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is a 1995
fighting Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict between multiple combatants with the intent to harm the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is resorted to either as a method of ...
video game spin-off of the ''Double Dragon'' series developed and published by
Technōs Japan was a Japanese video game Video game developer, developer, best known for the ''Double Dragon'' and ''Kunio-kun (series), Kunio-kun'' Media franchise, franchises (the latter including ''Renegade (video game), Renegade'', ''Super Dodge Ball'' and ...
. It is based on the 1994 film, which in turn was based on the original
arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily game of skill, games of skill and in ...
. It was originally released for the
Neo Geo The , stylized as NEO•GEO, is a video game platform released in 1990 by Japanese game company SNK Corporation. It was initially released in two ROM cartridge-based formats: an arcade system board (Multi Video System; MVS) and a home video gam ...
(in AES and MVS formats) and later released for the
Neo Geo CD The is a home video game console produced by SNK Corporation, released on September 9, 1994. The system is the same platform as the cartridge-based Neo Geo released four years earlier, but converted to the cheaper CD media format which reta ...
and
PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
(the latter ported by Urban Plant). The game was also made available for
PlayStation Network PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartp ...
in Japan in 2011 and in North America in 2014 . It was Technōs Japan's last ''Double Dragon'' game before the company went out of business, and the fourth and final ''Double Dragon'' game released in arcades.


Gameplay

The game plays like a conventional one-on-one fighting game. One of the unique aspects of ''Double Dragon'' is the lack of specific punch and kick buttons like other fighting games. Instead, there are four attack buttons of varying strength and speed, which can perform punches or kicks depending on the character's position. The player's character and his or her opponent have a super move meter called the "charge meter", overlaid over the character's health gauge. The less health the character has, the quicker it will fill up. "Charge moves" are usually performed by executing the command of a regular special move and pressing two attack buttons simultaneously at the end instead of just one. Other techniques available in the game include dashes, air guards, air throws, and down attacks (which allows characters to jump over and attack their opponent while they are momentarily unconscious on the ground). In single-player mode, the player competes against all 10 of the playable fighters, including a clone of their own character. After all 10 of the default fighters are defeated, the player will face Shuko's bodyguard Duke before challenging Shuko himself. In the console versions of the game, Duke and Shuko are both playable via a cheat code.


Plot and characters

Billy and Jimmy Lee return to their childhood city after receiving a letter from their master. The city has changed drastically in the ten years since the brothers left, becoming a haven for street gangs known as Bloody Town after it has fallen under the control of the crime boss Koga Shuko. Shuko is hosting a martial arts tournament in order to recruit new members into his organization, but also to lure the Lee brothers in bringing him one half of the titular Double Dragon medallion. Shuko is in possession of the other half. Whoever possesses both halves of the Double Dragon medallion will acquire unlimited powers. The character roster includes ten immediately playable fighters and two boss characters. Billy and Jimmy Lee both fight using the fictional Sou-Setsu-Ken martial arts style, with Billy having the faster techniques, while Jimmy is stronger. The twin brothers also have the ability to transform into an alternate form as a super move, altering their move lists. The other eight fighters are Marian, a female gang leader and childhood friend of the Lee brothers; Abobo, a strongman employed by Shuko; Burnov, a former wrestler with a rivalry against Abobo; Eddie, a kickboxer; Amon, a ninja; Cheng-Fu, a master of the drunken fist; Dulton, a street fighter; and Rebecca, a master of the dual tonfa. The characters and settings are inspired by the ''Double Dragon'' film, which features prominently in the game's intro. This includes the appearances of a submerged Hollywood Sign, the appearance of the Dragon Wagon in Billy's stage, the Lee brothers' transformation technique, Marian's depiction as a gang leader, and the inclusion of Koga Shuko as the game's final opponent. However, the characters are depicted in a more anime-like style and only five of the game's twelve fighters are actually featured in the movie; Burnov and Duke are from previous ''Double Dragon'' games and the rest are new characters created specifically for this game.


