Streets of Rage 4

Streets of Rage 4 brings back the classic street brawl series, only now everything is hand-drawn. The city is captured by the syndicate, and four heroes - Axel, Blaze, Floyd and Cherry - go out to deal with the gangs. Fights take place on the streets, in the subway, on rooftops and in clubs, and enemies come from all sides. The combat system is based on combos: a chain of blows, a grab, a throw, a special move and a super blow. The mechanics of “health restoration” have been separately thought out: if you spend health on a strong attack, you will return some of it back if you manage to finish off the enemy. This makes combat more of a gamble rather than just a click-and-switch. In addition to the campaign, there is an arcade mode, challenges and co-op for two, and historical characters can be gradually unlocked. In addition to new heroes, old friends also appear in the game, which pleases series veterans. The music is written in such a way as to be reminiscent of the times of 16-bit consoles. It is also worth noting that the game has a gallery of characters and art materials, as well as a mode where you can play as old heroes of the series. The difficulty is customizable, so a beginner can go through the campaign calmly, while an experienced one can choose a tough option with strengthened opponents. It's the right balance for a beat'em up. The co-op here works as it should: two people beat the crowd at the same time, and the feeling from this is noticeably different from the solo playthrough. For those who caught the old beat'em ups, this is a respectful return to the series, and for new players, it's a good entry into the genre.