Difference between revisions of "Streets of Rage 4"

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'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', known as '''''Bare Knuckle IV''''' (ベア・ナックルIV) in Japan and Asia, is a sequel to ''[[Streets of Rage 3]]'' developed by [[Lizardcube]], [[DotEmu]] and [[Guard Crush Games]] with the approval of [[Sega]]. It is the first official sequel of the series since 1994, with a gap of 26 years between episodes 3 and 4, and has been released on all the consoles of the 8th generation ([[Xbox One]], [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Nintendo Switch]]) and on [[Windows PC|PC]].
 
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', known as '''''Bare Knuckle IV''''' (ベア・ナックルIV) in Japan and Asia, is a sequel to ''[[Streets of Rage 3]]'' developed by [[Lizardcube]], [[DotEmu]] and [[Guard Crush Games]] with the approval of [[Sega]]. It is the first official sequel of the series since 1994, with a gap of 26 years between episodes 3 and 4, and has been released on all the consoles of the 8th generation ([[Xbox One]], [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Nintendo Switch]]) and on [[Windows PC|PC]].
 +
 +
==Story==
 +
The game takes over after the narration told by [[Bare Knuckle III]], instead of the simplified story given by [[Streets of Rage 3]].
 +
{{quote|Ten years have paased since the fall of Mr. X and his Syndicate. The city has been at peace... until now.
 +
 +
A new crime empire has arisen, corrupting everything good in the city. It is rumoured to be led by Mr. X's own children: the Y Twins.
 +
 +
Former detectives Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding join forces with their old friend's daughter, Cherry Hunter, along with Floyd Iraia, an apprentice of the brilliant Dr. Zan.
 +
 +
Together these four vigilantes stand against the Y Syndicate on the...
 +
 +
Streets of Rage|Opening sequence}}
 +
 +
==Gameplay==
 +
Streets of Rage 4 gameplay is based on the mechanics developped for [[Streets of Rage 2]] and adds various tweaks to refresh the formula. The basics are still composed of:
 +
*Normal moves, simple punches and kicks that can be stringed together,
 +
*Jumping moves,
 +
*Grabbing moves, including somersaults over enemies for most characters,
 +
*Stabbing moves, using objects laying on the floor like knives, drinking bottles or lead pipes,
 +
*Blitz moves, special moves that don't incur any penalties,
 +
*Special moves, draining user's health.
 +
Contrary to SoR3, each character only has a single blitz move but all of them can now perform 3 different special moves, including a new jumping special move. Floyd can also perform a grabbing special move. Those special moves still drain user's health but health lost this way can now be entirely recovered by hitting enemies as long as no enemies hit the user back.
 +
 +
Moreover, a new combo system makes its apparition:
 +
*Combo hit counting goes on as long as enemies are hit before a given delay.
 +
*Combo contribution to the score is strictly based on the amount of enemy health removed by hitting them.
 +
As such, it is quite easier to perform very long combos in co-op or online modes by alterning hits between players. Hitting continuously already dead enemies does increase the combo hit count but doesn't contribute to the score at all.
 +
 +
Finally, the move set is completed by the new star moves, super special moves that can only be performed as long as a player still has stars below his/her health bar. A player always begins with a single star. Stars can be cumulated and earned by increasing the score or by picking star items on the floor.
 +
 +
Adam Hunter SoR4 is available after defeating the boss of the fourth level, policewoman Estel Aguirre, the first time in story mode. Increasing the score is then the means to unlock all the previous incarnations of the classic characters. Four hidden retro stages can only be accessed by hitting arcade cabinets with tasers.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==

Revision as of 14:14, 16 August 2020

For the unreleased Sega Dreamcast game, see Streets of Rage 4 (Dreamcast).

