Streets of Rage 4 launched on April 30, 2020, and to the surprise of no one who followed the game's development since it was announced in 2019, it's great. Developed by Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Lizardcube, the game — which was not published by Sega — was faithful to the original trilogy's gameplay and presentation while providing a few modern updates. Even without the involvement of Sega, however, it's proof that the classic console maker's legacy titles are still worthwhile outside of Genesis Classic Collections every generation.

In fact, Streets of Rage 4, along with Sonic Mania, could be the perfect blueprint to revive some classic games in Sega's extensive retro library.

Streets of Rage 4 was actually published by Dotemu — the same publisher who worked on Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. Outside of licensing the franchise out, Sega really didn't have much to do with this installment. Still, it's no secret that fans have clamored for another entry in the franchise for a long time, but for one reason we will never understand, Sega was shy about jumping back into the series. Despite Sega releasing two consoles — which were desperate for any content available — in the years following the third entry's release, there wasn't really a desire from the console maker turned publisher to revisit it. Yet, when it finally happened, Streets of Rage 4 was praised by fans and critics alike. With stunning visuals that felt like an update to the familiar Genesis art direction and gameplay that was ripped straight out of the golden age of beat 'em ups, Streets of Rage 4 made the quarter-century-plus wait for a sequel almost worthwhile.

Related: Streets Of Rage 4 - How To Unlock Every Retro Character

Via Steam

Hopefully, the success of this sequel can wake Sega up to the fact that their classic franchises have a lot of equity. While we know the classic developer loves to re-release their old content, they've never really tried to bring back that Genesis flavor that made them so beloved in the first place. Well, until recently. We can make direct comparisons to Dotemu's Wonderboy revival, but Sega's own Sonic Mania is more proof that a little bit of nostalgia mixed with modern ingenuity, can make fans extremely happy.

For those who haven't played the 2017 hit, it was a return to form for the franchise. Stripping away the intense over-the-top storylines, insane number of side characters, and 3D environments, a collection of developers — Christian Whitehead, Headcannon, PagodaWest Games, and Sega of America — brought the franchise back to the 16-bit era. It was easily the most well-received game in the modern era of the franchise, rivaling Sonic Generations as a fan-favorite. Yet, unlike Generations, Mania provided completely new content mixed in with the retro levels. For fans, it was a breath of fresh air. Sure, the nostalgia of jumping back into a game akin to our favorite Genesis titles was a great hook to get players interested, but the content is what kept everyone playing until the end.

Previously: Limited Run Games’ Streets Of Rage 4 CE Looks Amazing

Sega's classic library isn't just limited to Sonic the Hedgehog and Streets of Rage, however. Sega has tried to bring back their older titles, but the reception has been mixed. In 2000, they released Ecco The Dolphin: Defender of The Future on the Dreamcast. For its time, it was a top-end 3D game with great visuals, it was hailed as one of the best games of the year. That said, it wasn't exactly a system-seller, even when ported to the PlayStation 2. Adding to this, it doesn't hold up nearly as well as it's 2D counterparts by today's standards. In 2008, Sega attempted to revive another classic beat 'em up with Golden Axe: Beast Rider. As the first 3D game in the franchise, it was critically panned for its poor controls and frustrating combat among other issues. Following this, the franchise was effectively dead outside of its inclusion in multiple Genesis Collection ports.

Via Steam

It doesn't have to be like that, however. Maybe there's a lesson for Sega. While many classic franchises evolve with time, some are just better when they're kept true to their original vision. The recent successes of Streets of Rage and Sonic Generations along with non-Sega related retro revivals like Double Dragon Neon, and even Mega Man 11, show that there's still an appetite for retro-styled games.

With a library spanning decades, Sega's catalog rivals Nintendo in terms of size and industry importance, though, unlike their former console war rival, Sega doesn't seem to do nearly as much with their older games. Titles like Gunstar HeroesRistarSpace Harrier, and the aforementioned Ecco The Dolphin and Golden Axe, have laid dormant for decades. While it's fun to jump into the older entries, there are probably more miles left in those old franchises.

Hopefully, we can see that following the success of Streets of Rage 4 and Sonic Mania. Retro-styled games are fashionable in 2020, and Sega's library is so rich, they'd be silly not to at least try.

Next: Streets Of Rage 4 Review: Bare Knuckle Brawling