Double Dragon

[GameUser-16-32-128]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a thread started for this game since it's already been reviewed (http://www.sega-16.com/2004/08/double-dragon/) by Sega-16.
Well here are my brief impressions on this game:
I think the first Double Dragon on the Genesis was the closest port of the arcade game I've seen. It is a fun game to play, especially with 2 players, has good graphics and decent music. The faults I can point out for this game is that it is way too short and too easy! The sound effects are also poorly done (except for the machine gun effects) with bleeps and bops! WTF!? Where are the bone crunching punch and kick sound effects from the arcade? Surely those could've easily been done on the Genesis! The controls are actually not bad at all. They are very responsive and don't "switch at random". Sure the execution of the jump kick is weird, but that is forgivable since it is easy to get. There was never a time when I fell into any of the holes or threw my controller out of frustration at any point in the game. I think this game would be good to get if you've enjoyed playing it in the arcade or like collecting games (it goes for almost $200 in incomplete form on Ebay, but I got mine for $26 with everything included!) Overall, I'd give the game a solid 6.5.

[108 Stars]

Hmh...Double Dragon is no match for Streets of Rage, but it is one of the genre´s grandfathers. This is definately the best port (although I like the MS-version too). Too bad that DD 2 got such a bad port and part 3 was generally the first nail in the series´grave.

[outrunner]

I like Double Dragon for its storyline about a post-apoclypse new york. With a bunch of thugs roaming the streets.
But I must say Streets of Rage is a close second for me. But nothing tops Target: Renegade(NES), Double Dragon 2(NES) Double Dragon 2(turbo-duo).

[Genesis Knight]

The only reason to play Double Dragon is for history's sake, as its core gameplay style it created has been improved on a lot since it came out - Streets of Rage, for instance.

[108 Stars]

The only reason to play Double Dragon is for history's sake, as its core gameplay style it created has been improved on a lot since it came out - Streets of Rage, for instance.

That reminds me of a discussion I had recently on these forums...^^

[Melf]

I love DD and own about 5 different versions of it, including the awesome PC-Engine one. I still play through it regularly, on the GBA, XBLA, or even the Genesis (too fast for my tastes, and the great audio has been butchered). It's still quite fun.

[Joe Redifer]

I always enjoyed both the NES and SMS versions. There was something about pressing both buttons simultaneously to jump that made the game for me. Granted a separate jump button is always preferred, but I just couldn't get used to it in the Genesis version.

[The Sports Guy]

The genesis version is okay, nothing special. If it had been the first of the ports to come out of the game it would have been the best port of them all. But by the time this came out, we had already moved on. I would give it an 8.

[GameUser-16-32-128]

The genesis version is okay, nothing special. If it had been the first of the ports to come out of the game it would have been the best port of them all. But by the time this came out, we had already moved on. I would give it an 8.
An 8? That sounds more than okay doesn't it?

[Genesis Knight]

That reminds me of a discussion I had recently on these forums...^^

Hmm... That's actually pretty ironic.

[VinnyT]

An 8? That sounds more than okay doesn't it?
Actually, the original score I had WAS 8, ironically enough. Then I woke up.


I'm surprised there hasn't been a thread started for this game since it's already been reviewed by Sega-16. http://www.sega-16.com/Review-%20Double%20Dragon.php
Well here are my brief impressions on this game:
I think the first Double Dragon on the Genesis was the closest port of the arcade game I've seen. It is a fun game to play, especially with 2 players, has good graphics and decent music. The faults I can point out for this game is that it is way too short and too easy! The sound effects are also poorly done (except for the machine gun effects) with bleeps and bops! WTF!? Where are the bone crunching punch and kick sound effects from the arcade? Surely those could've easily been done on the Genesis! The controls are actually not bad at all. They are very responsive and don't "switch at random". Sure the execution of the jump kick is weird, but that is forgivable since it is easy to get. There was never a time when I fell into any of the holes or threw my controller out of frustration at any point in the game. I think this game would be good to get if you've enjoyed playing it in the arcade or like collecting games (it goes for almost $200 in incomplete form on Ebay, but I got mine for $26 with everything included!) Overall, I'd give the game a solid 6.5.

What I meant by that was how sometimes I would have the punch and kick buttons switch on me whenever I played it. Unless my copy is really glitched up.

Oh, and I found mine boxed for $6, so bite me! :p

[Benjamin]

The only reason to play Double Dragon is for history's sake, as its core gameplay style it created has been improved on a lot since it came out - Streets of Rage, for instance.