n/a

Notavailable.svg
Streets of Rage 4
System(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Windows PC
Publisher: Dotemu
Sony PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
Limited Run Games (US)
Sony PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
3goo (Japan)
Sony PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
Xbox One
Windows PC
Merge Games (Europe, US)
Developer:
Genre: Action[1], Adventure[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sony PlayStation 4
JP
(Special Edition) 		¥4,600 (5,060)4600e[6]
CERO: B
Sony PlayStation 4
US ▼ 		$24.9924.99[2] CUSA-16237
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Sony PlayStation 4
US 		$34.9934.99[10]
ESRB: Teen
Sony PlayStation 4
US
(Classic Edition) 		$59.9959.99[11]
ESRB: Teen
Sony PlayStation 4
US
(Limited Edition) 		$149.99149.99[12]
ESRB: Teen
Sony PlayStation 4
US
(Brawler Bundle) 		$204.99204.99[13]
ESRB: Teen
Sony PlayStation 4
EU ▼ 		€24.9924.99[4] CUSA-16221
PEGI: 12+
Sony PlayStation 4
FR 		€34.9934.99[9]
PEGI: 12+
Sony PlayStation 4
FR
(Signature Edition) 		€54.9954.99[9]
PEGI: 12+
Sony PlayStation 4
UK ▼ 		£19.9919.99[3] CUSA-16221
PEGI: 12+
Sony PlayStation 4
UK 		£29.9929.99[7]
PEGI: 12+
Sony PlayStation 4
UK
(Signature Edition) 		£44.9944.99[8]
PEGI: 12+
Sony PlayStation 4
AU ▼ 		$37.9537.95[5] CUSA-16221
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
Xbox One
JP ▼ 		¥2,636 (2,900)2900i[19]
IARC: 12
Xbox One
US ▼ 		$24.9924.99[14]
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Xbox One
EU ▼ 		€24.9924.99[17]
PEGI: 12+
Xbox One
FR 		€34.9934.99[9]
PEGI: 12+
Xbox One
FR
(Signature Edition) 		€54.9954.99[9]
PEGI: 12+
Xbox One
UK ▼ 		£20.9920.99[15]
PEGI: 12+
Xbox One
UK 		£29.9929.99[20]
PEGI: 12+
Xbox One
UK
(Signature Edition) 		£44.9944.99[21]
PEGI: 12+
Xbox One
AU ▼ 		$37.4537.45[16]
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
Xbox One
KR ▼ 		₩31,40031,400[18]
GRB: 15
Nintendo Switch
JP ▼ 		¥2599i2599i[30]
CERO: B
Nintendo Switch
JP
(Special Edition) 		¥4,600 (5,060)4600e[6]
CERO: B
Nintendo Switch
US ▼ 		$24.9924.99[23]
ESRB: Teen
Nintendo Switch
US 		$34.9934.99[34]
ESRB: Teen
Nintendo Switch
US
(Classic Edition) 		$59.9959.99[35]
ESRB: Teen
Nintendo Switch
US
(Limited Edition) 		$149.99149.99[36]
ESRB: Teen
Nintendo Switch
US
(Brawler Bundle) 		$204.99204.99[37]
ESRB: Teen
Nintendo Switch
EU ▼ 		€24.9924.99[25]
PEGI: 12+
Nintendo Switch
DE ▼ 		€24.9924.99[26]
USK: 12
Nintendo Switch
FR 		€39.9939.99[9]
PEGI: 12+
Nintendo Switch
FR
(Signature Edition) 		€59.9959.99[9]
PEGI: 12+
Nintendo Switch
UK ▼ 		£22.4922.49[24]
PEGI: 12+
Nintendo Switch
UK 		£34.9934.99[32]
PEGI: 12+
Nintendo Switch
UK
(Signature Edition) 		£49.9949.99
PEGI: 12+
Nintendo Switch
AU ▼ 		$37.5037.50[28]
OFLC: Mature (M)
Nintendo Switch
HK ▼ 		HK$188.00188.00[31]
GOG
US ▼ 		$24.9924.99[42]
Steam
US ▼ 		$24.9924.99[38] 985890
Steam
EU ▼ 		€24.9924.99[40] 985890
Steam
UK ▼ 		£22.4922.49[39] 985890
Steam
AU ▼ 		$35.9535.95[41] 985890
Windows PC
UK 		£24.9924.99[43]
PEGI: 12+

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Streets of Rage 4, known as Bare Knuckle IV (ベア・ナックルIV) in Japan and Asia, is a sequel to Streets of Rage 3 developed by Lizardcube, DotEmu and Guard Crush Games with the approval of Sega. It is the first official sequel of the series since 1994, with a gap of 26 years between episodes 3 and 4, and has been released on all the consoles of the 8th generation (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch) and on PC.

