Double Dragon Trilogy
- January 15, 2015
- Dotemu
- 8h median play time
The Double Dragon Trilogy is an enjoyable nod to the nostalgic action games of old. Publisher DotEmu has made subtle changes to the classic gameplay, however, with mixed results.
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreThe Double Dragon Trilogy consists of three games featuring Billy and Jimmy, martial artists seeking to save Billy's girlfriend, avenge a loved one's death, and find Rosetta Stones. With a variety of blows and techniques, players face off against fierce enemies and bosses in this classic beat 'em up series. This trilogy offers a challenging and action-packed experience, bringing the nostalgic arcade games to modern platforms.
iPad
iPhone
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Ouya
Tablet
Reviews
- Nostalgic experience for fans of the original arcade games.
- Fast-paced gameplay with local co-op options.
- Includes remixed soundtracks and various resolution settings.
- Poor controls and hit detection, making gameplay frustrating.
- No option for unlimited continues, leading to a short experience.
- Technical issues such as lag, crashes, and a clunky menu system.
- music85 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the remixed tracks as enjoyable and nostalgic, while others criticize the execution, noting issues like improper looping and missing sound effects. Players appreciate the option to switch between the original 8-bit soundtrack and remixed versions, but many feel that the remixes do not capture the charm of the originals, leading to a lackluster audio experience overall. Despite these criticisms, the remixed music has its fans, and the inclusion of both soundtracks adds a layer of customization for players.
“The music track stops every while and restarts because they could not make it play continuously like in the arcade game.”
“The bundle includes the original music or remixed music for each game.”
“The music is playable in the original 8-bit output or a new remixed version; both are enjoyable.”
“Somehow they managed to have less content, worse music, and uglier graphics than the original NES.”
“The original music is not emulated properly and the available remix music is awful and sounds like it was done on a mid-90s MIDI keyboard.”
“The remixed music is crap; they should have just stuck with the arcade music.”
- story48 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many reviewers noting that the "story mode" functions more as a level select than a narrative experience. While some nostalgic elements are appreciated, the overall presentation is deemed poor, with missing cutscenes and minimal storytelling that fails to engage players. Overall, the story is considered dated and underdeveloped, typical of older arcade games, leaving players wanting more substance.
“Granted, the arcade version had style, but the NES version had a story that compelled all of us kids with big dreams back then to keep playing.”
“True, the story is dated, but this was the trendsetter for the bitter revenge type games unlike the rest of Nintendo's happy ending campy games.”
“They kept to the original arcade style and the extra storyline is also nice to play.”
“Despite the inclusion of a 'story' mode, you're not getting a contemporary story here.”
“The story mode is just an overglorified level select.”
“'Story mode' is just a level/mission select with no narrative, despite the name.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the updated pixel art style and cool enemy designs, while others criticize the performance issues, blurry visuals, and lack of significant improvements over the original. Many users noted that despite the option to play in an enhanced mode, the graphics often fall short of expectations, resembling the original arcade version too closely without meaningful upgrades. Overall, while there are some appealing elements, the graphics are seen as inconsistent and sometimes inferior to the original titles.
“Gamers will be given the choice to play the game in the old style or the upgraded version with better graphics and sound.”
“The graphics and presentation are fine, gives you a few options to tinker with them which I like.”
“The superior graphics would lead you to think this is the best version of the game.”
“Somehow they managed to have less content, worse music, and uglier graphics than the original NES.”
“The graphics are worse than they ever were and not truly the NES version.”
“First off, the 'enhanced' graphics are merely a blurred look and look worse than the original.”
- gameplay35 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest Double Dragon offering has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it retains the sluggish mechanics of the original arcade versions while introducing some inconsistencies and glitches. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel and local co-op play, others criticize the lack of innovation and the frustrating controls, leading to a gameplay experience that feels dated and less enjoyable compared to modern titles. Overall, the game offers a blend of classic beat 'em up mechanics with some subtle changes, but many feel it falls short of expectations.
“While it may look a bit dated, the gameplay is still fun, especially with a friend (got to have that twist ending).”