I'd agree with you on every version of Double Dragon except the NES game, which I find more interesting and enjoyable than even the arcade original. A lot of old beat-em ups haven't aged well at all for my tastes.

[Genesis Knight]

Well, I'll give you that. :p

[Aarzak]

The NES version (NOT port, as all of the NES DD titles were wisely re-tooled from the ground up for the NES hardware by Technos) definitely was the most popular and best-selling of the DD1 home ports. I've heard and read stories of it selling liek hotcaeks (heh) back in '88-'89 in it's first months of release, and inflated copies selling for $99. EGM (or was it EGP, their predecessor?) gave NES DD1 their "Game of the Year" award in 1989, the first recipient of it.

As for Ballistic/Accolade's Genesis port of DD1, I didn't even know it existed until I stumbled upon it and it's weird-ass cart at a local game store back in 2001. It was less than $10 so I snagged it up right then and there. The port may definitely look very close to the original arcade (give or take the weaker color palette and redesigned sprites/backgrounds here and there), and to a lesser extent sound like it (arcade DD1's music IIRC was kinda heavy on FM synth and little PSG, Genesis DD1 takes it to a whole 'notha level. TOO much FM synth, no PSG or noise makes for grating, loud music. Oh yeah, and the pussified punch/kick/hit effects.) but it doesn't exactly play like it. I'm glad I didn't pay more than $10 for it, as I finished it within 3 hours of buying it.

At least it wasn't an unplayable, cluster-fack of a a game port like Acclaim's Genesis port of DD3. Payed $3 for it..........$3 too much. Never was able to finish it.

[Benjamin]

Well, I think Double Dragon pretty much ended at the sequel. Rise of the Dragons is good, but but that's just part of the franchise by name only. Of course, by the time that awful Double Dragon III came out, arcades really began to stagnate, and constantly rehashing the same beat-em up formula I'm sure didn't help.

I'll never buy it, but my cousin just bought himself a Double Dragon original arcade game. I got suckered by nostalgia some time ago into buying Bad Dudes for mine. People do stupid things. :p

[The Sports Guy]

has anyone played super double dragon for SNES? once you get over the fact that its a very slow playing game, i dont think its too bad. This is coming from the guy who thinks that BT/DD is freaking awesome.

[j_factor]

I thought Return of Double Dragon (Super Double Dragon) was rather good. The graphics aren't great -- too much of that chunky, SNES-y look -- but it's a fun game. It deviated from the original formula enough, what with the blocking and everything.

[Aarzak]

RoDD/SDD's graphics are disappointing for a SNES game, especially after gamers being accustomed to the big sprites and objects from the SNES port of "Final Fight". I believe they made them as small and simple as they did to provide more walking space and be able to handle more sprites (opponents) on screen.

The gameplay is great though. RoDD is second to "Double Dragon Advance" as the best DD game.

[Benjamin]

I've not played Super Double Dragon. I did however visit my cousin the other night to play his arcade Double Dragon and had a blast. Maybe it was part due to being sleep deprived at 3 A.M., but I got a kick out of fighting him as we went through the levels. It's still a short game, moves way too slow, and the backwards elbow move is just far too effective, but it still was enjoyable playing through it.

[Aarzak]

Here's a great video which runs through each and every level of RoDD/SDD, even though our protagonists get their asses handed to them throughout most of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d0QBb9rD7A

4 enemies max on screen, thanks to the smaller, less detailed sprites which lessen the strain on the SNES hardware. Still doesn't beat SoR1's (which also had small, undetailed sprites) enemy count.........what was it again? Could anyone care to fire that baby up at max difficulty and see how many enemies on-screen max could the game do?

[outrunner]

I liked Super Double Dragon for its music thats it.

[Aarzak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4H8rWOVnY4

Double Dragon Advance.

[goldenband]

I just snagged this for about $6 loose at a local used game store, and beat it on my second try -- on the hardest setting, no less! It looks pretty good on a visual level, but the controls are lousy, the music is ragged, and you can basically elbow smash your way through the whole game. Over and over again I would hit a button and nothing would happen, while my opponent patiently waited for nearly a full second before smacking the crap out of me. Plus the whip seems completely overpowered, killing most enemies in two hits. I definitely prefer the original, and the NES and SMS versions as well.

What a strange decision re: the jump kick directionality, by the way...I missed that line in the review when I first read it (as you can see). Totally counterintuitive, and it left me scratching my head as to why I could only jump kick in one direction.

