Streets of Rage 4 - It's finally back after 24 years

Someone was up to the task and finally decided to do it. Someone is bringing a classic we've all really been missing in our current gaming sphere since the last game in the trilogy came out in 1994.

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The madmen at Lizardcube who came up with the idea are surely working hard on bringing the classic franchise we all hold dear in our little child's soul back to life. This time being published by DotEmu in association with SEGA, the trailer hits us with that old Retro Club Synthwave feel we've all been yearning for after it finishes showing the big names who are working on this project. What comes next will blow your m i n d.

As the Synth 90's music this series is know for, kicks into the trailer, the trailer also kicks into us, showing us a gloomy and humid sidewalk, lit up by only the streetlights and some neon signs across the street. But not for long. Some nice kicks (Shoes this time, you dummy!) show up. But what's really important about this scene is not how the Synth's rythm beautifully kicks in as the same time as they walk in, it's who these shoes belong to. And you won't believe how he's changed.

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The hype and awesomeness of this trailer simply doesn't stop there. After we get a look at Axel's new but also mature (cough cough, better and improved) design, he makes sure to smash some bad guy's skulls against his knuckles and knees BUT looks back onto a brawl that's happening behind him after a thug's body passes right above him. The one who sent that body flying could only be his fellow sidekick, who also got a new (cough cough, better and improved) design. The one and only, waifu of kid's from the 90's, Blaze Fielding

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As she kicks us (a thug, really) with her new voluptuous and sexy look, we're taken right into gameplay footage, showcasing exactly how the game will look when it's out on stores. We see our Justice Heroes fight neverending hordes of bad guys, going from simple moves to complicated and flashy special attacks like Dragon Wing and Dragon Smash coming from Axel's iron fist punches but also the Embukyaku from Blaze's versatile and quick arsenal!

In the final segment of this really short trailer, we receive a sneak peek of a character who may just be the main villain in this entry of the series. It's shown as a woman with dark skin, short and pink spiky hair who's body is surrounded by a rather large viper which suddenly uses to attack Axel as he comes for her while letting his fist start a fire with the sparks of the pavement. And then boom, a 4 comes out and the title reveals itself as Streets of Rage 4

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So, now that I've described what the trailer brought to the table, let's explain what's going on behind the curtains, so to say.

Let's talk about the Developers and Publishers. What do these names mean?

I've already mentioned Lizardcube is acting as the developer of this long awaited entry, but who are they and what have they done to deserve the rights to develop Streets of Rage 4?(SoR4) All I could find on them is that SoR4 is the second game which they are developing on first hand.

Their first game being Wonder Boy: The dragon's Trap which is a remake of the original title, released on 1989. It looks fairly simple, cute but none the less, solid.

So, here's what we're dealing with in the end: We got a developer who's got some if minimal but solid experience working on at least one game from the past. That's what catches my interest because bringing a game back in a way that people from today actually manage to enjoy it, is no easy task. You really gotta work hard to create that impact in today's youth as the og's developers did when the original titles came out. So that's a yes for Lizardcube, i'm definitely putting my trust in them to make a good game, but i'm not saying they will throw it out of the park.

DotEmu on the other hand, is working as this game's publisher in association with SEGA. Now we know what Sega is capable of but who's DotEmu and what have they done to get here? Well, let me tell you that although they're a rather not well known name on the market and fairly unrecognized, you've probably played something which has gone through their hands first.

DotEmu takes care and respect in bringing back old classics from your childhood up to your regular systems of today (Mostly Pc, Mac and mobile devices though.) in a way where you can play them without requiring your old cartridge. The list of the games they worked on is rather extensive (Which you can check in here.) So I can surely say with the most heartfell confidence, that my trust lies with them. And Besides, they also published Lizardcube's first game as well! By that fact we know that both companies (which coexist in France) have a verified history together and are ready and on board to take this project and make it the best it can be.

Final Thoughts

I can agree with some people saying that this game might flop or might not be as good as we expect it from what we've seen on the trailer. But I can also say I support the idea that whatever comes from this association of Publishers and Developers will be something good. Not great. But something that maybe the majority of us will enjoy.

It should also be noted that at this point in time, the original sound designer for the trilogy of SoR, Yuzo Koshiro is not confirmed to be working with the actual developers. Which is something some users were arguing about as the trailer was released on youtube.

Before I write my final Paragraph, I'd like you guys to take a look at the trailer itself.