want to keep seeing amazing combat cop Estel Aguirre, who I basically want to "be." Not just in SoR 4, but in real life. I've also been searching for missing "Bromides" (that's photographs to you and I) in Sakura Wars, and I also ran through Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered on Veteran. Still got it.

But enough about me. What are you playing right now? After a few dry weeks, we're almost spoiled for choice with SoR 4, Sakura Wars, XCOM, Predator: Hunting Grounds, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Gears Tactics, and other recent hits such as Resident Evil 3 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. A lot of fun times there, that's for sure. So fill us in o??n the action. You are always among friends here.

Have a safe and restful weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.

_{Please keep major spoilers for recent games out of the comments, thanks!}

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Bare-knuckle streaming

In case you hadn't heard, we kind of love Streets of Rage 4. Moyse gave it a 9/10, saying "Comebacks rarely get much better than this." This three-way collaborative effort between Dotemu, Guard Crush, and Lizardcube is faithful to the retro Streets of Rage while serving as a modern realization.

It's Streets of Rage 4's launch day and, natural??ly, we're going to play it. That much shouldn't surprise you -- we're always hitting?? the latest and greatest on our Twitch channel. However, this one comes with a unique opportunity. You have a hotline straight to the developer.

Dotemu is gracious enough to hold an AMA specially for the jbsgame.community. It's going do?wn at 3pm Pacific, which is basically right now. (It's super late in Europe which is where Dotemu is located!) Head over to Twitch chat to ask whatever burning questions you may have. 

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Will go like the blazes

Limited Run Games has finally revealed its Limited Collector's Edition for brand new brawler Streets of Rage 4, which launches April 30 on PC and consoles. This special set will be made available for pre-order o??n Friday, May 1, and is ??expected to sell out in double-quick time.

The Limited Collector's Edition includes a copy of the game itself in classic Sega Genesis-style casing, alternate steelbook packaging, a fake metal Sega Genesis cartridge, a soundtrack CD, art book, poster, and a seven-inch diorama of heroes Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding. Best of all, ?this set includes a stress ball styled after a roast chicken. Yeah. The set will retail for around $150.

If you want in on this box set, then be prepared to move fast. Initial pre-orders for the Limited Collector's Edition will open Friday at 07:00 PT / 10:00 ET / 15:00 BST. A second batch will go live later that day at 15:00 PT / 18:00 ET / 23:00 BST. Players who previously purchased the Classic Edition are entitled t?o cancel their orders should they succeed in bagging ??the new set.

Limited Run Games has suggested that the batch will sell out in a hot minute (literally) and that interested parties should ensure they already have their accounts signed in and be familiar with the ordering process before pre-orders open. For more info on the Limited Run Games dynamic, check out yesterday's exclusive feature on boutique gaming.

Streets of Rage 4? launches April 30 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

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Take me down to Oak Wood City...

Hello folks, how are you all holding up? I think one of the strangest and more unspoken elements of our present lockdow??n situation is the way the weeks and months are just melting away. This time next week it'll be May, and it barely feels like April has begun. Hell, it barely feels like seven days since we all last chatted here.

I guess the key - for those of you who aren't still working - ??is to try and make it so even if the days are somewhat uneventful, we've all still got stories to tell, even if we're just recanting games, movies, books, or great conversations. This is the media age, after all, and it's not like we can run out of things to do. Also, perhaps pick up the phone, because I guarantee t?here's someone who wants to hear from you right now.

This past couple o' weeks I've been neck deep in two brand new games, prepping both for incoming reviews on this here site. First up is Sega's "soft-reboot" of dramatic RPG series Sakura Wars, while the second is Dotemu's stylish brawler Streets of Rage 4. When not writing on site, (or lying in bed ??with heart palpitations), I've been hitting these games, and I'm looking forward to telling you all about both very soon.

But before that, you should tell us all what you've been playing. There's so many tremendous games out on the market right now, from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, to Final Fantasy VII Remake, Resident Evil 3, and Doom Eternal. N??ot to mention the?? slew of great releases probably sitting in your backlog. So whatever you're hitting right now, drop us a note below and share your joy with us.

Have a safe and restful weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.

_{Please keep spoilers for recent games out of the comments, thanks!}

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Pretty crazy that Lyle himself discovered video games

While Lyle begins the search for his prized Douglas Fir, here's ?what's been happening in video games this past week:

• Streets of Rage 4 has a release date!
• Super Mario Maker 2 got some new updates!
• Artifact is...not dead yet and more!

Whipping bulky men and crossing together animals is a match made in video game heaven. Some day we'll achieve it, but until then, we'll just have to put up with Animal Crossing and Streets of Rage 4 being separate entities. So very close, yet ??so very distant... Just like we'll be for a while! Due to Lyl??e needing time away to begin his search for his prized Douglas Fir – we'll be taking a break.

So, be sure to tune back in at the end of May for more Pregame Discharge!

