Streets of Rage 4 is the latest in the long running and beloved beat ‘em up game originally developed and published by Sega and Mr. X Nightmare is its latest DLC, (developed by Dotemu, Guard Crush, Lizardcube), adding in 3 new playable characters and a Survival mode. The core gameplay of Streets of Rage is still front and center in this DLC and the addition of a rogue-like mechanic into Survival means fans will continue to jump into the many stages from the main game to beat their recent high score. The Mr. X Nightmare DLC for Streets of Rage 4 serves as a bite-sized experience for fans of the game, allowing them to play the game in a slightly different way.
The core at Mr. X Nightmare’s offering is the new Survival mode, which allows up to two players to tackle an endless wave of baddies in progressively more difficult scenarios. After each level is cleared, the player is given a choice of a perk. These can range from flat albeit small buffs to your damage to more interesting perks that may prevent you from jumping but increase walk speed and damage. Extra weapons and enemies will keep the players on their toes and add different options if you get tired of punching everything. The base game’s 4 playable characters are available in Survival, alongside the 3 new characters that the DLC offers.
The new characters of Estel, Max, and Shiva don’t just add 3 new looking fighters, but also new moves and playstyles. There’s also an additional layer of depth that the Mr. X Nightmare DLC adds in moves customization. By running the gambit in Survival with your favorite fighter, they will gain levels and unlock new special moves that can be used in any of the other modes. Continuing to clear levels in Survival will also unlock other goodies such as artwork and weapons for training mode. Having a clear goal gives playing Survival a reason and for those who bought Streets of Rage 4 when it first came out, adds in more reasons to come back and play. The DLC doesn’t do anything radical or add anything game changing, it simply gives beat ‘em up fans another sandbox to punch bad guys in.
When it was first launched last year, Streets of Rage 4 was critically acclaimed for its return to a beloved genre and the nostalgia of familiar graphics, gameplay, and music. A little over a year later, the Mr. X Nightmare DLC provides fans another shot of beat ‘em up goodness, adding in a new mode, 3 new characters and a host of unlocks waiting for players to acquire. Has the gameplay changed in any way? Not particularly, it’s still the same, classic beat ‘em up formula. Is it worth spending money on? Well, that really depends on who you are. If you’re a gamer who may be interested in trying a video game your parents might’ve played back in the day, it might be worth trying out the base game first before considering buying the DLC. Beat ‘em up games isn’t for everyone and it might even be worth grabbing a friend to try it out with you. I found my experience with Streets of Rage increased substantially when playing with a friend. However, if you’re a fan of Streets of Rage or beat ‘em ups in general, Mr. X Nightmare is exactly what it looks like: more of what you love.
8/10
Check Out the Streets of Rage 4 – Mr. X Nightmare DLC Trailer:
For all things Streets of Rage 4, visit www.streets4rage.com, check out Facebook, pummel @Dotemu, @Lizardcube, and @Guard_Crush’s follow buttons on Twitter, and join on Discord.
Related: Streets of Rage 4 Mr. X Nightmare DLC Announced for July 15
Steam Review
My name is Matt Tran and I have been playing video games since I could remember holding a controller. I've always been a hardcore gamer growing up, from the hectic MW2 and Halo 3 lobbies, my many journeys through several Halo clans and my current exploits with my Destiny 2 clan. I love shooters and RPGs and overanalyzing every component of every game I've played, from weapon stats to ideal perks. When I have time to play other games, I currently play Genshin Impact and Star Wars Squadrons.
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