Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls

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Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Tradewest
Developer: Leland Interactive Media
Sound driver: GEMS
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1994-08-05 T-97106
Non-Sega versions Jaguar Super NES

Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls is a 1994 competitive fighting game developed by Leland Interactive Media and published by Tradewest for the Sega Mega Drive. It was also released for the Super NES and Atari Jaguar. The change in genre from the side-scrolling beat-'em-up format of the previous games to one-on-one fighting was due to the popularity of games such as Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat at the time.

Despite the title, Double Dragon V has no continuity with the previous games in the series, and it was actually a tie-in to the Double Dragon animated series airing at the time. The unusual numbering was due to the existence of Super Double Dragon, a Super NES-exclusive game in the series that was released in 1992. Former series' developer Technos Japan had very minimal involvement with Double Dragon V, and the game was never sold in Japan. An unrelated Double Dragon IV would later be released for the PlayStation 4 and PC in 2017.

Story

The Lee brothers, Billy and Jimmy, were separated at birth: Billy is raised by an elderly martial arts master known as the Oldest Dragon, and Jimmy is raised by the evil Shadow Master. When Jimmy is betrayed by the Shadow Master, he renounces his evil ways and joins his brother as a Dragon Warrior. The brothers fight a war against the Shadow Master and his henchmen for control of Metro City.

Gameplay

The game is a fighting game that plays similarly to Street Fighter II. Two fighters square off in a small arena and compete to drain the other's health bar by landing attacks (or by having more health left than the opponent when the timer runs out). The first fighter to win two rounds is the victor. Characters have several special moves, as well as finishing moves called "Overkills" where the losing character has a unique death animation when defeated by a certain type of basic attack in the final round of a match.

Characters move with and , crouch with , and jump with . Characters can punch with (light), (medium), and (hard) and kick with (light), (medium), and (hard). When playing with a standard three-button control pad,  START  toggles between punches and kicks. Using combinations of buttons can trigger special moves such as fireballs and thrust attacks. Opponents can be grabbed or thrown by pressing the D-Pad toward them while pressing a medium or hard punch or kick button. Attacks, other than grapple moves, can be blocked by holding the D-Pad away from the opponent. Characters can become temporarily stunned after receiving repeated attacks.

Players are given nine skill points that can be distributed between Strength, Defense, or Special, which can be set as high as five. Strength and Defense can be set to a minimum of one, while Special can be disabled entirely, allowing the player to invest more in attack power or vitality at the cost of not being able to use special moves. There are four difficulty levels for computer-controlled opponents (Easy, Normal, Hard, and Pro).

Modes

The game features multiple modes:

• Tournament: An arcade-style single-player mode where the player competes against a series of computer-controlled opponents, with each character having his or her own ending.
• Vs Battle: A two-player mode where one player battles another.
• Quest Mode: A single-player story mode where the character competes in a series of plot-based matches. The player can choose to play as one of the Lee brothers, who are on a mission to stop the Shadow Master from releasing a plague, or play as one of the Shadow Warriors, who must compete to become the Shadow Master's new second-in-command. Like the Vs Battle mode, the player can adjust the attributes of the selected character.
• Battle Demo: A demo mode where the player can pit two computer-controlled characters against each other.
• Dossiers: A gallery of character profiles.

Characters

Move lists assume the player is facing right. If facing left, and should be reversed. P refers to any of the punch buttons, while K refers to any of the kick buttons.

There are twelve available characters (including two boss characters). Bones, Sekka, Blade, and Dominique are original characters who never appeared on the television series.

