Double Dragon

Fun to play solo, but much better with a friend. There's punches, kicks, combos, weapons, objects to throw, a lot of different actions for the player character. Scenes are interesting in the side-scroll, from streets to enemy lair. Musically excellent which adds to the excitement of game play. There's an ending worth getting to and proper continues to give the player the option of dropping in another quarter to keep the progress going. Boss fights and a short story certainly round out this classic.

A few cheap deaths here and there, but it is after all gang warfare and for some reason these characters decide to go at it with only their fists and feet. This leads to a few frustration points, but are able to plow through with persistence. Some of the actions are a little awkward, but overall responsive controls. There could've been more to the story, but some times bad guys just do bad things and you've got to stop them.

When doing this review keep in mind my score is kind of a combination of the arcade game and the NES version of the game. This was one of those awesome at the time arcade games that you and a friend could play together. Playing as the martial arts brothers you fight your way through multiple levels, battling various street thugs to rescue Marian, one of the brother's girlfriend. Fun way to waste quarters, for the finale you and the friend had to duke it out after battling a machine gun wielding maniac! Then there was the NES version, which took out the two players fighting along side each other and made a much weaker game out of what was a cool arcade game. It is not the only time this has occurred as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would do the same thing as would multiple others. I can understand why, as it is very difficult for a cartridge to go up against a huge cabinet arcade game devoted to playing only one game, but still, why must the co-op always be taken out first? The fighting is still okay I guess, but no two player mode made for one disappointing day as I remember finally being able to rent this and having a friend over and then being saddened with the realization that we would have to take turns rather than team together to take out the trash!

In the beginning of video games history there was the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) at the top, it was the system with most users around the world. Double Dragon was a game that allow two players at the same time to fight in the streets going right in the screen, passing levels and winning skills and new movements. There was tow brothers, Jimmy and Billy Lee, they was going to rescue the Billy's girlfriend that were been kidnapped by bad guys with a very bad boss. It was a game that mark my life and i keep playing it! This and the 2 sequels are video game history and a Must! to every video game addict...

Well, this is one of those games that made you sit back at a child an contemplate what on earth was going on in Japan. Did no one walk? Why did they need all those conveyor belts all over the place?

There are two characters, and, like in Narc and Contra, and countless other games like this, when you were a kid their names were Red and Blue. If you played it as a teenager and actually read the pamphlet that filled you in on the script, you might actually have known their names.

But, ultimately, what you do is fight your way through levels using NES style kung-fu, picking up weapons off of people, and, yes, navigating your way though all those conveyor belts that plagued Japan in the 80s.

Double Dragon is commonly referred to as the first side-scrolling beat-em-up. It's not, there were a couple of minor hits before it, but it sure is the best that has ever dominated our arcades.

Back in 1987 me and my uncle spent a fortune on this game and it took us about 40 million credits to get to the end. It was almost as exhausting as actually beating up hundreds of thugs. You'd hammer the buttons so hard that by the time the game had ended, you're arm would be tripled in size and you'd be sweating like crazy. And I was only 7-years-old at the time!

Despite the games that followed which were classics in their own right (Streets of Rage, Final Fight) none really ever matched up to Double Dragon. When playing as 2 players, this game is absolutely lethal. By the time I was 12 I managed to finish it with a single credit. That's how sad I am. Or is it because the game is so good?

But it ain't just it's high playability that makes it so good. The cartoonish graphics have just enough color and Manga to make them almost iconic. And the music? It's amazing! When I was 7 I'd be humming this at school or while I was walking down the road. Even 19 years later it hasn't dated a bit and still sounds brilliant. So many themes, so many melodies and so bloody cool.

Double Dragon was also released on practically every home platform (don't get me started on the awful C64 version) but none of them, not even the recent Gameboy Advance version, really ever matched up to the awesomeness of the arcade machine. If you see this game, do not hesitate to spend all of your hard-earned pennies on it. It's well worth it.

Graphics A Sound A+ Gameplay A+ Lasting Appeal A