The second that intro hits, it feels like you're back in the '90s — but cleaner, sharper, and way more stylish. The game feels like a legit continuation of the originals not just some lazy cash grab. The art style is clean and hand-drawn, with lighting effects that actually bounce off characters and the environment in a way that gives the whole thing this cool, dynamic energy. And man, that soundtrack. Yuzo Koshiro and the original crew came back to drop some heat, and the new beats absolutely go off. It's that classic Streets of Rage sound but with new twists that slap just as hard. Plus, if you're feeling extra nostalgic, you can switch to the original music and even play as the pixel versions of the old characters. It’s such a nice touch. There's a solid roster here too, new and old characters, all with their own style. It never gets stale. And props to Dotemu, man. These folks have been on a run lately, reviving classic franchises and doing it right. Streets of Rage 4 is another W from them. Just pure retro goodness with modern finesse.

★★★★★

The second that intro hits, it feels like you're back in the '90s — but cleaner, sharper, and way more stylish. The game feels like a legit continuation of the originals not just some lazy cash grab. The art style is clean and hand-drawn, with lighting effects that actually bounce off characters and the environment in a way that gives the whole thing this cool, dynamic energy. And man, that soundtrack. Yuzo Koshiro and the original crew came back to drop some heat, and the new beats absolutely go off. It's that classic Streets of Rage sound but with new twists that slap just as hard. Plus, if you're feeling extra nostalgic, you can switch to the original music and even play as the pixel versions of the old characters. It’s such a nice touch. There's a solid roster here too, new and old characters, all with their own style. It never gets stale. And props to Dotemu, man. These folks have been on a run lately, reviving classic franchises and doing it right. Streets of Rage 4 is another W from them. Just pure retro goodness with modern finesse. ★★★★★