Streets of Rage 4does tell players everything they need to know, except not in the form of a tutorial. Players will need to navigate down to Training, or Fighting Tips, if they wish to understand all the various mechanics that make up the game. Players who dive straight into the story will be very underequipped for the challenges that lie ahead.
Players should visit the Training mode first and familiarize themselves with some of these suggestions until they get their bearings. This way, players will have all the tools they need to enjoy every part of the game. Stages can be replayed, and nothing is missable. This means players should practice,enjoy the Storymode, and then take on the hardest elements of the game once they are ready.
6Make Use Of The Training Mode
Master The Basics First
The game’s Training mode will teach players everything they need to know about each facet of its combat mechanics, especially those that last played aStreets of Ragegameon the Sega Genesis. Players should start at the very top and make their way down to get a tick next to each of them. If one of them is tough to understand, players should not worry and just skip that one for the time being.
The final selectable options in Training mode will be character-specific sections, which can be overwhelming for new players. Even if there are plenty of unticked options in this Training Mode, just exploring it will vastly increase each player’s understanding of how the game plays and improve their skills. The next step is to practice with their preferred character against training dummies with increasingly difficult conditions.
5Try Out Each Character
Each Character Brings Something Different To The Game
Players will have access to 4 characters at the start of the game and will beunlocking numerous other characterswhile playing it — the vast majority of whom are retro characters from past games. Each of the four starting characters has their own playstyle, so testing out each of them will let players discover which one they enjoy playing the most. Cherry is the most agile and can grab enemies by jumping onto them, while Floyde can pick up and carry enemies just by walking into them.
Pick up two enemies at once, and Floyde will automatically slam the two of them together. Players will also unlock Adam by playing through the story, and acquire even more characters through DLC content. Completing a level with a character for the first time will award lifetime XP, making it worth trying out every character at least once. Players will need to master the characterthey enjoy the mostif they plan on completing the game at its most difficult.
4Know How Enemies Behave
Watch For Patterns
Just like with a Soulslike game, studying enemy behavior will allow players to know what they will do before it becomes a threat. Doing so will mean players can make it through the toughest of situations and take little to no damage in the process. Having a wide range of such enemies helps make a gamethe best it can beby providing a much more fulfilling experience.
If an enemy has a knife while other enemies are around, players should know when to move up, when to move down, and plan their attacks ahead of time. Holding another enemy in a grapple and waiting for them to charge will allow one to not only damage both enemies but also disarm the knife-wielding foe.
3Know When To Use Specials & Star Moves
Use Specials When In Trouble
Special Attacks will cause a small portion of one’s health to turn green. Striking an enemy with a regular attack will allow this health to fill back up, but taking damage risks losing it all. This can make players reluctant to use their Special Attacks, but they are there for a reason. Special attacks come in three forms. The first is the most defensive of the lot and is perfect for breaking out when surrounded by enemies. This can be used by just pressing the Special Attack button without holding any direction.
The second is a more offensive option, where players will press the special attack button while holding either left or right. The third will let players use this special while they are airborne. A lot of bosses that normally don’t flinch when attacked can still be knocked back when hit by a Special Attack — potentially negating a charged-up attack from them. Players should also note where all stars in a stage can be found; save these for dealing with parts when players usually take damage during a stage — such as multiple elite enemies.
2Follow Up On Special Attacks
Normal Attacks Refill Special Attack Health Bar Depletion
Just like with grapples, players are invincible when performing a Special Attack. This means that when a player is about to take a lot of damage, they can instead use a Special Attack to avoid it entirely. However, doing so will leave them at risk of losing additional health if they are struck before they can land their next normal attack. Floyde can shoot his arm out to grab and pull in an opponent, but throwing them will not recover all of his health. It is best to release any movement and press the normal attack button repeatedly to recover all the health used for this Special.
Likewise, Axel will unleash a barrage of flaming fists that can knock enemies against a wall for a follow-up normal attack combo. Using Special Attacks without considering how to recover one’s life can quickly put a player at a disadvantage. This is a welcome mechanicfrom the classic gamesthat did not allow players to recover health after using a Special Attack.
1Pickups Don’t Disappear
Leave Food Items Until They Are Needed
A lot of games have pickup items that will disappear if they go unclaimed for too long. Luckily,Streets of Rage 4is not one of them. If a trash can gets smashed open to reveal a roast turkey, there is no urgency to go and pick it up. An apple will restore a portion of life, while a turkey will restore the entirety of the health bar. Leave these items until they are needed to get the most out of them while in a fight. This ensures players will have the most health possible per stage — unlessanother player swoops inwhen they don’t need it.
Likewise, it is worth noting that items that give points, such as money bags, can be picked up once all the enemies in the area have been dealt with, rather than risking taking damage to pick them up mid-fight. Always pick up all items once enemies have been cleared, as leaving the area means leaving the item behind.
