Streets of Rage 4/Systems

From Sega Retro

Mechanics

Streets of Rage 4 gameplay is based on the mechanics developped for Streets of Rage 2 and adds various tweaks to refresh the formula. As the buttons can be re-assigned in-game, the default button mapping is given for all the platforms along the corresponding platform-agnostic icons:

  • Press Square (PS4) / Y (Switch) / X (XB1) / D (PC) to attack Attack,
  • Hold Attack for a charge attack,
  • Press Down + Attack mid-air for a light drop attack,
  • From there, press again Attack while still in mid-air to finish with a strong drop attack if the light attack connected (Floyd cannot do this),
  • Or go on with a combo on the ground,
  • Cherry can perform her head stomp Down + Attack multiple times as long as she lands on an enemy each time, instead of ending the air combo with a strong drop attack.
  • Press Circle (PS4) / A (Switch) / B (XB1) / W (PC) to manipulate items Item,
  • Press Right + Item to throw weapons at enemies,
  • With some weapons, Axel, Blaze and Adam can perform powerful thrusts by pressing Right Right + Attack,
  • Press X (PS4) / B (Switch) / A (XB1) / Space (PC) to jump Jump,
  • Hold Up + Jump to recover from an enemy throw without damage.

The back attack can now be performed three different ways:

  • Press R2 (PS4) / ZR (Switch) / RT (XB1) / S (PC), from there on Back Attack,
  • Or press Left + Attack,
  • The old manipulation Attack + Jump still works.

Getting close to opponents will let your character hold them. This is when you can perform all the grabbing moves. When facing the opponent:

  • Press Attack for a strong attack,
  • Press Right + Attack 3 times to perform a flurry of close-range attacks,
  • Press Left + Attack to perform a body throw.

When behind the opponent:

  • Press Attack to perform a suplex or a body slam.

Either way:

  • Press Jump to vault over the held opponent,
  • Press Jump a second time to do a long jump over the opponent.

Cherry is more agile and so can grab opponents mid-air, do a flurry of punches after a vault or after grabbing opponents mid-air, or perform her drop attack after a long jump. Floyd is less agile and so cannot do the vault at all. He also has a specific set of grabbing moves:

  • Press Attack 3 times to perform a flurry of close-range attacks,
  • Press Right + Attack or Left + Attack to perform a body throw towards the given direction,
  • Press Jump then Attack twice to perform a juggle of a body slam followed by a jump kick, or alternatively Jump then Attack, Down + Attack to end with a drop punch,
  • Grab 2 opponents to perform a Power Smash: Floyd crushes the skulls of the 2 opponents against each others.

Finally, in the reverse situation where the enemy holds you, you can break free by pressing repetitively on AttackAttackAttackAttackAttack, JumpJumpJumpJumpJump, ItemItemItemItemItem or SpecialSpecialSpecialSpecialSpecial.

This basic move set is completed by more powerful moves:

  • Blitz moves, special moves that don't incur any penalties and only work with bare hands, by pressing Right Right + Attack,
  • Special moves, draining user's health:
  • Defensive special by pressing Triangle (PS4) / X (Switch) / Y (XB1) / E (PC), from there on Special,
  • Offensive special by pressing Right + Special,
  • Air special by pressing Special mid-air,
  • Star moves, super special moves exclusive to SoR4, by pressing R1 (PS4) / R (Switch) / RB (XB1) / Tab (PC), from there on Star, or Special + Item.

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 air 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 in the meantime. The move set is completed by new star moves that can only be performed as long as a player still has stars displayed below his/her health bar. A player always begins with a single star. Stars can be cumulated by picking up star items on the floor.

The gameplay with SoR4 versions of the characters are pretty much based on SoR2 mechanism of limited motions. That's why only Cherry can dash Right Right, SoR4 Adam can perform small forward dashes Right Right and all the other SoR4 characters must use other moves to go faster e.g. air specials or long jumps. Despite this, the game also lets you play the previous incarnations of most characters by retrofitting their old gameplay to the systems in SoR4 where it makes sense. And SoR3 incarnations can still use their evasive moves i.e. dash and dodge moves.

Moveset Comparison

Here are several tables recapitulating all the move commands for each character incarnation as performed in their original game and in Streets of Rage 4.

