DOUBLE DRAGON

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 128 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
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Double Dragon is a classic 2-player action game where you use the fighting style "Sosetsuken" to rescue your girlfriend from street thugs. As you level up, unlock new techniques to help you in your quest. This quality-up version offers reduced lag, bug fixes, and supports both multi-player and single-player modes, but not online play with other games.

  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews
story6 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The film is a nostalgic trip that captures the essence of 90s action movies, providing a fun and entertaining experience.
  • The Blu-ray release features excellent picture and sound quality, along with a wealth of bonus content that enhances appreciation for the film.
  • Despite its cheesy nature, the movie is enjoyable for both kids and adults, making it a great family-friendly option.
  • The film suffers from poor acting and low-budget production values, which may deter viewers looking for serious cinema.
  • Many fans of the original video game may be disappointed by the film's deviation from the source material and its simplistic plot.
  • The pacing is uneven, with some scenes dragging on and a lack of engaging action sequences, leading to a less thrilling experience.
  • story22 mentions

    The story centers on two brothers, Jimmy and Billy Lee, as they attempt to save their city from the villain Koga Shuko, featuring a mix of characters from the original video game. While the plot is straightforward and somewhat cheesy, it diverges from the game's narrative, leading to mixed reactions from fans; some appreciate the new elements, while others find it lacking depth and coherence. Overall, the execution is seen as flawed, with a desire for a reboot that better aligns with the source material.

    • “The story follows two brothers, Jimmy (Mark Dacascos) and Billy Lee (Scott Wolf), who must save their city from the clutches of the evil Koga Shuko (Robert Patrick).”
    • “The plot is easy to follow and the leads are attractive.”
    • “And I really loved the whole story based around the medallion.”
    • “The problem isn't the story being totally clueless, not even trying to emulate either the amazing video game or the very good cartoon at the time, but trying to make things even harder to understand.”
    • “Don’t waste your time with this direct-to-VHS flick, you’ll be fast forwarding throughout the length of the movie just to get to the next plot point… which literally is non-existent.”
    • “The story is not very well written and simply exists for the heroes to go and kick some ass.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the sharp visuals and improvements over previous titles in the series, particularly highlighting "Double Dragon 2" as having the best graphics. However, others criticize the graphics as below average, especially on platforms like the Game Boy, suggesting that while the visuals may not be exceptional, the gameplay experience remains enjoyable for many players. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some finding the graphics satisfactory and others deeming them a significant drawback.

    • “The Blu-ray transfer is excellent, with sharp and clear visuals that enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The graphics for this game are the best in the series and pretty good for a NES title.”
    • “The graphics are really cool and the music for Italy (stage 4) is my favorite out of all of it.”
    • “The graphics are really not debatable.”
    • “The weak graphics and sound can be excused but the gameplay is the absolute pits and ruins the entire game.”
    • “The graphics are below average even for the black and white Game Boy.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise the impressive sound quality and memorable tracks, particularly in specific stages and the finishing music, others criticize it for being repetitive and not matching the game's action or atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack's effectiveness varies significantly among players.

    • “The sound quality is also impressive, with a great soundtrack that complements the action scenes perfectly.”
    • “The finishing music is really good once you beat the game.”
    • “The graphics are really cool and the music for Italy (stage 4) is my favorite out of all of it.”
    • “The music was nothing special.”
    • “This game has none of them; the music is very drab, and the same sort of tinny beat seems to be recycled throughout all of the levels.”
    • “The feel of the music also doesn't go with the game; it doesn't sound like it matches the action or levels.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay features the ability to use two different characters, enhancing variety, but players must first survive to unlock them. While the original games allowed for creative combos and grappling, the current iteration suffers from frustrating mechanics and limited opportunities for enjoyment, leading to a disappointing overall experience. Despite some redeeming qualities, the gameplay is generally criticized as the weakest aspect of the game.

    • “The ability to use two different characters was pretty cool and it does open up the gameplay a lot more, but you have to survive long enough to beat them first before they join you.”
    • “Note: In case you buy this game used and without an instruction manual, you need to hold the select button for two or three seconds during gameplay to activate the options menu for using your weapon and/or changing characters.”
    • “The joy of the original games was being able to come up with your own punch-kick combos and use the grapple feature to pummel your adversaries with glee, but the game is so cheap that you will get very few opportunities to do that, which ultimately ruins the gameplay.”
    • “The weak graphics and sound can be excused, but the gameplay is the absolute pits and ruins the entire game.”
    • “The gameplay is where this cart really suffers.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is polarizing; while some find it innovative and entertaining, particularly through absurd character portrayals, others criticize it as dated and poorly executed, with unlikable characters and subpar production elements detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Very funny, not to mention very innovative.”
    • “His character is so ridiculous and funny.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game is described as a masterpiece that evokes strong emotions, with players reporting that it moved them to tears.

    • “A masterpiece; I shed a tear.”
    • “The story resonated with me on a deep level, leaving me emotionally moved.”
    • “I felt a profound connection to the characters, and their struggles truly touched my heart.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting that while the performance of characters like crime lord Koga Shuko is intense, there may be areas where the game's overall optimization could be improved for a smoother experience.

  • replayability1 mentions

    The game's replayability is rated low at 4/10, indicating that while the challenge is high (10/10), the overall gameplay, play control, and story originality do not provide enough incentive for players to return after completing it.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
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