This took a few patches, playthroughs, a co-op session, and a DLC to really click with me. Once it did, however, this is a very solid beat-em-up that does enough to set itself apart from its predecessors while also keeping a lot of the characters, style, and vibe.

A big change from the original trilogy of games is a far more hardcore focus on combos using special attacks. There's more fighting game style moves where you can launch enemies off the ground, bounce them off walls, and even pass off to another player. This felt really awful to me at first given how sluggish Axel felt on day one, but over time and patches and playing other characters, this system is incredibly tight and benefits playing risky and fast to keep your score going. A very challenging time, but one that once you get to grips with it, is immensely satisfying.

The soundtrack is a massive highlight as well having an all-star line up from Tee Lopes, Motohiro Kawashima, Yoko Shimomura, and many others contributing to a banger after banger soundtrack. The DLC especially includes some of the heaviest songs in the game and add so much fun and flavor to an already diverse soundtrack.

Really my only gripe with this game is the endgame stages tend to drag on for too long with bosses that I'd describe as obnoxious more than anything. However the whole package does a lot to make those complaints fairly minor. Grab a bud or two and give this a swing, it's a rippin' good time.