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Bare those Knuckles

DotEmu has officially announced that stomach-kneeing, skull-cracking, German-suplexin' brawler Streets of Rage 4 will launch April 30 on PS4, PC, Xbox One and ??Nintendo Switch.

The long-awaited sequel to the Sega Genesis classics sees the return of vigilantes Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding and Adam Hunter - accompanied by new stars Cherry Hunter and Floyd Iraia - as they return to the mean streets of Wood Oak City, cleaning up crime and fighting inj??ustice in the best way they know how: at the business end of a steel pipe.

The new trailer, posted below, reveals the inclusion of SoR 4's "Battle Mode," that will allow up to four players to pick their favourite hero and face off in free-for-all or team-based combat. As previously reported, Streets of Rage 4 will include unlockable "Retro" options, allowing players to select classic ?16-bit sprites, while throwing down to Yuzo Koshiro's timeless?? '90s soundtrack.

Streets of Rage 4 launches April 30 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. A physical edition is currently available to pre-order from Limited Run Games.

Get ready to become the Undisputed Champion of Wood Oak City with the Batt??l?e Mode!

Streets of Rage 4 will hit PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One April 30 for $24.99. #SOR4

Add to your wishlist: //t.co/KsTGcyr3ur@Lizardcube @Guard_Crush pic.twitter.com/HgR5benKMf

— dotemu (@Dotemu) April 17, 2020

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As the man said: 'My Body is Ready'

[Update: The original leaked listing has now appeared on Nintendo.co.uk. In addition, Lizardcube has issued a tweet that confirms the existence of unlockable "classic" characters and original soundtracks. The returning heroes (such as Max, Ska??te, and Dr. Zan) are playable in their old-school, 16-bit forms. A retail price?? of $24.99 USD was also confirmed.

The tweet does not, however, confirm the previously reported April 23 release date, and only suggests that Streets of Rage 4 is coming "soon." You can check out a new "Retro Revea??l" trailer at the foot of the article.]

A listing on the Australian Nintendo eShop has suggested that incoming brawler Streets of Rage 4 will be hitting storefronts (and faces) on April 23, at a price of around?? $38 AUD, or roughly $25 USD.

The listing includes features such as "12 unique stages," the ability to unlock and play as classic characters - such as SoR 2's Max and Skate - and the option to switch out the new OST with "the music of the original Streets of Rage games." Considering the heartfelt nostalgia demonstrated by visual designer Lizardcube in Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, thes??e great-sounding features are more than believable.

Of course, none of this has been confirmed by Streets of Rage 4 publisher Dotemu, and as such should be taken with a pinch of salt. We will, of course, keep you updated should any official word be forthcoming. Honestly, I don't think I could be more excited, given the pedigree on display in SoR 4's team of developers.

Streets of Rage 4 is scheduled to launch this spring on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. A physical edition is currently available to pre-order from Limited Run Games.

Streets of Rage 4 set for release April 23 according to AU e??Shop [GoNintendo]

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Sound of the Pound

Perhaps no one element truly defines the Streets of Rage series more than its soundtrack. A curiously familiar cacophony of electro-beats, rave piano, and '90s nightclub rhythms, the SoR OSTs perfectly ??encapsulate the mood of the piece, the time period, ??and the overall vibe of the gritty, vigilante violence.

The upcoming Streets of Rage 4 hopes to do the original series justice, with French composer Olivier Derivière (A Plague Tale, Remember Me) serving as SoR 4's lead composer, supported by various artists such as Hotline Miami's Scattle and Das Mortem. Of course, it wouldn't be SoR wit??hout the unmistakable sound ? of original composer Yuzo Koshiro, who returns to create "key tracks" - such as the main theme, the character select theme, and certain boss battles.

A new video from DotEmu, which you can check out below, looks at the development of the Streets of Rage 4 soundtrack. Streets of Rage 4 launches this spring on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. A physical edition is available to pre-order from Limited Run Games.

The post Streets of Rage 4’s block rockin’ beats composed by Yuzo Koshiro and Olivier Deriviere appeared first on Destructoid.

Complete with that annoying little shelf hook

Purveyor of the physical, Limited Run Games, has announced plans to release a physical edition of pretty-looking face-smasher Streets of Rage 4. This edition will be made available to pre-order on PS4 and Nin??tendo Switc?h this Friday.

Available in three formats, old-school fans may want to check out the "Classic Edition" which, for around $60, includes a copy of the game, exclusive steelbook packaging, and a fun Sega Genesis-style clamshell case, which would allow your copy of SoR 4 to sit snugly alongside the three previous titles, (that is, if you own a physical copy of SoR 3, Scrooge McDuck).

SoR 4 will also be available to purchase in standard format on both PS4 and Switch for around $35. A special "tricked-out" Limited Edition is planned for a later date, but there are no details pertaining to the contents of this latter set as of yet. Pre-orders for both the standard and Classic editions will go live on the Limited Run store  Friday, March 20 at 07:00 PT / 10:00 ET.

Streets of Rage 4 launc??hes ?this spring on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

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