Double Dragon Gaiden brings retro to the modern era
Double Dragon is one of the oldest beat-’em-up series, but it doesn’t have quite the same recognition as Streets of Rage or Final Fight. Double Dragon Neon is a game that was well received by many, but it came out over ten years ago. Fans of the Double Dragon series have been patiently waiting for the next entry. Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons could become a highlight of the series, but not everyone will enjoy it.
DDG: Rise Of The Dragons takes you into the bizarre world of Double Dragon. It is the distant future of 199X. New York City has been devastated by nuclear warfare. The city is ruled by four rival gangs, but with no other option, citizens turn to martial arts masters Billy and Jimmy Lee for help. You’ll team up with your longtime partner Marian who is now her own character and Uncle Matin to take on the violent thugs.
It’s a typical beat-em-up, where players have to fight their way through goons until they reach the boss. The basic “mash-X” combo is available, as are special moves that use Y to deal with huge damage and end combos. Double Dragon Gaiden Rise Of The Dragons is a fairly standard game, however, it has a couple of key features that set it apart. These include the tag system and the roguelike level structure, which gives players more options about their progression.
The player can choose two characters and switch them when the special gauge fills up. This is mostly used when attacking enemies or during combos. You could choose to stick with just one character and switch only when their health is low. However, expert players can get more value by switching between characters.
This special gauge governs also special moves. Players can only use them when it is fully filled. You can, however, chain together different special attacks to do maximum damage. A Crowd Control Bonus is triggered when you kill three or more opponents with your special moves. This will spawn a healing item. Healing items can be rare and valuable in a game genre that is dominated by them. Having a way to replenish your health when you are surrounded by waves of enemies will help you.
The roguelike campaign of Double Dragon Gaiden Rise Of The Dragons sets it apart from all other beat-’em-ups. The game offers four different levels. One for each gang. After you complete a certain level, you can buy random upgrades. However, the levels that follow will be more fortified against you. Three remaining levels have been doubled in length, and now feature tougher opponents, as well as more rewards. The cycle will repeat until you complete all four levels.
This adds some strategy since each level has its own boss and randomly generated challenges. Players can decide whether to concentrate on the easier challenges to earn money or to get the more difficult bosses done first to avoid them causing a problem later. It’s a unique system that allows for some replayability in the campaign before things get stale. However, some players may prefer a linear progression or to be able to upgrade stats and moves.
Double Dragon Gaiden Rise Of The Dragons is a great game to play, whether you’re playing it alone or with a friend. You can play this game with friends or by yourself if you want to.
