Double Dragon II: The Revenge (1989)

Developer: Technos Japan
Publisher: Technos Japan, Arc System Works
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Family Computer, Wii U, Nintendo Entertainment System
Genres: Fighting, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Arcade
Rating: 3.7 of 5, 34 player ratings
Where to get it: Nintendo eShop

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How it feels

A punishing NES beat-em-up sequel where the Lee brothers unleash revamped combos to avenge a fallen friend.

beat em upactionretrofast-pacedtougharcade-style

About

Technōs created once again a vastly different experience with Double Dragon II on the NES. The experience system was dropped, but the moveset still underwent a few changes. The elbow attack and turning jump kick are gone, but with the standard kick directed backwards they seemed a bit redundant anyway. There are two new ways to make enemies in a grapple suffer, elbow smashes to the head, and a high kick to propel them away. In the brief time window when the Lee brothers are crouching after a jump or after getting knocked down, it’s possible to perform a rising uppercut or a knee jump attack. The timing for these isn’t easy, but they are the most powerful moves in the game. On the NES, Double Dragon II is a much more innovative and unique sequel than in the arcade, but it marks also the time Double Dragon started its schizophrenic shifting between wildly different tones and gameplay styles. In a way it’s one of the best games to bear the Double Dragon name, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that Technōs had already started to loose a cohesive vision of what it meant to be Double Dragon, both in tone and in gameplay.

Screenshots

Double Dragon II: The Revenge screenshot 1

Double Dragon II: The Revenge screenshot 2

Double Dragon II: The Revenge screenshot 3

Double Dragon II: The Revenge screenshot 4

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