Notizie

In Digital Shorts we review some of the latest video games that are only available digitally (at least in the UK), in a short-form review format. In this edition we take a look at Double Dragon IV, the side-scrolling sequel that has just been ported over to the Nintendo Switch.

Double Dragon IV is the latest installment in the long-running side-scrolling beat-em-up franchise, and picks up after the elimination of the Shadow Warriors in Double Dragon II (basically ignoring a Lot of the lesser Double Dragon entries). Released by Arc System Works, this new take on the franchise is exactly Not that. It’s not a new take, it’s not a reinvention. It is instead a return to the original format – pixelated graphics and all… Taking a cue from the Nes versions of the first two Double Dragon games: including using the same sprite designs for both Billy and Jimmy And the various villains,...

Craig Lines Jul 5, 2017

Saboteur? BMX Ninja? Ninja Golf? Shadow Warriors? The Last Ninja? We dissect the ninja videogames of the 1980s...

When I was a kid, I picked what I wanted to be when I grew up based on computer games rather than actual life experience. First, thanks to Lunar Jetman, I wanted to be an astronaut. Then Elevator Action and Impossible Mission convinced me a spy would be an even cooler job. Winter Games and, uh, Horace Goes Skiing made me think I had a shot at the Olympic Slalom. By the time I got to playing Tapper, running a redneck bar that only served Budweiser to furious cowboys looked like a solid option too.

I didn’t end up doing any of those things in real life, but one thing I did pick up from gaming that’s never gone away was an obsession with ninjas. At the...

Double Dragon IV is the latest installment in the long-running side-scrolling beat-em-up franchise, and picks up after the elimination of the Shadow Warriors in Double Dragon II (basically ignoring a Lot of the lesser Double Dragon entries). Released by Arc System Works, the game comes from producer Takaomi Kaneko, director Yoshihisa Kishimoto, character designer Koji Ogata, composer Kazunaka Yamane and programmer Kei Oyama – all of whom worked on the original Double Dragon way back in the 80s!

This new take on the franchise is exactly Not that. It’s not a new take, it’s not a reinvention. It is instead a return to the original format – pixelated graphics and all… Taking a cue from the Nes versions of the first two Double Dragon games: including using the same sprite designs for both Billy and Jimmy And the various villains, Double Dragon IV looks, and more importantly plays, just like the old games!

Double Dragon IV, the latest installment in the long-running side-scrolling beat-em-up franchise, comes from producer Takaomi Kaneko, director Yoshihisa Kishimoto, character designer Koji Ogata, composer Kazunaka Yamane and programmer Kei Oyama – all of whom worked on the original Double Dragon!

The story of Double Dragon IV picks up after the elimination of the Shadow Warriors in Double Dragon II and is set to continue in the classic tradtions of the original games.

Arc System Works have released a new trailer for the game, along with the news that Double Dragon IV is set for release on PlayStation 4 and PC on January 30th. So far only a Japanese release in confirmed, where it will cost 800 yen and be a digital download only.

A tribute to service, the world premiere of Michael Bay’s upcoming film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi will be held at At&T Stadium in Dallas on January 12, 2016.

The night will honor the real-life heroes who lost their lives on September 11, 2012, including veteran Navy SEALs Tyrone ‘Rone’ Woods and Glen ‘Bub’ Doherty; Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens; veteran Air Force airman, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith; along with the brave men who have shared their story of what happened that day, including veteran Marines Dave ‘D.B.’ Benton, Mark ‘Oz’ Geist and John ‘Tig’ Tiegen; veteran Army Ranger Kris ‘Tanto’ Paronto; veteran Navy Seal Jack Silva; and their families.

As part of the evening’s salute to these courageous men and all those who serve so selflessly at home and abroad, premiere guests will be encouraged to make a $1 donation to benefit a number of important organizations, including The...

A Band Apart

Tarantino has openly discussed the idea of his characters crossing over: despite the fact that he has two universes in his films (three, actually when you count the Elmore Leonard world of Jackie Brown) there are a couple who transcend even those limits. The Wolf – played by Harvey Keitel – is one (sadly he’s also able to advertise car insurance) and Earl McGraw and his son can too.

Don’t pick too hard at those rules; Tarantino made them up. But at least it means we might get to see The Wolf again at some point.

So what about the other characters who cross-over or are related by blood across films? Family ties are obviously important for Tarantino (they’re a good foundation for vengeance stories after all), so it should come as no surprise that they criss-cross the timelines of his movie universe (and indeed beyond...

Nintendo celebrated its 125th Anniversary last year, with the company founded on 23rd September 1889 in Kyoto, where its headquarters remain. The company has had an extraordinary history, originally producing handmade handful playing cards and several small niche businesses (including a cab service and luxury hotels), but since 1977, Nintendo has grown into one of the world’s most prolific and beloved video game makers.

Nintendo became a household name outside of Japan in 1985 with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System. The best-selling gaming console of its time, the Nes helped revitalize the Us video game industry following the video game crash of 1983. Nintendo has since been the most enduring and influential company in the medium and its consoles, branding and innovative game achievements have given the company a momentous status in popular culture. And so 30 years after the Nes hit North American shores, we’ve decided to compile a list...

Majesco Entertainment’s recently founded indie label, Midnight City, is preparing to launch a new wave of titles in the first quarter of 2014. The batch of games includes Krautscape and Double Dragon: Neon for Windows PC via Steam, alongside Slender: The Arrival for the first time on consoles.

Krautscape is a revolutionary new racer from Mario von Rickenbach. In it, players take control of hybrid bird-like flying cars that try to shift your focus towards tactical racing. Each car comes with a set of wings that allows racers to glide through open air to evade danger and collect unique items. Racetracks are generated in real-time by the lead vehicle, which creates a unique race each time you play. Krautscape comes with standard speed trials, but promises additional modes to challenge players like never before. It will be interesting to see exactly what type of modes the game delivers in...