Legend:

  • Attack Attack,
  • Back attack Back Attack,
  • Jump Jump,
  • Item Item,
  • Special Special,
  • Star Star.
Streets of Rage characters
Move Type Move Name Original game systems SoR4 systems Comments
Attack Moves Attack / Fury Attack x3 Attack x3
Charge Attack N/A N/A
Jump Kick Jump Attack Jump Attack
Light Drop Attack N/A N/A
Strong Drop Attack N/A N/A
Throw Recovery / Landing Up + Jump Up + Jump
Back Attack Attack + Jump Back Attack
Left + Attack
Attack + Jump
Weapon Moves Pick Up Attack Item
Mid-Air Catch N/A Item
Jump Item
Drop N/A Item
Stab / Swing / Slash Attack Attack In SoR, most weapons always remain in hands. The only exceptions are pepper shakers, which are always thrown at enemies, and knives, which are automatically thrown at far away enemies
Throw Attack + Jump Right + Item
Air Throw N/A Jump Item
Thrust N/A N/A
Grabbing Moves Attack / Flurry Attack x3 Right + Attack x3 When holding an opponent from the front
Power Blow N/A Attack When holding an opponent from the front
Body Throw Left + Attack Left + Attack When holding an enemy from the front
Backdrop Attack Attack When holding an opponent from behind
Vault Over Jump Jump In SoR, when holding an enemy from either side, after the 2nd vault, the enemy gets free. When holding a partner from behind, after the vault, the partner gets free.
In SoR4, you cannot grab a partner and trying to perform a second vault will result into a long jump.
Long Jump N/A Jump Jump
Somersault Jump N/A When holding a partner from the front
Partner Somersault Left + Attack N/A When holding a partner from the front
Reverse Grabbing Moves Double Leg Kick Jump N/A When being held by an opponent from behind
Neck Throw Attack N/A When being held by an opponent from behind, to perform after several Double Leg Kick attempts
Break Free N/A AttackAttackAttackAttackAttack
JumpJumpJumpJumpJump
ItemItemItemItemItem
SpecialSpecialSpecialSpecialSpecial 		When being held by an opponent
Powerful Moves Blitz N/A N/A
Special (Cop Backup Request) Special Special In SoR, the special attack cleans the screen from any enemies but, in SoR4, it only kills enemies within a given area.
In SoR, the special attack is only available outdoor while it's available everywhere in SoR4.
In SoR, the first player gets a blast of napalm and the second player gets a barrage of rocket-powered grenades. In SoR4, only napalm is available.
Star Move N/A N/A
Streets of Rage 2 characters
Move Type Move Name Original game systems SoR4 systems Comments
Attack Moves Attack / Fury Attack x4 Attack x4
Charge Attack
HOLD
Attack
HOLD
Attack
Neutral Jump Attack Jump Attack Jump Attack
Jump Kick Right + Jump Attack
Left + Jump Attack 		Right + Jump Attack
Left + Jump Attack
Light Drop Attack Jump Down + Attack Jump Down + Attack
Strong Drop Attack N/A N/A
Throw Recovery / Landing Up + Jump Up + Jump
Back Attack Attack + Jump Back Attack
Left + Attack
Attack + Jump
Dash Right Right Right Right Skate exclusive move
Weapon Moves Pick Up Attack Item
Mid-Air Catch N/A Item
Jump Item
Drop N/A Item
Stab / Swing / Slash Attack Attack
Throw Attack + Jump Right + Item
Air Throw N/A Jump Item
Thrust N/A N/A
Grabbing Moves Attack / Flurry Right + Attack x3 Right + Attack x3 When holding an opponent from the front
