We’re back this week with more news that is sure to excite the Sega Genesis fan in your life. That’s because Sega and a trio of developers have just dropped the newest trailer for their upcoming homage to the legacy of fighting action, Streets of Rage 4.
The new teaser trailer, which can be seen below, shows off some of the new graphical muscle that this reborn beat ’em up franchise is now sporting. Streets of Rage 4 may be the first main entry into the aging franchise in more than 15 years, but that doesn’t mean the developers haven’t learned some new tricks, or forgotten their roots.
Since the Streets of Rage franchise got started in 1991 as a Sega game, it’s been a standout example of how to make beat ’em up action and multiplayer gameplay stand the test of time. The first game in the series, Streets of Rage, followed the violent exploits of Axel, Blaze, and Adam as they attempted to loosen the grip of crime bosses and gangs on their cities. These rogue cops fought their way through legions of iconic enemy goons and bosses and into our hearts on their way to take down Mr. X, the final boss of the game. It featured fast combat, inventive combo systems and a major focus on cooperative gameplay. I still have fond memories of bashing my way through it as a youngster with friends and family.
The second and third games in the franchise revamped core gameplay elements, expanded on the story, and added new characters. For example Streets of Rage 2 also introduced two new characters, Eddie “Skate” Hunter, and Max Thunder (or Sammy “Skate” Hunter and Max Hatchett in some regions). Streets of Rage 3 even added more complex cutscenes and story beats.
And now, here we are at the upcoming launch of the fourth game in the franchise, a title set to use a mix of nostalgia and reinvented gameplay to tell a new story with our same favorite heroes.
This new project is being developed by a mix of different teams, each with their own pedigree for making games across a mix of genres. Lizardcube and DotEmu are heading up development efforts alongside Guard Crush Games. Lizardcube and DotEmu have established a bit of a history of remaking old Sega games, as they were the duo behind 2017’s remake of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap, a platforming action title.
Guard Crush Games has previously developed an interesting take on the beat ’em up genre with a live-action title called Streets of Fury. This collaborative effort was a pure nostalgia trip, even collaborating with multiple popular online personalities who brawl their way to supremacy in this surprisingly deep retro adventure.