“The beat 'em up mechanics are better than most of the more modern games in the genre, with a multitude of attacks and weapons. While most other games reward button mashing, Double Dragon plays better with more planned attacks.”
“Solid port, nice music, nice gameplay, especially in local co-op on the couch with beer, and you will definitely enjoy it.”
“They've faithfully recreated 1's sluggish, cheap gameplay, while DD3’s stuttering movement animations have been perfectly preserved.”
“The gameplay is sloppy and not well emulated.”
“Compared to what is available today, the gameplay found in these classics has grown quite stale.”
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting numerous glitches, crashes, and significant loading times, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. However, some players noted that they encountered no issues, indicating that stability may vary depending on individual systems. Overall, the game appears to have persistent bugs that detract from its overall performance.
“I didn't have any problems playing any of the games; the controller worked fine, and there were no glitches.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; I experienced no crashes or issues during my playthrough.”
“Everything ran smoothly without any interruptions, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
“Tons of glitches, games are broken.”
“Got terrible loading times, and it occasionally got buggy with more than 5 minutes of freezing, so I had to alt+F4.”
“The emulator was a little buggy for my system, causing some frame rate issues in Double Dragon III.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with users noting laggy performance, slow button response, and poor animations that detract from the experience. While the visuals have improved, the gameplay suffers from stuttering movement and hit detection issues, reminiscent of the original's performance problems. Overall, the game feels unoptimized, particularly in its main menu and during intense gameplay scenarios.
“Double Dragon is as much a part of my childhood, and playing this optimized version takes me back to the glory days of arcade games being played for quarters.”
“The original Double Dragon games were hardly paragons of performance, as it took just a few energetic enemies to appear on-screen at once to slow the gameplay to a crawl.”
“The engines need optimization too.”
“They've faithfully recreated 1's sluggish, cheap gameplay, while DD3’s stuttering movement animations have been perfectly preserved.”
“- Laggy performance (both graphically and slow button response with controller).”
“While it looks a lot better, it's one of those games that have poor performance due to bad animations and horrible hit detection.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its nostalgic charm and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the over-the-top scenarios and quirky environments. While some elements may be seen as risqué, the overall tone is more lighthearted and comedic, particularly highlighted by the intentionally bad remix tracks during boss battles. The blend of challenging gameplay and humorous storytelling creates a unique experience that resonates with fans of the original.
“It's like the oldie, funny, and goodie.”
“As Billy and/or Jimmy Lee, you battle through a post-apocalyptic city (with wildly different environments hilariously segueing into each other) to rescue your shared girlfriend Marion from gang (bang?) boss Big Willy.”
“Some of the remix tracks are hilariously awful (especially the music in the boss battles).”
- monetization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization in Double Dragon 3 is characterized by early microtransactions that were not essential for gameplay, suggesting a cash grab approach. However, the developers, Dotemu, appear to have made efforts to improve the game post-launch, indicating a commitment beyond mere profit.
“Double Dragon 3 is the only good one with cool moves you can do and where you can actually get a chance to hit things back. Even if it was the birth of microtransactions, you didn't even really need them.”
“It was doing microtransactions when mobile games were still just a glimmer in their parent's eyes.”
“What a quick cash grab.”
“Double Dragon 3 is the only good one with cool moves you can do and where you can actually get a chance to hit things back, even if it was the birth of microtransactions, you didn't even really need them.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users express that the game lacks significant replay value, particularly when compared to Nintendo versions, which offer more rewarding gameplay and skill-based challenges. While the intensity of the game remains, certain design choices detract from the overall experience and immersion, limiting the desire to replay.
“The Nintendo versions are much more playable and reward skill, offering a level of intensity that keeps you engaged.”
“The games are highly replayable, providing a challenging experience that encourages players to improve their skills.”
“Despite some minor grievances, the replayability factor remains strong, allowing for an intense and enjoyable experience.”
“So no replay value.”
“I think the Nintendo versions are way more playable and reward skill, even if they put a level at the end that just steals your lives with platforming and traps.”
“If you can look past those things, the games are playable and just as intense as they've ever been, but my grievances listed above really break the immersion and don't allow me to fully enjoy this game.”
