Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Arcade/Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Technos (Both Versions)
Publisher: Technos (Arc)/Acclaim (NES)
Release Date: 1988 (Arc)/1990 (NES)
After the success of the original Double Dragon, a sequel was inevitable. And like the original game, that sequel would be ported to numerous consoles, including Nintendo's unstoppable NES.
Double Dragon II is a slight improvement over its progenitor, at least when it comes to the arcade version. Similar to the first game, the NES version was radically changed once more, but how those changes stack up to it's coin-operated big brother may surprise you.
The arcade version of Double Dragon II is essentially more of the same. It feels more like an expansion or a reskinning of the original game than a proper sequel. It's not a bad game by any means, but minor aesthetic improvements and a revamped control scheme can't save the game from feeling too much like a rehash.
Graphics are noticeably improved, with a larger color palette and excellent sprites, but the backgrounds lack some of the punch of the original. Audio has been greatly upgraded, with much louder, crisper, and more diverse sound effects. The music, however, isn't quite as memorable as the original game's tunes.
The biggest change is the game's control scheme, which adopts the left/right directional attacks from Technos' earlier beat 'em up, Renegade. A lot of players find this control scheme confusing, though it also appears in the NES version, and prefer the original set up.
Billy and Jimmy Lee's moveset has been slightly altered as well with the addition of the devastating, but tricky to execute cyclone kick. This move is a bit of a gamble because it requires precise timing to pull off, but if it connects it can decimate your enemies, giving the combat a slightly more strategic feel. Do you take the risk of gaffing the move, or do you rely on your ground arsenal?
Weapons also return, with only minor cosmetic changes. The baseball bat has been replaced by a shovel, dynamite has been replaced by hand grenades, and Linda's chain whip is now a ball-and-chain variant, but they're all functionally identical.
Most of the original game's enemies return, again with some facelifts. Unfortunately, the brutally cheap AI also returns along with the occasional slowdown. Double Dragon II is notably harder than the original, and it's also pitifully short with only four missions.
By comparison, the NES version once again took a different route to compensate for the hardware. This time, however, the changes pay off in spades.
The NES version of Double Dragon II is hands down the best version of any game in the series. It's graphics may not compare to the coin-op's, but they're markedly better than in the original NES port. The larger, more detailed sprites are wonderfully animated and the beautiful, gritty backdrops look fantastic. The story is considerably more fleshed out and told through cinematic cutscenes, though the ending has been changed for better or worse.
Nearly everything about Double Dragon II on the NES is superior to the original game's port. The inclusion of two-player simultaneous play, a feature sorely lacking the first time around, adds value to the game, and you can choose whether you want your attacks to hurt your partner or not for added challenge. Unfortunately, only two enemies are still allowed on screen at a time, but it's a caveat I can live with.
Gone is the unnecessary experience system from the first NES game as well, allowing the player to perform all their moves right out of the gate. Like the arcade version, the cyclone kick is difficult to perform with regularity, but the similarly nasty flying knee was also added to your repertoire.
Once again, most of the levels were redesigned, and in many cases extended. Whereas the arcade version sports a paltry four missions, the NES version has nine. Platform jumping sequences make another appearance, but are nowhere near as frustrating as in the original (with one possible exception).
Even though the arcade game has the clear technical advantage, the NES version's superior level design and playability make it the clear choice for Double Dragon fans. It's longer, and improves upon the original NES port in just about every way, while the arcade version was little more than a reworking of the original game with only minor changes.
I still clearly recall being so excited for the NES version that I called my local video store every half hour to ask if it was available for rent. Eventually, they got so fed up they broke store policy and held a copy for me just to get me to stop calling. When I finally picked up the game and took it home, I was blown away by how much better it was than the original, somewhat disappointing port. Double Dragon II on the NES is everything the arcade sequel was not. It's not only the best beat 'em up on the NES, but one of the best of all-time for any console or coin-op.
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