While I was expecting Dotemu to wait until PAX East 2020 to show off more of Streets of Rage 4, I suppose they could wait any longer. Today they not only announced more specific info for the game, but also the 5th character who’ll be joining the fray. So let’s start with that, say hello to Floyd Iraia.
The first thing you’ll notice is that Floyd Iraia is rocking some cybernetic limbs, and looks not like Street of Rage 3’s Gilbert Zan, but more so Jax from Mortal Kombat. But he does have a connection to Zan, as the good doctor provided Floyd with his upgrades. Slower than the other characters, Floyd packs a mighty punch. He also can draw enemies in with a ranged grab and that looks to be quite a bit of fun. He seems like a nice mashup of both Zan and Max from Streets of Rage 2.
Streets of Rage 4 reunites Axel, Blaze, and Adam for the first mainline Streets of Rage game in more than 25 years. The highly anticipated sequel embodies the classic trilogy’s gritty, neon-streaked urban atmosphere in a fully original experience boasting a strikingly fluid hand-drawn art style. New skull-cracking playable characters, expanded combat abilities, and a pulsing soundtrack from an all-star lineup including series composers Yūzō Koshiro (Streets of Rage 1, 2, & 3, Sonic the Hedgehog) and Motohiro Kawashima (Streets of Rage 2 & 3, Shinobi II) make Streets of Rage 4 an all-out brawl of a lifetime.
Several co-op modes were also announced; a 2-player co-op online mode and a 4-player offline mode. I wasn’t even aware that Dotemu and Lizardcube were even planning online support, so this news is welcomed. While the 4-player mode sounds like it’s going to be a riot and a blast to play with friends, or at parties. I applaud the addition of the online mode, as I can see me hooking up with some old Streets of Rage buddies and enjoying the game.
Lastly, we now have a release window. Sure, it’s not a release date, but it’s nice to know that we’ll be able to get our hands on Streets of Rage 4 this Spring 2020. As previously announced, the game will be released for the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
For those heading out to PAX East 2020, you’ll get the first chance to check out the new features and character. This game is actually my first stop once I arrive at the event this week. I’ll be sure to let everyone know about how he plays and how the game feels.
Don’t forget that Limited Run Games will produce a physical (limited) run of Streets of Rage 4. While Yuzo Koshiro has returned to score the soundtrack, in case you missed that tidbit.
