Arc System Works has announced a new 3D Double Dragon game for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu reveals. It will launch in 2025.
I have no idea why this logo triggered the soundtrack to Konami's Contra for the NES in my head. I must have a word with the curator of the earworm museum in my head.
I never understood the devotion this game gets. I didn't liked it much back in the arcade days. It looked uglier and played much worse than many other brawlers at that time.
It was actually probably more like the 30th cooperative two-player game (think Joust and Mario Bros.), but it was the very first side-view beat 'em up of any kind, as opposed to top-down brawlers like Gauntlet, top-down shooters like Ikari Warriors, or side-view shooters like Contra.
Double Dragon became the template for pretty much every brawler that followed, not only in terms of the viewing angle but also the gameplay and large sprites that allowed characters and enemies to have lots of personality.
Double Dragon begat Final Fight, TMNT, The Uncanny X-Men, The Simpsons, etc., but also Altered Beast, Bad Dudes, Golden Axe...
Highly influential game that was really fun to play.