The wait was twenty-six years. Honestly, if you grew up with a Sega Genesis, you’d probably given up on Axel Stone ever throwing another Grand Upper. But then 2020 happened, and Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Lizardcube did the impossible. They didn't just make a sequel; they made the definitive modern beat 'em up. Even now, playing Nintendo Switch Streets of Rage 4 feels like a fever dream for anyone who remembers the pixelated grit of Wood Oak City.
It’s rare. Usually, these "nostalgia plays" are cash grabs. They have stiff animations or heartless mobile-game art styles. This is different.
The Hand-Drawn Soul of Wood Oak City
Look at the screen. Seriously. The first thing you notice about Nintendo Switch Streets of Rage 4 is that it looks like a moving graphic novel. Ben Fiquet and the team at Lizardcube opted for hand-drawn frames over 3D models or simple pixel art. It’s gorgeous.
The lighting effects on the Switch’s OLED screen are particularly punchy. When a neon sign flickers in the rain during the first stage, the colors bleed into the puddles on the pavement. It’s a level of detail that the original 16-bit hardware could only hint at.
But it’s not just about the paint. It’s about the weight.
In a beat 'em up, if the "thud" doesn't feel right, the game is dead on arrival. Here, every pipe swing and every back-throw has a visceral crunch. You feel the impact through the Joy-Cons (though, let’s be real, you should probably be using a Pro Controller or a specialized arcade stick for this one).
The Combat System is Deeper Than You Think
Most people think beat 'em ups are just button mashers. They’re wrong.
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While you can technically stumble through the Easy or Normal difficulties by just hitting the attack button, the real game starts when you try to master the combo system. Nintendo Switch Streets of Rage 4 introduces a health-recovery mechanic that changes everything. When you use a "Special" move, it consumes a portion of your health bar. That health turns green. If you can land consecutive hits on enemies without getting touched, you earn that health back.
It’s a high-stakes gamble. Do you burn your health to clear a crowd, knowing one stray jab from a Galsia will make that damage permanent?
Then there’s the "Wall Bounce" and "Ground Bounce." You can juggle enemies. You can throw a knife, hit an enemy, catch the knife out of the air before it hits the ground, and throw it again. It’s basically a fighting game disguised as a side-scroller.
Characters and Playstyles
- Axel Stone: He’s slower now. He’s got the "dad bod" energy but hits like a freight train. His power is undeniable, though his lack of mobility can be a death sentence on Mania difficulty.
- Blaze Fielding: Still the GOAT. She’s the balanced choice, with incredible reach and jumping specials that can clear the screen.
- Cherry Hunter: She’s the daughter of Adam Hunter from the first game. She plays unlike anyone else because she can actually run. In a game where most characters just march forward, her speed is a literal game-changer.
- Floyd Iraia: The "tank." He has cybernetic arms and can grab two enemies at once to bash their heads together. It’s satisfying in a way that’s hard to describe until you do it.
- Adam Hunter: He returns! He’s a middle ground between Axel’s power and Blaze’s finesse, featuring a unique "dash" move that helps close the distance.
Why the Switch Version Wins
Portability.
There is something inherently right about playing a game that feels like a 90s arcade cabinet on a handheld device. The Nintendo Switch Streets of Rage 4 port is remarkably stable. It runs at a locked 60 frames per second. That matters. In a game where frame-perfect dodges are the difference between a "S" rank and a "D" rank, you can't have stuttering.
I’ve played this on PC and PS4, and while those versions look slightly sharper on a 4K monitor, the utility of the Switch version is hard to beat. You can pass a Joy-Con to a friend on a plane or a train and start a two-player session instantly.
Local co-op supports up to four players. Online co-op is limited to two, which is a bit of a bummer, but honestly, four players on a single Switch screen gets chaotic to the point of being unreadable.
The Soundtrack: A Multigenerational Masterpiece
You can’t talk about Streets of Rage without talking about the music. Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima are legends for a reason. Their work on the original trilogy defined "cool" for a generation of gamers.
