Previously PC and Switch exclusive, Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon from developer PiXEL is now coming to the Mega Drive via Columbus Circle. The Mega Drive version will release in December 2023 exclusively via Japanese retailers.
Amazon Japan have previously sold Columbus Circle products, but at the time of writing there is currently no listing for Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon on Amazon Japan.
Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon is a belt-scrolling beat-em-up in the Streets of Rage/Final Fight/Double Dragon mold. You can see the Switch version in action via the video embed below:
The next playable character in the Mr. X Nightmare DLC for Streets of Rage 4 has been revealed to be Max Thunder. Max only appears as a boss in the base game using SOR4’s updated art style, but he did make a playable appearance via his unlockable retro incarnation. You can check out Max in action via the reveal trailer below:
The Mr. X Nightmare DLC for Streets of Rage 4 will be available later in 2021 for PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Switch. The DLC will also feature new music by Tee Lopes of Sonic Mania fame.
Streets of Rage 4 will be getting a DLC expansion later in 2021 called Mr. X Nightmare. The expansion will be paid-for content and include new moves, new weapons, 3 extra playable characters, a new Survival game mode and new music composed by Tee Lopes of Sonic Mania fame. The first new character revealed in the below trailer is Estel who makes an appearance in the base game as a non-playable boss character:
Alongside the Mr. X Nightmare DLC will be a free update to all owners of the base game that will contain a ‘New Mania+’ difficulty option as well as a new training mode.
Streets of Rage 4 is out now for PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC. The Mr. X Nightmare DLC will arrive later in 2021.
According to lead animator Tim Dawson, the upcoming release of Golden Axed is a complete surprise to him and the team responsible for it.
Originally coded in 2012, the project was created off the back of the team’s Castle of Illusion prototype which successfully kept the company afloat. Development then proceeded under the concept that it would be a “darker, bloodier Golden Axe” and the team went ahead with combining those ideas with the concept of the original game.
What followed was 2 weeks of 14 hour days and several disputes with management, who wanted the game to be something else. Tim recounts, “much less luckily we also had the lead designer who thought he was designing it, and sometimes Sanatana Mishra would have to physically block him from reaching my workstation or he’d start explaining insights he’d received playing the mobile port on the train on the way to work.”
The most harrowing story Tim recounts is showing the latest build to management:
“but the biggest gut punch came a week and a half in – combat was working, it was all on track! I was called for a meeting in the big room, so I put the latest build on the network and went to see what was up. All of management was sitting around the big table
I showed the game. grave faces
There was a pause
“where’s the wow factor” someone asked
The lead designer once again complained it wasn’t a God of War-like 3D brawler like he wanted
Someone said maybe it’d have been better to have made a prerendered video where the barbarian fought a monster.”
The full thread of Tim’s experiences making the prototype can be read on Twitter. It’s not a particularly pleasant read but it highlights some important truths about game development that cannot be ignored and it’s unfair of SEGA to promote this title as a “janky”, “buggy artifact of its time” [UPDATE: These terms have fortunately now been removed from games Steam’s description]
Previewed back in January at CES, Arcade1Up’s Golden Axe arcade cabinet is now available to pre-order in the US and Canada. This cabinet features Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder, Wrestle War, Shinobi, Altered Beast and the original Golden Axe and will set you back $399.
It’s a pretty feature-rich package with a 17″ display, 4 player joystick setup, light-up marquee, volume control and a riser. You can check out a trailer for the cabinet below:
IGN have a treat for us today as the website has gone hands on with Streets of Rage 4 and uploaded 5 minutes of in-game action. Check out the entire roster in action, including the unlockable retro characters in the video below:
Streets of Rage 4 appears to be very close to release with the video now promising the game will be “available soon”. It will release for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One and is being developed by Guard Crush Games and Lizardcube with Dotemu publishing under license from SEGA.
Streets of Rage 4 is not mucking about when it comes to bonus content. The latest trailer reveals that the game will feature 12 unlockable retro characters and the ability to use music from the original Streets of Rage 1 & 2. Check out the reveal trailer for these retro unlockables below:
It also appears that the release of the game is getting pretty close. The trailer also promises the game will be “available soon” and that the digital release will be priced at $24.99. Physical copies of the game are still available from Limited Run Games, but you better be quick because pre-orders end one week after the digital release.
Streets of Rage 4 is being developed by Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games with Dotemu publishing the game under license from SEGA. It will release on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
A new Streets of Rage 4 trailer is upon us, and with it brings news of a brand new, 5th playable character in the form of Floyd Iraia. Floyd is a big, heavy-hitting character in the style of Max from Streets of Rage 2, but with the wacky, mechanised arms of Dr. Zan from Streets of Rage 3. Check him out in action by watching the latest trailer below:
Alongside the news of Floyd’s addition to the character roster, Streets of Rage 4 will support 2 player online co-op and for the first time in the franchise, 4 player co-op action will be supported in local multiplayer. Streets of Rage 4 is due to release at some point in 2020 for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.
A boxed release of Streets of Rage 4 is on the way, but publishing duties have been given to the people at Limited Run Games. As you can expect from the company’s name, Limited Run Games specialise in producing limited physical runs of games for collectors. They often produce a standard and a special edition of each of their releases, but there is currently no word on whether Streets of Rage 4 will get similar treatment.
Streets of Rage 4 is in development at Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games, with Dotemu publishing the digital release under license from SEGA. The game is coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch at some point in 2020. There is currently no word on when pre-orders will go live at Limited Run Games, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their website for updates.
For the first time since its original 1992 arcade release, Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder is receiving a port. Arcade1Up are releasing a home version of the arcade game complete with 4 player cabinet. Also included in the package are ports of Shinobi, Altered Beast, Wrestle Wars and the original Golden Axe for good measure.
If you’re unfamiliar with Arcade1Up, they produce near full-size, licensed arcade cabinets for the home. They can be bought with extras like risers and stools to make them closer to their full-size counterparts. Due to the size of the units and their robust build quality, they often retail for around £300.
While there is currently no release date for the cabinet, the unit has been shown at the latest Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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