OTOH it's nice to have a rare game for six bucks!

[JackieBogard]

best Double Dragon game IMHO is Double Dragon on the neo-geo!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byIIafnor_s&feature=related

[Christuserloeser]

This game deserves an award for the most unbearable music on the Mega Drive / Genesis.

[goldenband]

Oh, I don't know, I think Marble Madness (EA version) is worse -- the Aerial Race has some of the sloppiest music programming I've ever heard in a console title. It's a fairly close contest, though.

[PimpUigi]

I don't like Super Double Dragon.

I think Genesis Double Dragon 1 beats it.
And NES Double Dragon 2...but I do love that Genesis level 1 music in the DD2 port.

[Saturn Fan]

Anyone else enjoy the Genesis port of Double Dragon, despite its flaws? The graphics & music are pretty faithful to the arcade, and the gameplay issues aren't so bad if you adjust your style a bit.

For example, if you punch or kick normally, the enemies will almost always auto-duck your ending uppercut or roundhouse kick which really annoyed me. However, if you put in a little delay, like A, A,...A, then it'll connect.

Enemies are annoying the way they SPRINT after you, but its just a matter of adjusting your pace when traveling to the right. Letting enemies arrive slowly so you can deal with them in fewer numbers easier, rather than having a group of 5 ganging up on you. Also using the elbow smash in those unfortunate instances for crowd control is pretty useful.

Wish there was a rom hack of this game, tweaking the gameplay & hit detection issues, and enemy speed & AI. Then we'd have the best DD1 arcade port of its time.

[Saturn Fan]

OMG! Found a game genie code that fixes the enemy speed problem:

BBNA-BNTJ

From here:
http://gamehacking.org/vb/threads/4592-Game-Genie-hacking-ideas-for-Double-Dragon-%28Genesis%29

This fixes one of the big problems with the port, being that of the sprinting enemies. Before it was extremely difficult to retreat or take cover because they'd be on you the whole time. Now they move about 30% slower, making things manageable and an overall more enjoyable port.

[edwithmj]

Double Dragon on the Mega Drive is a decent port and has great music. It's less glitchy than the sms version but not as polished as the NES version I feel.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

OMG! Found a game genie code that fixes the enemy speed problem:

BBNA-BNTJ

From here:
http://gamehacking.org/vb/threads/4592-Game-Genie-hacking-ideas-for-Double-Dragon-%28Genesis%29

This fixes one of the big problems with the port, being that of the sprinting enemies. Before it was extremely difficult to retreat or take cover because they'd be on you the whole time. Now they move about 30% slower, making things manageable and an overall more enjoyable port.

You sir rock! I could never convince myself to dedicate time and energy to deal with the unfair advantage given to the enemy AI! I'm going to have to give try this out for myself tomorrow! Thank you very much! Rep power +1! :D

[tbp]

According to me, Double Dragon Advance (Game Boy Advance) and Return of Double Dragon (Super Famicom)
are the best console ports and great tributes games about this legendary series.
Double Dragon 2 (NES and the NEC version) are good. The Master System port is quite good considering the hardware.
But all the Genesis Double Dragon ports are poor and I was very disappointed.

[Saturn Fan]

Master system Double Dragon is terrible. Plays bad, looks bad, sounds bad, etc. NES destroys it.

And DD1 on the Genesis is mildly decent. DD2 & DD3 are terrible though.

[Wesker]

That Game Genie code is really an improvement for the Mega Drive version of Double Dragon. No more sticking enemies because they run like hell. This way the game is closer to the arcade version and without any of its slowdown issues, which is a plus.

Similarly to this, the major flaw in the Mega Drive version of Double Dragon II, which is the slowdown like the arcade version, can be completely removed if you play the game in a overclocked console. Unfortunately this feature is not supported by most Mega Drive emulators.

[jasonb]

nice thread
i really like this double dragon game . thanx admin for this helpful and fresh review .

[smurfted]

I had a great time on the gameboy version believe it or not..

[tbp]

Master system Double Dragon is terrible. Plays bad, looks bad, sounds bad, etc. NES destroys it.
NES version is NOT faithfull to the arcade, it is a different version. Like Double Dragon II and III.
Considering technically the system, I think Double Dragon port on SMS is better than the Genesis' port.

[smurfted]

I made a wallpaper of the arcade original..
http://hgutl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/double-dragon00141-1024x640.jpg