Reception

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Double Dragon'' for Neo Geo on their April 15, 1995 issue as being the thirteenth most-popular arcade game at the time. According to ''
Famitsu , formerly , is a line of Japanese Video game journalism, video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly f ...
'', the Neo Geo CD version sold over 3,851 copies in its first week on the market. The Neo Geo AES version was met with mixed reception from critics, although Andreas Knauf of German magazine ''MAN!AC'' regarded it to be better than '' Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls'' on Super Nintendo. ''
AllGame RhythmOne , a subsidiary of Nexxen, is an American digital advertising technology company that owns and operates the web properties AllMusic, AllMovie, and SideReel. Blinkx was founded in 2004, went public on the Alternative Investment Market, ...
''s Kyle Knight reviewed the Neo Geo AES version and praised the interactive stages, adequate character animations, sound design and controls but criticized the announcer's voice and low number of playable fighters. Nevertheless, Knight regarded it as "a surprisingly solid fighting game which has the dubious honor of being based on the ''Double Dragon'' movie." ''
GamePro ''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...
''s The Axe Grinder gave the AES version a negative review. He praised the charge meter and the accuracy of the controls, but criticized the "remarkably subdued graphics" and concluded, "Normally, ''Double Dragon'' would just be average, but the silly aspects (the announcer) and goofy fighters (with some very standard moves) get in the way." ''
Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...
'' reviewed the AES version, rating it one star out of five, stating that "The template from which this one came should certainly be retired, but in the meantime ''Double Dragon'' is another in a long line of mediocre fighters for all those fighter junkies who somehow have made room in their heads for 50 different sets of super moves. You could do better." The Neo Geo CD version was also met with mixed reaction from critics, with Javier S. Fernández of ''Última Generación'' criticizing its loading times. Brazilian magazine ''
Ação Games ''Ação Games'' was a Brazilian magazine specialized in video games that circulated from 1991 to 2002. History Released as a special edition of the sports magazine ''A Semana em Ação'', which replaced ''Placar'' at Editora Abril in August 19 ...
'' praised the audiovisual presentation, challenge, playability and originality, though they noted that the game needed more difficult bosses and variety of attacks. ''
The Electric Playground ''EP Daily'' (formerly ''The Electric Playground'') is a daily news television show that covers video games, movies, TV shows, comic books, collectibles and gadgets. Created and executive produced by host Victor Lucas, and his Vancouver, British ...
''s Victor Lucas commended the visuals, stage design, presentation, controls and sound design, stating that "''Double Dragon'', despite how old fashioned the title might suggest the game to be, is really worthy of a modern video game fighting fan's attention." ''Maximum'' found the game lacked originality, had poorly defined sprites, and suffered from subpar gameplay compared to other Neo Geo CD games. They scored it two out of five stars. ''Superjuegos''s Bruno Sol gave very high remarks to the
Tetsuo Hara is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for co-creating the post-apocalyptic martial arts series ''Fist of the North Star'' (1983–1988) with writer Buronson, which is one of the best-selling manga in history with over 100 million copies ...
-esque character designs, sound design and playability, stating that "After some really regrettable episodes like ''Double Dragon V'', Billy and Jimmy are back on the right track." The PlayStation version was met with mixed reception as well. ''Consoles +''s Marc Menier and Gia To highly praised its visual presentation, audio design, longevity and playability. ''
Pocket Gamer ''Pocket Gamer'' is a video game website and former print magazine that focuses on mobile, portable and handheld games. It was launched in 2005 by Steel Media Limited. The publication covers portable and mobile gaming formats, including iPhone, ...
''s Danny Russell criticized the lengthy loading times for being intrusive, regarding it to be a mediocre fighting game.


See also

* '' Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls'', the other 1-on-1 fighting game in the series * ''
Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer ''Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer'' is a 1995 superhero-themed fighting game produced by Technos Japan Corp. for the Neo Geo arcade and home console including Neo Geo CD. It was the companys second attempt at a fighting game, following the Neo Geo fig ...
'' (Technōs Japan's other Neo Geo fighting game) * ''
Rage of the Dragons is a 2002 tag team head-to-head fighting game released for the Neo Geo hardware by Playmore. The game was developed by Japanese company Noise Factory, co-developed by BrezzaSoft and chiefly-designed by the Mexican team Evoga. Piko Interac ...
''


Notes


References


External links


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''Double Dragon''
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