FIRST PLAY STREETS OF RAGE 4

PS4, XB1, PC, Switch

For those who owned a Sega Mega Drive in the ’90s, Streets of Rage was the king of scrolling beat-’em-ups. Battering thugs on neon-soaked streets is back, and the results are unashamedly old-school.

Immediately striking is the new hand-drawn art style. It’s bold, but the comicbook visuals vibrantly express the spirit of the original pixel art. Setting the story 10 years after the last game also allows for character redesign, such as Axel’s lovely new beard and belly, as well as introducing new blood – like Cherry, daughter of original member Adam (who himself has only got more ripped).

Most importantly, plays just like a good old-fashioned