We’ve known about Streets of Rage 4 for awhile, but I never totally believed it would be released. Some franchises seem doomed to stagnate, each new project stumbling at some point on the road to distribution. But this new trailer has me optimistic. This looks like a real game. This is a real game!

Developed by Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games, and published by Dotemu in association with Sega, Streets of Rage 4 features the beat-’em-up combat of the original trilogy and a new art style. This entry trades the series’ pixel graphics for a 2D look reminiscent of Dotemu’s recent revival of the Wonder Boy series.

The trailer features series protagonists Axel and Blaze, along with some villains inspired by previous entries. It all has a certain ’90s flavor: the neon hairstyles, the baggy jeans, the sweaty bandanas.

The trailer ends with a title card (above) of Axel, Blaze, and the outline of at least two additional fighters — maybe a third up top. Presumably we will learn their identities ahead of the game’s release. Dotemu has yet to announce platforms or a release date for Streets of Rage 4.