Double Dragon

For the 1993 Game Gear game by Virgin Games, see Double Dragon (Game Gear).

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Double Dragon
System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega Ballistic
Developer: Arc System Works Accolade
Licensor: Technos Japan
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: Technos
Sound driver: Sound Images v1.0
Peripherals supported: FM Sound Unit
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1988-10-01 ¥5,5005,500 G-1369 US 1988-11 7012 EU 1988 MK-7012-50 PT 1991 MSJ7012 AU 19xx BR 19xx KR 19xx GB-1369 US 1992-04 $39.9539.95 ACLD009 US (Video Game Classics) 199x EU 1992 ACLD009 UK 1992-04-29 £29.9929.99 ACLD009
Non-Sega versions Amiga Amstrad CPC Arcade Atari 2600 Atari 7800 Atari ST Commodore 64 Famicom Game Boy Game Boy Advance IBM PC Lynx MSX Nintendo Entertainment System ZX Spectrum

Double Dragon (ダブルドラゴン) is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up by Technos released for the arcades in 1987. It's considered a spiritual sequel to Technos's previous hit Renegade, while also serving as a precursor to later games in the genre such as Final Fight and Streets of Rage. The game was ported to several consoles and home computers since its original arcade release, including to Sega consoles twice: the first time was for the Master System by Sega themselves in 1988, and later for the Genesis in 1992 by Accolade.

Story

Near the end of the 20th century, violence ruled the streets of New York City after the nuclear war and people began forming gangs to survive. On the outskirts of the city lived twin brothers named Jimmy and Billy Lee. The brothers used to run a martial arts school in the centre of the city which was burned down to ashes five years ago as a result of the nuclear war. Despite this, the brothers did not neglect their training for even a day.

The younger brother, Billy, was romantically involved with a female instructor named Marian, but Jimmy was secretly in love with her as well. One day, Marian was abducted by the Black Warriors, a savage street gang led by a man named Willy Mackey. The gang gradually grew in size after the nuclear war and they are now dominant organization of the city.

The Lee brothers set out to confront the Black Warriors and rescue Marian.

Gameplay

Double Dragon is a side-scrolling action game that can be played by up to two players simultaneously. Player 1 controls Billy Lee (who wears the blue outfit), while Player 2 controls his twin brother Jimmy (in red). The objective of the game is to defeat every enemy from one area to the next until reaching the end of the stage and defeating the boss.

The controls of the original arcade version consisted of an eight way joystick and three buttons (kick, jump, punch). The player can move not only left or right, but also towards or away from the background. The basic attacks consists of a left-right punch combo and a kick. After a couple of punches or a single kick, the enemy will be in a stunned pose. During this period, the player can follow it up with an uppercut, a roundhouse kick or a head grab (depending on the enemy type). During a head grab, the player can repeatedly kick the enemy with their knees or throw him to the other side. Other moves including a jump kick, an elbow strike, a leaping reverse kick and a headbutt. Some enemies can also be grabbed from behind during 2-players mode, allowing your partner to attack him.

There are also seven types of weapons that are either, found on the ground in certain areas or by disarming an armed enemy. To pick up a weapon, stand near it and pick it up with the punch button. While armed, the weapon can be used by pressing the punch button. Certain large objects can also be kicked to the ground with the kick button.

Versions

Master System

The Master System version is a downscaled adaptation of the arcade game similar to the NES version released before it. While the character designs are pretty similar to the NES version, the Master System version retains the 2-player co-op mode and features level designs much closer to the arcade game (albeit, without the vertical scrolling and climbable ladders/fences in some areas). Because the arcade version used a three button setup (with a dedicated jump button), the input method of certain moves such as the flying jump kick, backward spin kick and elbow strike were changed to better accommodate the Master System's two button controls. The consecutive attacks (the uppercut and roundhouse kick) and the hair grab are also performed a bit differently. The Master System only displays up to three enemies and a single weapon on-screen at once.

Mega Drive

In contrast, the Mega Drive version is a relatively straight port of the arcade with slight differences in graphics and sound. Most notably the backgrounds graphics are different, some of the character sprites (specifically Marian and Linda) are not 100% accurate and the head-swapped boss characters (the mohawked version of Abobo at the end of Missions 1 and 3, and the Lee brother lookalike at the end of Mission 2) are replaced with plain palette swaps.

Magazine articles

Main article: Double Dragon/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

File:MS TV advert NL.mp4

NL TV advert

File:MS TV advert NL.mp4

Print advert in Pixel (GR) #72: "Dekémvrios 1990" (1990-xx-xx)

Master System print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #111: "February 1991" (1991-01-16)

Mega Drive print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #124: "March 1992" (1992-02-15)
also published in:

• Mean Machines (UK) #18: "March 1992" (1992-02-27)

Mega Drive print advert in Joypad (FR) #6: "Mars 1992" (1992-02-1x)

Print advert in GamePro (US) #34: "May 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #41: "December 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Excalibur (CZ) #12 (1992-09-01)

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 82 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 79 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL 85 Computer Action (DK) 75 Console XS (UK) PAL 70 Computer & Video Games (UK) 76 The Games Machine (UK) 81 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 70 Player One (FR) 77 Sega Power (UK) PAL 85 Sega Power (UK) PAL 50 Sega Pro (UK) 77 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 70 Tilt (FR) 75

	75
Based on 14 reviews

Double Dragon

Master System, US
Cover
Manual

Master System, US (® from Tonka variant)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU
Cover

Master System, EU ® variant
Cover

Master System, EU (8 languages)
Cover

Master System, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU
Cart Manual

Master System, BR (cardboard)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, KR
Cart

Master System, SE

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Consoles + (FR) 59 GamePro (US) 84 Game Zone (UK) 52 №7, p46/47 Joypad (FR) 78 №14, p58/59 Joystick (FR) 71 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) 31 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) 40 №3, p36 Mega Action (UK) 82 №1, p64 MegaTech (UK) 53 №5, p52/53 Mean Machines (UK) 59 Sega Power (UK) 13 Sega Pro (UK) 72 Sega Force (UK) 43

	57
Based on 13 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Console XS (UK) PAL 72 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 30 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 84 Game Zone (UK) PAL 52 Joypad (FR) PAL 78 Joystick (FR) NTSC-U 71 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) 31 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 40 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 40 Mega Action (UK) 82 MegaTech (UK) PAL 53 Mean Machines (UK) 59 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 59 Power Play (DE) 58 Sega Power (UK) PAL 13 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 72 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 72 Sega Force (UK) PAL 43 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 70 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U 60 Video Games (DE) 54

	57
Based on 22 reviews

Double Dragon

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Video Game Classics)
Cover

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 a55d89f3 MD5 fe9aa8044951b10f876b15f4456161a9 SHA-1 cad5532af94ed75c0ada8820a83fa04d22f7bef5	256kB		Cartridge
✔	CRC32 054f5d53 MD5 6c34e2fd2b6800194dfad16fadaef820 SHA-1 f054fb2c16a78ce5f5ce20a36bf0f2634f169969	512kB	1992-01	Cartridge (US/EU)