Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 613 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons Game Cover
Double Dragon Gaiden is another solid addition to a year of excellent brawlers.
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"Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons" is a roguelite beat 'em up game set in a post-apocalyptic New York City, where players control the young Double Dragon brothers, Billy and Jimmy Lee, as they fight against criminal gangs to restore order. The game features a unique and dynamic level structure, with every playthrough offering a new experience. Players can also unlock and play as other characters, including Marian and Uncle Matin, as they progress through the game.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 613 reviews
gameplay94 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Fast and responsive gameplay with engaging tag-team mechanics.
  • Great pixel art and nostalgic soundtrack that pays homage to the original series.
  • Variety of characters with unique abilities and a customizable difficulty system.
  • Sluggish movement and long recovery times can disrupt the flow of combat.
  • Limited content with only four levels, leading to potential repetitiveness.
  • Some balancing issues with bosses and enemy AI, making certain encounters feel unfair.
  • gameplay208 mentions

    The gameplay of "Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging tag mechanics and deep combat system that allows for character swapping and unique abilities. However, many players criticize the implementation of roguelike elements, which they feel detract from the overall experience, leading to repetitive and frustrating gameplay. While some find the game fun and reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups, others argue that it lacks the fluidity and depth of its predecessors, making it a polarizing addition to the franchise.

    • “Overall, between the incredible fighting gameplay and optional rogue-like elements, Double Dragon: Gaiden has me hooked and is my current leader of the pack in the beat 'em up genre.”
    • “The gameplay is an absolute blast!”
    • “The tag mechanics make it very fun to chain things together.”
    • “This makes for a gameplay experience which feels less like Double Dragon (a series I've been grinding for 37 years now), and more like an 'insane difficulty' mod that just slows your attacks down and gives all the enemies invincibility frames.”
    • “First off, this game has roguelike mechanics and it ruins the game.”
    • “The run-based roguelite nature of this game harms every single aspect of its gameplay and just results in a tedious mess with a heavy lack of replay value and the ability to make the game feel good to play is entirely reliant on getting the right combinations of upgrades in a run.”
  • music125 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic remixes of classic tracks from the Double Dragon franchise, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as a standout feature, blending retro-inspired tunes with adrenaline-pumping beats that resonate well with fans of the series. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay, the quality of the music remains a consistent highlight, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “This game is nostalgia central from the venues to the characters to the music.”
    • “The soundtrack is an absolute triumph, featuring a blend of retro-inspired tunes and adrenaline-pumping beats that complement the gameplay perfectly.”
    • “I always say that music is a big aspect of a beat 'em up game and they did justice to the classics and even the newer (Double Dragon IV) soundtracks that were made.”
    • “Other than the decent visuals and music this is a slog to try and play.”
    • “They pulled a lot of tracks from that dumpster fire that was Double Dragon IV, which is unfortunate because that game's music was garbage.”
    • “The music also resets when you leave that menu, which is kind of annoying; flash games do that type of thing.”
  • graphics73 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the retro pixel art and animation quality, while others criticize the chibi art style as not fitting the game's post-apocalyptic theme. Many players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the visuals, but some find them average or off-putting, leading to a divide in opinions on the overall aesthetic. Despite the varying views, the graphics are often described as well-executed, blending old-school elements with modern flair.

    • “Fun brawler with nice pixel art graphics, good, responsive controls and awesome Double Dragon music.”
    • “The pixel art style is beautifully executed, blending old-school charm with contemporary flair.”
    • “I loved the retro style graphics, the old soundtracks from previous Double Dragons, as well as the game itself is really fun.”
    • “Bad game feel, very average pixel graphics that don't look nice and don't have any dithering.”
    • “I like pixel/sprite graphics but I just don't like the implementation here.”
    • “The pixel art/chibi art style of the game may be off-putting at first for some.”
  • replayability64 mentions

    Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse character roster, dynamic level progression, and the ability to tackle stages in any order. While some players appreciate the variety and challenge it offers, others feel that the game could benefit from additional levels and content to enhance replay value. Despite mixed opinions on its length and combat depth, many agree that it remains a fun and engaging experience worth revisiting.

