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Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons takes the iconic Double Dragon franchise and gives it a revitalizing shot of adrenaline, blending retro beat 'em up action with modern mechanics. Developed as a reimagining of the classic side-scrolling brawler, Rise of the Dragons brings a fresh, dynamic experience to both longtime fans of the series and newcomers alike. But how does it hold up in today’s gaming landscape? Let’s dive in.
The core of Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is its action-packed combat, and this game doesn’t disappoint. At its heart, it’s a classic beat ‘em up, but the developers have given it an exciting, modern twist. You play as Billy and Jimmy Lee (the legendary Double Dragons), taking on waves of enemies across various stages, each more dangerous than the last.
The combat is smooth, fast, and satisfying. The punch and kick animations are fluid, with great attention to detail in the character’s movement. The game sticks to the traditional combo-based combat, with a focus on chaining together attacks to take down enemies. You can also perform special moves, including powerful team attacks, to deal with larger crowds of enemies or more formidable foes.
One of the standout mechanics of Rise of the Dragons is the inclusion of a tag-team system. You can switch between Billy and Jimmy Lee on the fly during combat, allowing for fresh combos and strategies as you swap out characters. Each brother has his own unique abilities—Billy focuses on speed and agility, while Jimmy brings more power and crowd control, allowing for an added layer of strategy as you decide when to switch.
The addition of different characters with their own skill sets gives the gameplay a new depth. As you progress through the game, you unlock various allies, each with their own unique fighting style and abilities. This adds an element of variety and keeps the combat from feeling stale, especially during the game's longer stages.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons keeps the franchise's classic plot intact—Billy and Jimmy Lee are back in action to save the city from a new wave of criminal gangs and supernatural threats. The story isn’t the game’s main draw, but it serves as a good backdrop for the non-stop brawling action.
The narrative takes place in a city under siege, with multiple gangs and enemies all vying for control. The story is simple, but it’s enough to keep things moving. There are some neat twists and turns as you progress, especially when you encounter rival gangs or face off against more powerful enemies. The story is lighthearted in tone, much like the previous games, but there are moments of seriousness that give the characters more weight.
The setting itself is a love letter to the old-school beat ‘em up genre, with neon-lit streets, underground lairs, and dystopian cityscapes serving as your battlegrounds. Each level has its own personality, with unique environmental hazards and traps to keep you on your toes. The enemies themselves are a colorful mix of thugs, martial artists, and the occasional oddball boss, all of which provide a satisfying challenge as you advance through the game.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons boasts a vibrant, hand-drawn art style that stands out in today’s gaming landscape. The environments are well-designed, offering a mix of gritty urban landscapes and vibrant, over-the-top locations. The pixel art is a perfect homage to the classics while adding some modern flair—everything from the character animations to the backgrounds feels alive and fluid.
While the game retains the pixel art style of previous Double Dragon games, the animations are smoother, and the overall design feels more dynamic, with some cool visual effects during special moves and combat. The character designs are colorful and exaggerated, giving the game a fun, cartoonish vibe that keeps the action from ever feeling too grim or serious.
The game’s environments, from alleyways and sewers to rooftops and factories, are all highly detailed and unique. Each location has its own atmosphere, making the world feel diverse and full of life (and danger). The enemy designs are varied, too, with a mix of street thugs, gang leaders, and more fantastical creatures.
The soundtrack in Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a pulsating mix of retro synth and modern beats that fits perfectly with the fast-paced action. The music gets your heart racing during intense battles and offers a sense of urgency when you’re up against the clock. The tunes are catchy, memorable, and really add to the overall vibe of the game, making you want to punch through the next group of enemies just to hear the next track.
Sound design is similarly solid, with satisfying sound effects for punches, kicks, and special attacks. The enemy grunts, punches landing, and the sound of debris breaking all contribute to the sensory overload that defines a great beat ‘em up experience. There’s not a lot of voice acting, but the occasional shout from Billy, Jimmy, or their foes gives the game that old-school charm.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a fantastic reinvention of a classic franchise. The game stays true to the beat ‘em up roots that made Double Dragon so popular, while offering enough new features to keep things feeling fresh. The tag-team combat system, unlockable characters, and varied stages provide enough depth and variety to make the gameplay feel exciting from start to finish. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it adds just the right amount of modern flair to make it a worthy addition to the Double Dragon legacy.
The game’s vibrant art, solid combat, and nostalgic feel will appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers to the series. It’s a fantastic brawler that brings the classic Double Dragon action into the modern era while keeping the spirit of the franchise alive.
Rating: 8/10