	Billy Lee
	Overkilled by: Standing  HP
	Raised by the Oldest Dragon after being left at the Dragon Dojo by his father John Lee to find his twin brother, he was raised as a Dragon Master to obey the code to the letter. After meeting his brother Jimmy, he decides to fight and becomes a Double Dragon. He is noble and only fights when he must. Move list Name Command Description Dragon Shock Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Billy sends a dragon head fireball across the screen. Rising Dragon P Billy rises into the air while holding his sword out. Shuriken Strike P Billy throws himself forward while spinning like a shuriken. Slide +P Billy slides forward while holding his sword in a crouched position.
	Jimmy Lee
	Overkilled by: Standing  HK
	Raised by the Shadow Master and fooled into believing the Shadow Master was his father, he was raised to be the Shadow Boss and be evil. After being betrayed by the Shadow Warriors, he joins with Billy as a Double Dragon. He is reckless and always gets in trouble. Move list Name Command Description Dragon Fire Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Jimmy shoots a fireball across the screen from his sword. Rising Dragon P Jimmy rises into the air while holding his sword out. Shuriken Strike P Jimmy throws himself forward while spinning like a shuriken. Slide +P Jimmy slides forward while holding his sword in a crouched position.
	Jawbreaker
	Overkilled by: Standing  HP
	A monstrous pink-skinned mutant, he is a voracious eater. He has a large jaw with sharp teeth and can bite a chunk out of anything. Move list Name Command Description Spit Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Jawbreaker spits a projectile across the screen. Yell P Jawbreaker yells damaging sound waves across the screen. Flying Headbutt +P Jawbreaker flies across the screen with a headbutt. Jawbreaker + MK  (close) Jawbreaker swallows, chews, and spits out his opponent. Bulldog Bite + HK  (close) Jawbreaker bites and throws his opponent behind him.
	Icepick
	Overkilled by: Crouching  MP
	A cyborg and computer expert, Icepick's body is entirely made of solid crystal. He fights using a sword and dagger with ice powers. Move list Name Command Description Ice Dagger P Icepick throws an icy dagger across the screen. Ice Ball Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Icepick breathes an ice ball that travels across the screen. The projectile does no damage on its own but freezes his opponent momentarily. Sword Fury PPPPP Icepick slashes his sword furiously in front of himself. Sword Spin  LK  Icepick spins around on his sword while kicking. Hammerhead + MP  Icepick slams his head against the ground in front of him.
	Bones
	Overkilled by: Standing  MP
	An undead skeleton resurrected by the Shadow Master who is influenced by rock 'n' roll and has a tattoo of a cobra on his forehead. He wields a laser rifle. Move list Name Command Description Eye Beam P Bones lifts his sunglasses and shoots a laser beam across the screen from his eye sockets. Gun Shot K Bones fires a beam across the screen from his rifle. Skull Toss Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Bones throws his head across the screen in a low arc (before sprouting another one). Arm Lash + MP  Bones removes one of his arms and uses it to swipe in a semicircle in front of him. Long Headbutt + MK  Bones stretches his body and headbutts in front of him.
	Sickle
	Overkilled by: Standing  MK
	A rude and cruel street fighter and criminal. He fights with two large red sickles. Move list Name Command Description Energy Blade P Sickle throws a spinning blade across the screen in a low arc. Rolling Buzzsaw P Sickle spins along the ground like a sawblade. Flying Buzzsaw P Sickle spins like a sawblade into the air, then falls downward. Cyclone Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Sickle twirls forward while spinning his blades around him.
	Blade
	Overkilled by: Standing  MK
	A French cuisine expert and hired mercenary of the Shadow warriors. His weapons are crimson blades on his gauntlets. Move list Name Command Description Spin Kick Hold for 2 seconds, then +K Blade dashes forward while rotating on one leg and kicking with the other. Torpedo Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Blade shoots himself across the screen like a torpedo while holding his blades forward. Blade Fury PPPPP Blade punches repeatedly in front of himself with his bladed hands. Slide Throw +P Blade slides forward in a crouched position while holding his blades out. If the move connects, he stabs and throws his opponent over his head. Blade Ripper  MP  Blade slashes downward with his blade.
	Trigger Happy
	Overkilled by: Standing  LK
	A large, ex-military brute who loves to shoot at and destroy things. He uses a hand-mounted blaster. Move list Name Command Description Low Cannon Blast K Trigger Happy shoots a low shell from his blaster. High Cannon Blast Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Trigger Happy shoots a high shell from his blaster. Rocket Uppercut P Trigger Happy rises into the air with an uppercut. Force Field KKKKK Trigger Happy stands in place and covers his body in a force field, which reduces the damage he takes. Fire Punch  MP  Trigger Happy punches with his blaster, which has a fire effect and knocks down his opponent.
	Countdown
	Overkilled by: Standing  LP
	A robotically enhanced cyborg. He attacks with shoulder-mounted rocket blasters and laser vision. He was manipulated into betraying the Shadow Master and punished for his treason. Move list Name Command Description Flame Thrower P Countdown crouches and shoots his blasters diagonally upward. Missile Shot K Countdown fires a missile across the screen that rises as it travels, which burns and knocks down his opponent. Eye Laser Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Countdown shoots a laser across the screen from his eye, which electrifies and knocks down his opponent. Rocket Dive +K Countdown jumps into the air, turns into a rocket, and dives downward. Rotating Kick Hold for 2 seconds, then +K Countdown moves forward while rotating on his fist and kicking.
	Sekka
	Overkilled by: Standing  MP
	A television personality and mercenary who was hired by the Shadow Master, she is more interested in her payment than the Shadow Warriors' cause and follows her own agenda, making her more neutral. Sekka wears a combat armor and claws similar to Blade on the end of her gauntlets. Move list Name Command Description Claw Roll Attack P Sekka rolls forward, then does three claw strikes. Flying Grab Hold for 2 seconds, then +K Sekka flies across the screen and throws her opponent against the wall. Claw Spin K Sekka advances forward while standing on her claw and spinning her legs in the air. Flying Grinder + LK  Sekka jumps forward and does a Claw Spin after landing. Handstand Kick + HK  Sekka stands on her claw and kicks high. Ground Swell + HK  while jumping diagonally Sekka holds a straight leg in a head stomp.

