Game:

Streets of Rage 4 (2020)

Duration: 7:52

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Have you tried turning it off and back on again? What about kicking it a little?
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Stage 4: Old Pier
(Retro Track: "Wave 131" from Streets of Rage 2)

While it might be tempting to treat this one the same no matter what mode or difficulty you're on, those gaps in the boardwalk will end you awfully quickly if you get a little too gung ho about things. Even more so if you aren't extremely wary about how you're dealing with the enemies. This might not be news compared to the original visit, but you've got your whole lives ahead of you. Make sure you don't leave them behind you in a rash fit of carelessness.

Of course, it goes both ways, since enemies won't really be capable of reading the situation and realizing that they're only one well-aimed attack from being tossed into the gutter themselves... and there's no coming back from that for them.

I know it might seem obvious in hindsight, especially given what's to come later, but having a seemingly random detachment of Wood Oak's finest show up here and now serves several purposes... not least of which being the fact that it means a couple of tasers show up right after we got a good look through the window at this... unusually functional-looking arcade. In 2020? In probably-America?! I don't think so!

Honestly, it's one of the most suspicious things in the whole game... a dilapidated boardwalk with a functioning arcade cabinet for a game that only ever released on home consoles? What are you hiding, "Old Pier"?!

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BONUS BOSS: Zamza
(Retro Track: "Never Return Alive" from Streets of Rage 2)

You might not know it to look at him, but Zamza is actually a significant upgrade on the concept of original Streets of Rage boss Souther... who indeed would show up later as a recolor of Zamza under far more dangerous conditions.

Originally just some weirdo in overalls with sharp claws, he's now a full-fledged... ninja?! Either that, or Souther got complaints that he was more than slightly vulnerable to claims of ripping off Freddy Krueger. It's almost like the working man in only slightly goofy attire can't have stylish claws without being accused of supernatural serial killings! (At least Souther would never be caught dead wearing a striped sweater.)

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P2 was really worried about whether or not the taser would survive a side trip to pick up an apple... but entering the bonus stage not only healed any damage... but exiting it did as well! So, there's really no reason to avoid it! (That we can possibly know of based on our limited evidence thus far.)

Curiously, the apple on the ground still remained where it was throughout the entire transition to the bonus area and our return... never mind the fact that it was no longer necessary to recover damage anyway.

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BOSS: Estel
(Retro Track: "Back to the Industry" from Streets of Rage 2)

Is this song calling out Axel and Blaze for turning their backs on their original profession? Certainly not Adam, although it's abnormal that he should be participating in this particular battle... so...

Estel is still the boss thus far with the most going on, not even needing to count her continuous "by the book" approach of calling for backup... in the form of rocket barrages that almost certainly constitute police brutality. If only she wasn't destined to be the one left brutalized. (Don't worry, she can take it. A little too well, I think.)

But, no, even without those, which honestly come and go pretty quickly... even if the onslaught gets a bit ridiculous by the end of the battle... she's got downright CHEATING grade wakeups and aerials! Like a PLAYER would have!

That just means we'll have to cheat even harder to flex all over her! (Please forgive us, buff police queen! ...again!)