Power Blow Attack Attack When holding an opponent from the front.
Max performs his grappling move Bear Hug.
In SoR2, Skate performs his Attack / Fury sequence whereas, in SoR4, he performs his Body Throw move.
Body Throw Left + Attack Left + Attack When holding an opponent from the front
Super Slam Attack Attack When holding an opponent from behind.
Skate performs his grappling move Migraine.
Vault Over Jump Jump In SoR2, when holding an opponent from either side, after the 2nd vault, the opponent gets free.
In SoR4, you cannot grab a partner and trying to perform a second vault will result into a long jump.
Max cannot vault over enemies.
Long Jump N/A Jump Jump Max cannot jump over enemies
Thunder Body Slam Jump Attack Jump Attack Max exclusive move when holding an opponent from the front
Atomic Drop Jump Attack Jump Attack Max exclusive move when holding an opponent from behind
Neck Throw Jump Attack Jump Attack Skate exclusive move when holding an opponent from either side
Reverse Grabbing Moves Break Free N/A AttackAttackAttackAttackAttack
JumpJumpJumpJumpJump
ItemItemItemItemItem
SpecialSpecialSpecialSpecialSpecial 		When being held by an opponent
Powerful Moves Blitz Right Right + Attack Right Right + Attack
Defensive Special Special Special
Offensive Special Right + Special
Left + Special 		Right + Special
Left + Special
Air Special N/A N/A
Star Move N/A Star
Special + Item 		Each SoR2 character gets a new Star move
Streets of Rage 3 characters
Move Type Move Name Original game systems SoR4 systems Comments
Attack Moves Attack / Fury Attack x4 Attack x4 Shiva performs different sequences in SoR3 and in SoR4
Charge Attack Y
HOLD
Attack
HOLD
Attack
Neutral Jump Attack Jump Attack Jump Attack In SoR3, Shiva's neutral jump attack is identical to his drop attack whereas it's identical to his jump kick in SoR4
Jump Kick Right + Jump Attack
Left + Jump Attack 		Right + Jump Attack
Left + Jump Attack
Light Drop Attack Jump Down + Attack Jump Down + Attack
Strong Drop Attack N/A N/A
Throw Recovery / Landing Up + Jump Up + Jump
Back Attack Z
Attack + Jump 		Back Attack
Left + Attack
Attack + Jump 		In SoR3, Shiva's back attack is actually a front attack whereas Shiva performs a proper back attack in SoR4
Dash Right Right Right Right In SoR4, Shiva can only perform a small forward dash
Dodge Up Up
Down Down 		Up Up
Down Down 		In SoR3, Shiva hops up and down but, in SoR4, he can't
Weapon Moves Pick Up Attack Item In SoR3, Shiva can pick weapons up but drop them immediately whereas he cannot pick them from the floor in SoR4
Mid-Air Catch N/A Item
Jump Item 		In SoR4, Shiva cannot catch weapons mid-air
Drop N/A Item
Stab / Swing / Slash Attack Attack In SoR3, knives and pepper shakers are always automatically thrown at enemies
Throw Z
Attack + Jump 		Right + Item In SoR3, Zan just performs his Back Attack with this manipulation.
In SoR4, Zan always performs his special move, Energy Shot.
Air Throw N/A Jump Item
Bladed Blitz Right Right + Attack Right Right + Attack In SoR3, Axel, Blaze and Skate got 2 different kinds of Bladed Blitz moves each depending on the weapons they hold while Zan always performs his special move, Energy Shot, with any weapons.