Bosses

The two bosses are playable in every mode except the Quest Mode with a cheat code.

	Dominique
	Overkilled by: Standing  MP
	A dangerous dominatrix with a whip and knives at the tips of her high heels. Dominique is the personal bodyguard of the Shadow Master and his most loyal and devoted minion. She is a sub-boss who precedes the Shadow Master. Move list Name Command Description Ponytail Beam K Dominique whips her hair forward, which shoots a laser across the screen. Swoop Hurricane K Dominique slides forward while crouch kicking. Heel Knife Slide + LK  Dominique slides forward while pointing knives from her shoes.
	Shadow Master
	Overkilled by: Standing  HK
	The master of all Shadow Warriors. He is evil and deceptive, and his ultimate goal is to cover the world in darkness and shadow. He has many powers which include shapeshifting and teleporting, and he is able to trap warriors who fail him in the Shadow Mural. He has a scythe, the lower half of which can detach and be used as the sword. He is the final boss of the game. Move list Name Command Description Fireball P The Shadow Master blows a fireball across the screen. Lightning Spear Hold for 2 seconds, then +P The Shadow Master infuses his spear with lightning and dashes forward with it. Energy Ball Hold for 2 seconds, then +K The Shadow Master shoots an energy ball that rolls across the ground. Teleport P or K The Shadow Master teleports in front of his opponent with P or behind his opponent with K.

Stages

Dragon Dojo Interior

Dragon Dojo Exterior

Cody's Nutron Grill

Metro City Sewer System

Dusty's Garage

Chemical Factory

Fusion Plant Interior

Fusion Plant Exterior

Metro City Hotel

Shadow Dungeon

Shadow Dojo Exterior

Shadow Dojo Interior

Production credits

• Producer: Michael Abbot
• Creative Director: Kevin Lydy
• Art Director: Stan Gorman
• Game Designers: Michael Abbot, Stan Gorman, Tim Heydelaar, Kevin Lydy, David Schwartz
• Lead Programmer: Robert Sun
• Programmer: David Schwartz, Mike Waltman
• Game Artist: Derek Benson, Frank Borowitz, Rex Cataroja, Sukru Gilman, Francisco Gracia, Mark May, Greg Miller, Harry Teasley
• Additional Artists: Juan Galceran, Gary Luecker, Michael Platteter
• Music: Rob Atesalp
• Sound Effects: Orpheus Hanley
• Story Consultants: Derek Benson, David Schwartz
• Quality Control: Randy Estrella, Tim Heydelaar, Brian Johnson, Steve Kramer, Dan Lewis, John Stookey

Source:

In-game credits

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• Illustration & Print Director: Debbie Austin
• Packaging & Manual Concept and Production: Steve High, Shawn Murphy, Debbie Austin, Beeline Group, Inc.

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in GamePro (US) #60: "July 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in GamePro (US) #60: "July 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:

• EGM² (US) #1: "July 1994" (1994-07-19)

Print advert in EGM² (US) #2: "August 1994" (1994-0x-xx)

Print advert in EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 40 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 65 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 63 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U 63 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 52 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 65 Video Games (DE) 39 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 80

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Based on 8 reviews

Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls/Technical information.