Story

The game takes over after the narration told by Bare Knuckle III, instead of the simplified story given by Streets of Rage 3.


“ Ten years have paased since the fall of Mr. X and his Syndicate. The city has been at peace... until now.

A new crime empire has arisen, corrupting everything good in the city. It is rumoured to be led by Mr. X's own children: the Y Twins.

Former detectives Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding join forces with their old friend's daughter, Cherry Hunter, along with Floyd Iraia, an apprentice of the brilliant Dr. Zan.

Together these four vigilantes stand against the Y Syndicate on the...

Streets of Rage

„

— Opening sequence


Gameplay

Streets of Rage 4 gameplay is based on the mechanics developped for Streets of Rage 2 and adds various tweaks to refresh the formula. The basics are still composed of:

  • Normal moves, simple punches and kicks that can be stringed together,
  • Jumping moves,
  • Grabbing moves, including somersaults over enemies for most characters,
  • Stabbing moves, using objects laying on the floor like knives, drinking bottles or lead pipes,
  • Blitz moves, special moves that don't incur any penalties,
  • Special moves, draining user's health.

Contrary to SoR3, each character only has a single blitz move but all of them can now perform 3 different special moves, including a new jumping special move. Floyd can also perform a grabbing special move. Those special moves still drain user's health but health lost this way can now be entirely recovered by hitting enemies as long as no enemies hit the user back.

Moreover, a new combo system makes its apparition:

  • Combo hit counting goes on as long as enemies are hit before a given delay.
  • Combo contribution to the score is strictly based on the amount of enemy health removed by hitting them.

As such, it is quite easier to perform very long combos in co-op or online modes by alterning hits between players. Hitting continuously already dead enemies does increase the combo hit count but doesn't contribute to the score at all.

Finally, the move set is completed by the new star moves, super special moves that can only be performed as long as a player still has stars below his/her health bar. A player always begins with a single star. Stars can be cumulated and earned by increasing the score or by picking star items on the floor.

Adam Hunter SoR4 is available after defeating the boss of the fourth level, policewoman Estel Aguirre, the first time in story mode. Increasing the score is then the means to unlock all the previous incarnations of the classic characters. Four hidden retro stages can only be accessed by hitting arcade cabinets with tasers.

History

Development

Main article: Streets of Rage 4/Development.

After the critical success of the remake of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap by Lizardcube in 2017, Lizardcube asked Sega to trust them with another IP from the Mega Drive era. The deal concluded with the revival of Streets of Rage, with the production starting early 2018. As they didn't have any experience in doing beat-em-up games, Lizardcube associated again with DotEmu, this time for production and not edition, and with Guard Crush Games to provide an improved version of their engine used on their 2015 released game, Streets of Fury.


Artistic direction was once again led by Ben Fiquet, CEO of Lizardcube, along with Julian Nguyen You as the background artist. They decided to set the story of the new game 10 years after the last episode to give more freeways to re-imagining the old characters. One of the new characters, policewoman Estel, has been inspired by a real policewoman that did a strong impression on Ben Fiquet when she broke into his building once for an operation she was in charge, along 2 ripped male partners. Some backgrounds are inspired by real places:

  • The encounter with the first boss Diva is set at a place looking like the Viaduc des Arts, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, France.
  • The backyard where we meet the fifth boss Barbon seems to be set next to the Golden Bridge in San Francisco, USA.
  • The stage map displays a Manhattan look-alike island.


For the sound aspects, the studios contracted early with Olivier Derivière based on his work on adaptive soundtracks on several video games, giving a strong dubstep colouring to Streets of Rage 4, probably because the sound work of Yuzo Koshiro on the original SoR trilogy heavily influenced the dubstep musical trend during the early 2000's. The studios reached to Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima during their concert Diggin' In The Carts in Paris in 2018 and successfully contracted for their participation in the game soundtrack through the company Brave Wave Productions. This deal also gave the opportunity to have other legendary Japanese guests like Yoko Shimomura from Street Fighter II and Kingdom Hearts fame, Keiji Yamagishi, well known for Ninja Gaiden and Dynasty Warriors, and Harumi Fujita who worked on Strider and Final Fight. This all-star sound team is completed by other guests from the West: Scattle, XL Middleton, Das Mörtal and Groundislava.