In SoR4, only Blaze got her 2 Bladed Blitz moves back. Axel and Skate only got 1. Zan just performs his regular Blitz move:
*Move executed with short melee weapons: Blaze = Suisei Shouzan, Skate = Ningen Missile.
*Move executed with long melee and less-lethal weapons: Axel = Rising Slash, Blaze = Kikouken.

Bladed Blitzes replace Weapon Thrusts performed by SoR4 characters.
Bladed Offensive Special Right + Special N/A In SoR3, Axel, Blaze and Skate got a specific Bladed Offensive Special move each working with a single type of weapons, different for each character, while Zan can perform his move Energy Shot with any weapons.
In SoR4, characters drop any weapons and perform their regular offensive specials.
Grabbing Moves Attack / Flurry Right + Attack x3 Right + Attack x3 When holding an opponent from the front.
Shiva performs different sequences in SoR3 and in SoR4.
Power Blow Attack Attack When holding an opponent from the front.
In SoR3, Skate, Zan and Shiva performs their Attack / Flurry sequence.
In SoR4, Skate and Shiva do have a Power Blow while Zan still performs his Attack / Flurry sequence.
Body Throw Left + Attack Left + Attack When holding an opponent from the front.
In SoR3, Shiva can't perform a Body Throw whereas he can in SoR4.
Super Slam Attack Attack When holding an opponent from behind.
Skate performs his grappling move Migraine.
Vault Over Jump Jump In SoR3, when holding an opponent from either side, after the 2nd vault, the opponent gets free.
In SoR4, you cannot grab a partner and trying to perform a second vault will result into a long jump.
Long Jump N/A Jump Jump
Somersault Jump N/A When holding a partner from either side.
In SoR3, Shiva isn't accessible in 2 players mode.
Partner Somersault Left + Attack N/A When holding a partner from the front.
Skate isn't strong enough to perform this move.
In SoR3, Shiva isn't accessible in 2 players mode.
Hyper Slam Right + Attack
Left + Attack 		Right + Attack
Left + Attack 		Zan exclusive move when holding an opponent from behind
Neck Throw Jump Attack Jump Attack Skate exclusive move when holding an opponent from either side
Reverse Grabbing Moves Double Leg Kick Jump N/A When being held by an opponent from behind.
Shiva cannot perform this move.
Neck Throw Right + Attack N/A When being held by an opponent from behind, to perform after several Double Leg Kick attempts.
Shiva cannot perform this move.
Break Free N/A AttackAttackAttackAttackAttack
JumpJumpJumpJumpJump
ItemItemItemItemItem
SpecialSpecialSpecialSpecialSpecial 		When being held by an opponent
Powerful Moves Blitz Right Right + Attack Right Right + Attack Shiva's blitz in SoR3 is just a normal move but becomes a proper blitz in SoR4
Blitz 1 Star X Right Right N/A
Blitz 2 Stars Axel: X Down Right
Blaze: X Right Up
Skate: X Right Down
Zan: X Left Up 		N/A
Blitz 3 Stars Axel: X Left Down Right
Blaze: X Down Right Up
Skate: X Up Right Left
Zan: X Up Left Right 		N/A
Defensive Special Special Special Shiva's defensive attack is the Final Crash in SoR3 but he gets a different attack in SoR4
Offensive Special Right + Special
Left + Special 		Right + Special
Left + Special
Air Special N/A N/A
Star Move N/A Star
Special + Item 		Each SoR3 character gets a new Star move
Streets of Rage 4 characters
Move Type Move Name Move Command Comments
Attack Moves Attack / Fury Attack x4
Charge Attack
HOLD
Attack
Neutral Jump Attack Jump Attack
Jump Kick Right + Jump Attack
Left + Jump Attack
Light Drop Attack Jump Down + Attack Cherry performs her Head Stomp instead, which can be executed several times as long as she falls on an enemy
Strong Drop Attack Attack To be executed after a Light Drop Attack that connected and before touching the ground
Throw Recovery / Landing Up + Jump
Back Attack Back Attack
Left + Attack
Attack + Jump
Dash Right Right Cherry exclusive move: Dash.
Adam exclusive move: Small Forward Dash. With this move, Adam can also get behind the enemies that are right in front of him.
Weapon Moves Pick Up Item
Mid-Air Catch Item
Jump Item
Drop Item
Stab / Swing / Slash Attack
Throw Right + Item
Air Throw Jump Item
Thrust Right Right + Attack Cherry and Floyd cannot perform any thrusts.
Axel and Blaze performs 2 kinds of thrusts: a long thrust with long-ranged melee weapons, a short thrust with short-ranged melee weapons.
Adam can perform the same kind of thrusts with any melee and less-lethal weapons.
Grabbing Moves Attack / Flurry Right + Attack x3 When holding an opponent from the front.
The manipulation with Floyd is a bit different: Attack x3
Power Blow Attack When holding an opponent from the front.
Floyd cannot perform this move.
Body Throw Left + Attack When holding an opponent from the front.
Floyd can execute this move in either directions: Left + Attack or Right + Attack
Super Slam Attack When holding an opponent from behind.
Cherry performs her grappling move Migraine.
Floyd cannot perform this move.
Vault Over Jump You cannot grab a partner and trying to perform a second vault will result into a long jump.
Floyd cannot vault over enemies.
Long Jump Jump Jump Floyd cannot jump over enemies
Body Slam Juggle Jump Attack Attack Floyd exclusive move
Alternative Body Slam Juggle Jump Attack Down + Attack Floyd exclusive move
Power Smash Get close to 2 enemies Floyd exclusive move
Reverse Grabbing Moves Break Free AttackAttackAttackAttackAttack
JumpJumpJumpJumpJump
ItemItemItemItemItem
SpecialSpecialSpecialSpecialSpecial 		When being held by an opponent
Powerful Moves Blitz Right Right + Attack
Defensive Special Special
Offensive Special Right + Special
Left + Special
Air Special Jump Special If a first air special hits an enemy, Blaze can perform a second air special
Star Move Star
Special + Item



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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