Double Dragon Trilogy
- January 15, 2015
- Dotemu
- 7h 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.
- Includes both original and remixed soundtracks, adding variety to gameplay.
- Local co-op and online multiplayer options enhance the fun of playing with friends.
- Poor controls and hit detection lead to frustrating gameplay.
- Lack of continues in arcade mode makes the games feel overly punishing.
- Technical issues such as lag, crashes, and a clunky menu system detract from the overall experience.
- music107 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the remastered Double Dragon trilogy has received mixed reviews, with some praising the remixed soundtracks as enjoyable and nostalgic, while others criticize the execution, noting issues like improper looping and a lack of fidelity to the original compositions. Players appreciate the option to switch between the original 8-bit music and remixes, but many feel that the remixes often fall short, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the remixed tracks have their moments, the original soundtracks are still favored by many fans for their iconic quality.
“The remixed music is fantastic.”
“The music is just like I remember, and I played the arcade back in the day; it's just the same way.”
“The music is playable in the original 8-bit output or a new remixed version, both are enjoyable.”
“From the painful delays in any menu transition to the unnecessary restrictions on continues to the absolutely bizarre music remixes, it's just not worth it.”
“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.”
- graphics57 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting inconsistencies between the updated UI and the original pixel art style, leading to a disjointed visual experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic pixel art and the option to play in both old and upgraded styles, others criticize the overall quality, describing the graphics as blurry and poorly executed compared to the original versions. Additionally, issues such as laggy performance and graphical errors detract from the overall enjoyment, leaving players disappointed with the visual presentation.
“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 graphics are nice, the ability to add the lines is a nice touch but the port of the games needs some work.”
“The menu UI is broken (and bad besides), the in-game UI is remade for the release and does not mesh well with the more original graphics of the actual games.”
“Somehow they managed to have less content, worse music, and uglier graphics than the original NES.”
“Graphics are worse than they ever were and not truly the NES version.”
- story56 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 88 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that the "story mode" functions more as a level select feature than a narrative-driven experience. While some nostalgic elements remain, such as references to the original arcade games, the overall storytelling is considered shallow, with significant portions of cut-scenes and context missing. Players are advised not to expect a compelling narrative, as the focus is primarily on gameplay rather than story development.
“If you didn't play this game back in the arcades, it has quite the story behind it.”
“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.”
“As I understand, all three games are missing major portions of cut-scenes and story, too.”
“Some story scenes and intros are botched or outright removed.”
“Despite the inclusion of a 'story' mode, you're not getting a contemporary story here.”
- gameplay47 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its dated mechanics and inconsistent controls that can lead to frustration. While some appreciate the nostalgic value and find enjoyment in local co-op play, others criticize the lack of improvements over the original arcade versions, describing the experience as mediocre and unfair. Overall, the game offers a brief, albeit flawed, nostalgic experience that may appeal to fans of the genre but falls short of modern standards.
“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 of the other games reward mashing buttons, Double Dragon plays better with more planned attacks (or mashing elbow).”
“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.”
“I am not able to complain about the sound/music or the graphics, however the gameplay feels completely unfair and that takes away the fun.”
“The gameplay is sloppy and not well emulated.”
- stability17 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches, crashes, and significant loading times that detract from the overall experience. While some players experienced no issues, many noted technical problems such as frame rate drops, sound effects not playing, and unpredictable game speeds, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, the port is seen as buggy and poorly optimized, overshadowing the enjoyment of the classic titles.
“I didn't have any problems playing any of the games; the controller worked fine, and there were no glitches. Double Dragon 3 is still a turd, but the first two games are classic beat-em-ups.”
“Tons of glitches, games are broken.”
“Not all is well though, there are a lot of technical glitches such as sound effects not playing, making the fights lose their sense of impact, a lot of flickering and frame rate drops as well as the game randomly becoming much faster or slower, causing enemies to move unpredictably.”
“Overall it is a collection of two great games and a painfully mediocre third one, heavily let down by a plethora of glitches and crashes.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with users noting sluggish performance, stuttering animations, and poor hit detection. While some aspects run smoothly, many players have experienced laggy performance and slow button response, indicating that the game suffers from significant optimization issues reminiscent of its 80s origins.
“All games are well-ported and run smoothly, as well as can be expected for games from the 80s.”
“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.”
“Everything is poorly optimized here.”
“Optimization is a mess it would seem.”
“While it looks a lot better, it's one of those games that have poor performance due to bad animations and horrible hit detection.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this collection is described as both unintentional and nostalgic, with players finding amusement in its low-budget horror film quality and absurd gameplay elements. The juxtaposition of wildly different environments and the over-the-top premise of rescuing a girlfriend from a gang boss adds to the comedic experience, while the remix tracks are noted for their hilariously poor quality. Overall, the game elicits laughter through its campy charm and challenging mechanics.
“This collection is like a budget horror film; it's so absolutely awful it's pretty hilarious.”
“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).”
- monetization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized for its predatory microtransactions, which many reviewers claim have negatively impacted the gaming experience. While some acknowledge that earlier titles in the series, like Double Dragon 3, managed to incorporate microtransactions without making them essential, the current iteration is seen as a poorly optimized cash grab. However, there is a slight recognition that the developers have made efforts to improve the game post-launch.
“It was doing microtransactions when mobile games were still just a glimmer in their parent's eyes.”
“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's so bad it invented predatory microtransactions that plague our games today.”
“This is a crunchy mishmash of badly-optimized cash grabbing.”
“What a quick cash grab.”
- 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 are seen as more rewarding and skill-based. While the gameplay remains intense, 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 overall gameplay remains intense and enjoyable, making it worth revisiting.”
“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.”