Reception

The first announcement of the game was made on DotEmu and Lizardcube's Twitter accounts on 27 August 2018, along with a trailer already showing some sequences of the game at its early stage. The reception from the retro gaming public was quite lukewarm at the time, negatively comparing the artistic direction to popular Flash games during the 2000's. The uncertainty at the time of whether Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima would return as composers on the game was also quite unappealing to long time fans of the franchise.

With trailers being regularly released and groundbreaking announcements like the 4-player co-op mode or the possibility to play the game using old incarnations of the classic characters, the public and critics alike welcomed the game quite warmly after its digital release on 30 April 2020, sales figures exceeding all the expections of the 3 development studios. This has been followed by a worldwide physical release on 30 July 2020, managed by 3goo in Japan, and Merge Games in Europe and the USA. Limited Run Games also released a batch of their own regular and classic editions of the game at the same date. Their limited edition with a figure of both Axel and Blaze will be made available during the last quarter of 2020.


All the physical releases came with some goodies, Merge Games editions all having at least a keyholder and an artbook (actually an "art manual"), and 3goo editions coming with a single CD soundtrack and a poster having the back side showing the complete command list for the 4 characters available during the first run of the game ala Bare Knuckle III.

Magazine articles

Main article: Streets of Rage 4/Magazine articles.

Artwork

  • StreetsofRage4 Art logo.png
  • StreetsofRage4 Art Artwork-0001.png
  • StreetsofRage4 Art Artwork-0002.png
  • StreetsofRage4 Art Artwork-0003.png
  • StreetsofRage4 Art AxelIdle.gif
  • StreetsofRage4 Art AxelPunchesRough.gif
  • StreetsofRage4 Art AxelPunchesRough2.gif
  • StreetsofRage4 Art BlazeIdle.gif
  • StreetsofRage4 Art KeyArt v5.png
  • StreetsofRage4 Art StreetsOfRage4-0000-Quotes.png

Physical scans

PlayStation 4 version

PlayStation 4, JP (Special Edition)

PlayStation 4, US

PlayStation 4, US (Classic Edition)

PlayStation 4, US (Limited Edition)

PlayStation 4, US (Brawler Bundle)

PlayStation 4, UK

PlayStation 4, UK (Signature Edition)

PlayStation 4, FR

PlayStation 4, FR (Signature Edition)

Nintendo Switch version

Switch, JP (Special Edition)

Switch, US

Switch, US (Classic Edition)

Switch, US (Limited Edition)

Switch, US (Brawler Bundle)

Switch, UK

Switch, UK (Signature Edition)

Switch, FR

Switch, FR (Signature Edition)

Xbox One version

Xbox One, UK

Xbox One, UK (Signature Edition)

Xbox One, FR

Xbox One, FR (Signature Edition)