    • “If you like beat 'em up games like the original Double Dragon games or anything similar, this game really delivers a super fun and replayable package.”
    • “The ability to tackle any stage in any order and the extra challenge which comes with them makes each run unique, and mixed with how many characters you can play with, the sky's the limit with replayability.”
    • “The diverse selection of characters to choose from, each with their unique skills and fighting styles, adds immense replay value and offers plenty of strategies to experiment with.”
    • “This is not a roguelike, it's an arcade game, and its replay value will be relatively limited.”
    • “The run-based roguelite nature of this game harms every single aspect of its gameplay and just results in a tedious mess with a heavy lack of replay value, and the ability to make the game feel good to play is entirely reliant on getting the right combinations of upgrades in a run.”
    • “Lacking on the combat side, so the repetitiveness of the gameplay will get boring, which in turn hurts replay value after all characters are unlocked and played.”
  • story60 mentions

    The game's story features a dynamic mission selection system that allows players to choose the order of stages, impacting the progression and difficulty of subsequent missions. While this structure offers varied playthroughs and multiple endings, many reviewers found the overall narrative to be thin and lacking urgency, leading to a perception of it being a mindless beat 'em up rather than a story-driven experience. Despite some interesting elements, the story is criticized for being underdeveloped, with a desire for more character interaction and depth.

    • “The story lets you play the stages in whatever order you want, and that affects what happens to the other stages along the way.”
    • “Some roguelike elements, lots of slider options, and the way the progression of the missions works means no two playthroughs are going to be anywhere near the same.”
    • “There are so many things that I think this game does right: variety of characters, customizable story mode runs, special abilities, cool unlockables, and multiple endings.”
    • “My issue is that the story is nonexistent and it could be done fairly well with small quips by the characters that explain a little about how they interact.”
    • “There is nothing but a threadbare story mode that, even with all the difficulty leaps and frustrating design, will take you just over 2 hours to complete.”
    • “[*] It looks weird and has a trash plot line.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be excessive and tedious, often requiring around 13-15 hours to unlock characters that offer little value to gameplay. This grinding detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a frustrating mod rather than a true continuation of the beloved Double Dragon series. Additionally, the run-based roguelite mechanics contribute to a lack of replay value and enjoyment, as success heavily relies on obtaining the right upgrades.

    • “A lot of grinding to unlock characters which add dubious value to the play style.”
    • “Lastly, expect to spend ~13-15 hours grinding out tokens to unlock everything.”
    • “The run-based roguelite nature of this game harms every single aspect of its gameplay and just results in a tedious mess with a heavy lack of replay value and the ability to make the game feel good to play is entirely reliant on getting the right combinations of upgrades in a run.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its instability, with users reporting frequent bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, including soft locks during critical moments like the final boss. While some find the issues amusing, many express frustration, particularly with the game freezing during special moves and the risk of losing progress. Overall, the stability concerns significantly detract from the experience, leading to a negative reception.

    • “Great sprite art, great music, but shaky and buggy on release and even now when I've finally given it a chance, it just seems annoying to play.”
    • “Every time you kill 3 or more enemies using a special move (something that happens very frequently), the game freezes to pop an image on your screen for far too long.”
    • “1st run is 2 hours long, then it soft locks and glitches out on the final boss, juuuust outside of the refund window.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from its occasional bugs, which can lead to amusing situations, though they may require players to restart stages. While these glitches are infrequent and typically do not result in significant progress loss, they add a lighthearted element to the gameplay experience.

  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its seamless flow, captivating music, and distinctive art style, all of which contribute to an immersive experience.

    • “I love the flow, the music, the art style, and the atmosphere of this game.”
  • character development2 mentions

    While the character designs and enemy sprites are praised for their visual appeal and fluid animations, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth, suggesting that this aspect may not be a focal point in the game.

  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is praised for preventing "optimized jank," allowing players to effectively utilize powerful upgrades, such as Marian's early upgraded rocket launcher, which delivers significant damage and scales well into the endgame. However, players must engage in combat to secure these enhancements.

    • “This also prevents optimized jank; Marian with an early upgraded rocket launcher and SP refill for every crowd control is incredible (big blast, 60 damage that scales with most enemies until the endgame), so you'll have to fight for it.”
    • “This also prevents optimized jank; Marian with an early upgraded rocket launcher and SP refill during every crowd control is overpowered (big blast, 60 damage that scales with most enemies until endgame), so you'll have to fight for it.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy is criticized as a quick cash grab, with reviewers noting a lack of effort in its design.

    • “It's a quick cash grab and lazy as hell in design.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

1hMedian play time
1hAverage play time
1-1hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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