For the fourth entry, Olivier Derivière took the lead, but he brought back the OGs. The result is a soundtrack that blends modern electronic production with the FM-synth grit of the 90s.
If you’re a purist, there’s a toggle in the options. You can swap the modern soundtrack for the "Retro" tracks. Hearing the Streets of Rage 1 or 2 music while fighting in high-definition environments is a trip. It shouldn't work, but it does.
The DLC: Mr. X Nightmare is Mandatory
If you’re buying Nintendo Switch Streets of Rage 4, do not skip the Mr. X Nightmare DLC. It’s not just "extra content"; it fundamentally completes the game.
It adds a Survival Mode that is infinitely replayable. You fight waves of enemies in simulated environments, picking up power-ups after each round. Some power-ups are simple (more health), but others are wild (adding fire or electricity to your attacks).
More importantly, this mode allows you to unlock new moves for every character. If you don't like Axel’s default special, you can swap it for something else once you've unlocked it in Survival. This adds a layer of customization that was missing at launch.
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The DLC also adds three playable characters:
- Estel Aguirre: The tough-as-nails cop who was a boss in the main campaign.
- Max Thunder: The wrestling icon from SoR2.
- Shiva: The martial arts master. Shiva is arguably the best character in the game because he doesn't use weapons—he just turns every weapon he picks up into a projectile.
Addressing the "Difficulty" Elephant in the Room
Some people complain that the game is too hard. It can be.
Old-school beat 'em ups were designed to eat quarters. This game respects that lineage. On "Hard" or "Mania," the enemy placement is devious. You’ll have shield-bearing cops blocking your path while "Signal" enemies slide-kick you from off-screen.
But the game gives you the tools. You just have to learn the invincibility frames (i-frames). Your "Back Attack" (X + A on Switch) has a few frames of invulnerability. Your "Star Move" has even more. Learning when to use these defensively, rather than just offensively, is the key to surviving the later stages.
What Most People Miss
The "Retro" characters.
You can unlock pixel-art versions of the characters from SoR1, SoR2, and SoR3. These aren't just skins. They actually play like they did in their original games. The SoR1 characters can call a police car for a screen-clearing missile strike. The SoR3 characters can run and roll.
Mixing a pixelated 16-bit Axel with the hand-drawn modern Blaze in a 4-player co-op session is a visual mess, but it’s a beautiful one. It’s a celebration of the franchise's entire history.
Getting the Most Out of Your Playthrough
To truly experience everything this game has to offer, don't just beat the story and put it down. The game is designed for "looping."
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- Master the Defensive Special: Remember that your neutral special (press the button without a directional input) usually provides a few frames of invincibility. It’s your "get out of jail free" card.
- Search for Secret Bosses: There are hidden retro boss fights tucked away in certain levels. You’ll need a Taser to trigger them. Hint: Look for arcade machines.
- Customise Your Loadout: Once you’ve played Survival Mode, go to the character select screen and change your Blitz and Special moves. It can make a "slow" character feel much more viable.
- Watch the Combo Meter: Don't just kill enemies; keep the string going. The higher your combo, the more points you get, which leads to extra lives.
Nintendo Switch Streets of Rage 4 stands as a masterclass in how to revive a dead IP. It respects the past without being shackled by it. Whether you're playing for five minutes on the bus or two hours on your couch, it delivers a pure, unadulterated shot of adrenaline.
To maximize your experience, start by finishing the Story Mode once to unlock the various "Retro" character tiers. Then, immediately jump into the Survival Mode (if you have the DLC) to begin unlocking the alternate move sets. These alternate moves are essential for tackling the "Mania" and "Mania+" difficulty levels, as they often provide better crowd control or mobility options than the default kits. Finally, check the "Gallery" in the main menu as you progress; the concept art and history provided there give a fantastic look into how the developers modernized such an iconic aesthetic.