PC version

PC, UK

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/streets-of-rage-4-ps4/ (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 18:56)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 PlayStation Store (en-us; UP1482-CUSA16237_00-00STREETSOFRAGE4) (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 18:59)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 PlayStation Store (en-gb; EP1470-CUSA16221_00-00STREETSOFRAGE4) (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:02)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 PlayStation Store (fr-fr; EP1470-CUSA16221_00-00STREETSOFRAGE4) (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:03)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 PlayStation Store (en-au; EP1470-CUSA16221_00-00STREETSOFRAGE4) (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:05)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://www.3goo.co.jp/bareknuckle4/ (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-02 15:48)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://signatureeditiongames.com/products/northgard-standard-edition-ps4?variant=14879014027299 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 16:09)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://signatureeditiongames.com/products/streets-of-rage-4-signature-edition-ps4?variant=31682138177600 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 16:13)
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 https://www.shop-justforgames.com/streets-of-rage-c112x792863 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 18:50)
  10. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/limited-run-332-streets-of-rage-4-ps4 (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-14 18:11)
  11. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/limited-run-332-streets-of-rage-4-classic-edition-ps4 (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-14 18:25)
  12. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/limited-run-332-streets-of-rage-4-limited-edition-ps4 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-01 17:49)
  13. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/streets-of-rage-brawler-bundle-ps4 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-01 17:50)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/streets-of-rage-4/9n7h54kncb9n?rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:43)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/streets-of-rage-4/9n7h54kncb9n?rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:41)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/p/streets-of-rage-4/9n7h54kncb9n?rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:44)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 https://www.microsoft.com/fr-fr/p/streets-of-rage-4/9n7h54kncb9n?rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:45)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 https://www.microsoft.com/ko-kr/p/streets-of-rage-4/9n7h54kncb9n?rtc=2&activetab=pivot:overviewtab (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:46)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 https://www.microsoft.com/ja-jp/p/streets-of-rage-4/9n7h54kncb9n?rtc=2&activetab=pivot:overviewtab (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:48)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 https://signatureeditiongames.com/products/streets-of-rage-4-standard-edition-xbox-one?variant=31682193653824 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 16:16)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 https://signatureeditiongames.com/products/streets-of-rage-4-signature-edition-xbox-one?variant=31682148728896 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 16:19)
  22. ↑ https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/streets-of-rage-4-switch/ (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 20:01)
  23. ↑ https://archive.is/kgPf7
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 https://archive.is/NaCvb
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 https://archive.is/p3OZc
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 https://archive.is/EE48U
  27. ↑ https://ec.nintendo.com/AU/en/titles/70010000026149 (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 20:19)
  28. ↑ https://archive.is/umWPB
  29. ↑ https://ec.nintendo.com/JP/ja/titles/70010000029104 (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 20:26)
  30. ↑ https://archive.is/uWDvd
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 https://store.nintendo.com.hk/70010000028293 (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 20:32)
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 https://signatureeditiongames.com/products/streets-of-rage-4-standard-edition-switch?variant=31682156167232 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 16:22)
  33. ↑ https://signatureeditiongames.com/products/streets-of-rage-4-signature-edition-switch?variant=31682145419328 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 16:25)
  34. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/switch-limited-run-65-streets-of-rage-4 (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-14 18:49)
  35. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/switch-limited-run-65-streets-of-rage-4-classic-edition (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-14 19:05)
  36. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/switch-limited-run-65-streets-of-rage-4-limited-edition (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-01 17:45)
  37. ↑ https://limitedrungames.com/collections/streets-of-rage-4/products/streets-of-rage-brawler-bundle-switch (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-01 17:46)
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 https://store.steampowered.com/app/985890/Streets_of_Rage_4/ (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 19:37)
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 https://store.steampowered.com/app/985890/Streets_of_Rage_4/?cc=uk (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 21:09)
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 https://store.steampowered.com/app/985890/Streets_of_Rage_4/?cc=fr (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 21:16)
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 https://store.steampowered.com/app/985890/Streets_of_Rage_4/?cc=au (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 21:22)
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 https://www.gog.com/index.php/game/streets_of_rage_4%2520 (Wayback Machine: 2020-04-30 23:07)
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 https://signatureeditiongames.com/products/streets-of-rage-4-standard-edition-pc?variant=31728901947456 (Wayback Machine: 2020-05-07 16:32)



SoR 1UP sprite Games in the Streets of Rage Series
Streets of Rage (3D) (1991) | Streets of Rage 2 (3D) (1992) | Streets of Rage 3 (1994) | Streets of Rage 4 (2020)
Streets of Rage (LCD) (1993) | Bare Knuckle Mobile (2010) | Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage (2012)
Related Games
Streets Of Kamurocho (2020) | Fighting Force (unreleased) | Streets of Rage 4 (Dreamcast) (unreleased) | Streets of Rage Online (unreleased)
Related Media
Music
 Bare Knuckle (1991) | Streets of Rage 2 Original Soundtrack (1993) | Bare Knuckle III (1994) | Bare Knuckle Original Soundtrack (2012) | Streets of Rage (2015) | Streets of Rage 2 (2016) | Streets of Rage 3 (2017) | Streets of Rage 4 Limited Run Games Exclusive Track Selection (2020) | Streets of Rage Perfect Soundtrack (2017) | Streets of Rage 4 Original Soundtrack (2020) | Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare The Definitive Soundtrack (2022)
Book
 Streets of Rage: Bad City Fighters (1994) | Warpzone Clássicos: Streets of Rage (2016)
Other List of Streets of Rage merchandise
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