Double Dragon
Arcade/Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Technos (both versions)
Publisher: Taito (Arc)/Tradewest (NES)
Release Date: 1987 (Arc)/1988 (NES)
It may seem unfair to compare the technologically inferior NES to far more powerful arcade hardware at first. However, as was the case with many arcade-to-NES "ports," the NES version of Technos' seminal beat 'em up Double Dragon is quite a different beast from its arcade predecessor.
I remember the initial disappointment I felt when my favorite arcade game at the time came home in a vastly different way. Time and repeat playthroughs, however, would change the way I felt. Though it may have been lacking in some areas, the NES version of Double Dragon is almost as good in its own way as its arcade counterpart.
In this article, I'll break down and examine the strengths and weaknesses of both versions, point by point, and we'll see who comes out on top.
Despite sharing the same name, the NES and Arcade versions of Double Dragon have surprisingly little in common. Both tell the story of Billy Lee attempting to rescue his girlfriend, Marian, from the clutches of the Black Warriors, but in the NES version Billy's twin brother Jimmy turns out to be the villain behind her kidnapping.
Gameplay is the same in principle, but the execution is quite different. The arcade version of the game supplied players with three buttons to perform a bevy of moves available from the onset, including savage headbutts, vicious elbows, and the ability to grab and throw your enemies. In the NES version, however, you begin with only the basic punch, kick, and jump - the latter being accomplished by pressing both attack buttons at the same time - and you earn experience that unlocks new moves as you pummel your opponents. Even the simple jump kick, a staple of the game's combat, must be unlocked. It should be noted, however, that the NES version also includes the ability to attack your opponents on the ground - which the arcade version lacks.
While this change does give the NES version a sense of progression, it severely hampers the player in the early-goings. It also seems incongruous with the portrayal of Billy Lee as a martial arts expert, since he's incapable of even basic techniques in the beginning.
Other changes were also made to squeeze the game into an NES cart. Since the NES couldn't handle more than three on-screen characters at a time (including the player), the arcade game's cooperative multiplayer was nixed, making the title rather irrelevant. Two player games were instead played by alternating back and forth, and both players controlled Billy. In an effort to make up for this oversight (caused by a technical limitation), a Versus mode was added that allowed the player to select Billy or one of five enemies and duke it out with a CPU-controlled doppelganger or a human second-player. It was a nice thought, but the mode absolutely pales in comparison to the arcade version's two-player simultaneous action. Versus mode is more notable for being an early precursor to fighting games than anything.
NES levels were also redesigned, drastically in some cases. The first level is more or less faithful to the arcade game, but from there on there are both moderate and heavy changes in every level, including pure platforming sequences that are often exercises in pure frustration due to the imprecise jumping controls. Again, it was a nice idea in theory to try and add variety to the beat 'em up gameplay, but that's why most of us loved Double Dragon in the first place.
Finally, as a result of the limited memory, weapons cannot be carried over from one battle to the next in the NES version. Upon clearing the screen of enemies, any weapons being carried or lying on the ground will magically disappear when the thumb prompting you to move appears.
With so many compromises and concessions made, the arcade version has the clear advantage when it comes to gameplay, and it's probably not a surprise that it's also the clear winner when it comes to graphics as well.
The NES sprites are serviceable, but a far cry from the larger, more detailed characters and backgrounds of the original coin-op. It's also puzzling why Billy's hair was changed from its original blonde to a reddish color in the NES version. Interestingly enough, the NES sprites have a very anime-inspired look, while the arcade version has a decidedly more Western look to it.
One area where the NES doesn't come up exceedingly short is in audio. Though the arcade tunes are still better, they're also considerably more muffled in the mix. The music in the NES version is considerably louder, and they're as true to the original melodies as the NES synthesizer can get. I like to think of them as remixes of the original tracks; they're still infectious and memorable in their own way. The arcade version still gets the aural edge due to the superior sound effects and use of voice samples. Punches and kicks carry much more weight in the coin-op, and though the voices are muffled, they're completely non-existant in the NES version.
As great as the arcade version is, there is one problem that plagues it - slowdown. Whenever numerous enemies are on screen, the game slows to a crawl. This is compounded with the addition of a second player. It's frustrating, especially when the game's somewhat cheap AI has you surrounded and you're forced to watch your character get beat down with a flurry of punches in slow motion.
There's no question the arcade version of Technos' brawler is the better one. The inclusion of two-player co-op - a rarity at that time in arcades - crisp graphics, vintage tunes, and brutally fun gameplay make it a classic that has stood the test of time remarkably well.
While the NES version is lacking in many areas, I don't want to give the impression that it's a subpar game. In truth, I still love the NES version, in some respects for its differences. Instead of attempting to give gamers an exact replica of the arcade game and failing to deliver, Technos decided to do something different. As compared to other NES games, Double Dragon is still a great beat 'em up, but the arcade version is a true knockout.
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