Streets of Rage 4 (NSP, XCI) ROM + v1.0.9 Update + DLC

Streets of Rage 4 Reviving the classic beat’em up genre with ’90s jams and intense street brawling, Streets of Rage, an iconic series, returns, paying homage to and revitalizing the beloved action that fans cherish.  Streets of Rage, also known as Bare Knuckle (ベア・ナックル Bea Nakkuru) in Japan, is a timeless beat ’em-up series famous for its addictive gameplay and electronic dance-inspired music. Streets of Rage 4 builds on the gameplay of the original trilogy, incorporating new mechanics, stunning hand-drawn visuals, and an exceptional soundtrack. This Game is a side-scrolling beat ’em up game developed by Dotemu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games and published by Dotemu.

GAMEPLAY

Carrying on the style of gameplay from previous entries in the Streets of Rage series from the early 1990s, Streets of Rage 4 is a side-scrolling beat ’em up in which up to four players locally or two players online fight against waves of enemies, aided by disposable weapons and item pickups. Alongside standard attacks, throws, and Blitz Moves, each player character has a set of special attacks that can be performed at the cost of some health. In this game, however, players can restore health spent on a special attack by performing successive follow-up attacks without getting hit.

Each player character also has a unique super combo, “Star Moves”, which can be performed by collecting Stars in each level. A new combo system is introduced, along with the ability to juggle opponents against walls and other players, allowing players to earn extra points by stringing together long combos without getting hit. Each character has unique traits, such as Max’s wall jump and grappling jump, Shiva’s weapon parry mechanics and aerial rave/air combo, and Floyd’s long-range grapple.

The main gameplay mode, Story Mode, sees players going through each level as the story is told, with a stage selection unlocked after clearing Story Mode. Set ten years after the events of Streets of Rage 3, the story features the playable characters fighting to free Wood Oak City from the control of the Y Twins, the children of the previous series antagonist Mr. X. Players have a limited number of lives depending on the difficulty setting, but can earn more by earning a certain number of points. If all players lose all of their lives, they will have to retry the level from the beginning, with the option to use assists that add extra lives and Star Moves at the cost of a reduced score.

Upon clearing a level, players receive a rank based on how many points they score. Points earned go towards a lifetime score, which goes towards unlocking bonus player characters from past games, presented in a pseudo-16-bit style. The game also features Arcade Mode, which tasks players with clearing the entire game with limited lives, a Boss Rush Mode, and a competitive Battle Mode, which lets two players fight against each other. The game also features a retro audio option, featuring music tracks from both the Mega Drive/Genesis and Master System/Game Gear versions of the first two games.

The base game features five main playable characters; series veterans Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding; Adam Hunter, who originally appeared in the first Streets of Rage game and is unlocked through playing the story; and new characters Cherry Hunter, Adam’s daughter, and Floyd Iraia, a part-cybernetic apprentice of Dr. Zan. 16-bit versions of characters from the original trilogy, including Max Thunder, Skate, Dr. Zan, and Shiva, can be unlocked by raising the lifetime score.

These characters feature move sets based on the games they came from (e.g., SOR3 Axel can run, unlike the SOR1 and SOR2 versions of the same character). The Mr. X’s Nightmare DLC adds three additional characters who appear as bosses in the main story; Max Thunder and Shiva, who were originally playable in Streets of Rage 2 and Streets of Rage 3 respectively, and brand-new character Estel Aguirre. The SOR3 version of Roo can also be unlocked through a cheat code.

PLOT

Ten years after Mr. X’s death, Wood Oak City faces the rise of a new Syndicate, led by Mr. X’s children, the twins Mr. and Ms. Y. Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding, along with Adam Hunter’s daughter Cherry Hunter and Dr. Zan’s apprentice Floyd Iraia, fight the Syndicate around the streets until they are arrested under false accusations.  As they break from the cell, they are approached by Mr. Y, who affirms that the police force is working for him and offers them a deal to join his side, but they refuse. The heroes are chased and surrounded by police officer Estel Aguirre, but Adam appears and helps them escape.

Following a hint to Chinatown, the heroes meet Shiva, who affirms that he is not working with the Y twins and reveals that they have a plan to control the entire city using some special hypnotic signal they developed. Confronting the twins in their hideout, the heroes fight and defeat a brainwashed Max, making him come to his senses. Ms. Y attempts to brainwash them as well but Estel, realizing that the heroes are telling the truth, helps them escape. The heroes then stop a music show arranged by the Syndicate to spread their signal across the city and chase after their enemies to their main base on an island, where they fight and defeat the twins. As the twins are arrested, the heroes part ways and return to their ordinary lives.

MAIN FEATURES

• Unite with familiar and fresh faces: The legendary characters of Streets of Rage, Axel, Blaze, and Adam, reunite with new allies, Floyd Iraia and Cherry Hunter. Equipped with exciting new moves and killer tracks, our heroes are ready to unleash their fury upon a budding gang of misguided criminals.
• Nostalgia reigns supreme: Your dreams are about to come true. Alongside the five new characters, you can unlock and play as your favorite pixelated heroes from previous Streets of Rage games, including Axel, Adam, Blaze, Skate, Max, and more. Experience their retro sound effects in HD hand-drawn urban environments. And for the ultimate nostalgic trip, groove to the music from the earlier Streets of Rage titles!
• Exquisite hand-drawn visuals – After a 25-year hiatus, Streets of Rage 4 marks the triumphant return of Axel, Adam, and Blaze, as they deliver side-scrolling beatdowns. With captivating hand-drawn animations, enhanced combat abilities, and fresh tracks composed by an exceptional team, Streets of Rage 4 is a stunning tribute to the beloved classic that action enthusiasts adore.
• An extraordinary lineup of renowned composers: The Streets of Rage series has gained global recognition for its electronic dance-inspired music. The soundtrack of Streets of Rage 4, led by Olivier Derivière, brings together a remarkable ensemble of Japanese musical architects from the gaming industry’s history, along with four rising Western talents: Yūzō Koshiro, Motohiro Kawashima, Yoko Shimomura, Harumi Fujita, Keiji Yamagishi, Seattle, Das Mörtal, XL Middleton, and Groundislava.

NOTABLE FEATURES

• The long-awaited return of the legendary Streets of Rage series.
• Gorgeous hand-drawn graphics animated by the studio behind Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap.
• Clean up Wood Oak City solo or join a friend online!
• Reclaim the city with up to four players offline for the first time!
• Classic gameplay enriched with fresh mechanics.
• Soundtrack crafted by an illustrious lineup of world-class musicians.
• Delicious braised chicken awaits at every turn.
• Unlock and play as a dozen former Streets of Rage characters in their original pixel form.
• Immerse yourself in the music of previous Streets of Rage games.
• Explore twelve unique stages that will keep you engaged.