Double Dragon

Overview

Double Dragon (not to be confused with the original 1987 brawler) is a 2D fighting game developed by Technōs and released by SNK for arcades (running Neo Geo MVS hardware) on March 3, 1995.

It is the last game in the series of the same name that is developed by originator Technōs, as well as their first fighting game. The game is loosely based on the 1994 film of the same name, borrowing many elements from it (such as having crime lord Shuko as the main antagonist and turning damsel-in-distress Marian into a gang leader) and using small snippets of the film itself.

When Billy Lee and Jimmy Lee receive a letter from their old martial arts instructor, they decide to return to their hometown after leaving for ten years. After finding out that the town is completely controlled by violent gangs led by crime lord Koga Shuko, the Lee brothers set out to stop the violence.

The game was later released for the Neo Geo AVS on March 31, 1995 and ported to the Neo Geo CD on June 2, 1995 (featuring a vocal-laden arranged soundtrack). It was later ported to the Sony PlayStation by Urban Plant on April 26, 1996 exclusive to Japan. This version includes two new game modes: "Overdrive" (which is a slightly faster version of the game) and "Tiny 3D" (which allows the player to move the camera around, showing the different layers of the background and foreground to give the illusion of 3D). The PS1 version was digitally re-released via PlayStation Network for both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable on August 10, 2011 in Japan (by HAMSTER) and on January 14, 2014 in North America (by MonkeyPaw as an import).

Gameplay

A traditional fighting game, Double Dragon features most of the common moves found in arcade and Neo Geo fighting games. A four button fighting game (fast, weak, medium, and strong attacks), there aren't specific buttons for punching or kicking. Additionally, the game has a charge meter which is filled as the match progresses, allowing characters to perform special moves.

Characters

The game includes 10 playable characters from the start and 2 boss characters (Duke and Shuko), both of whom can be unlocked with a cheat code.

Billy Lee

Practicing the fighting style of Sousetsuken (a fighting style he created which combines Shaolin Kenpo, Tai Chi, karate, judo, and akido), Billy Lee is one of the two main characters. Along with his brother, he runs a fighting dojo, where they work together to perfect the best martial arts techniques. This comes to an end when they visit their hometown, and make the decision to end the violence in the city. Billy Lee is voiced by Hikaru Midorikawa.

Jimmy Lee

Jimmy Lee also practices the Sousetsuken fighting style, and is the older and taller of the two brothers. He focuses more on powerfully offensive moves, rather than the quick attacks of Billy Lee. Initially, he is wary about trying to end the crime and violence in their city, but he eventually agrees to help put a stop to the violence. Jimmy Lee is voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa.

Marian

The damsel in distress of the franchise is a now inexplicably a gang leader and a master at street fighting (inspired by the movie). She uses the street gang that she's in control of to fight the crime in the city, all while enjoying cultured interests such as drugs and figure skating (which factors into her abilities). Marian is voiced by Yuka Koyama.

Abobo

A large, bulky street fighter, Abobo has been in nearly every one of the Double Dragon games, as well as the Double Dragon movie. He works for Koga Shuko, the mastermind behind most of the violence in Bloody Town. At seven feet tall, sometimes Abobo's size and sheer strength is enough to deter his opponents, although his victories are constantly stolen by another gang member, Burnov, who gets along very poorly with Abobo. Abobo is voiced by Daisuke Gouri.

Burnov

Born in Detroit, Burnov is an incredible large wrestler at 495 pounds. Known as the human bomb, he used to be a heavyweight champion. After learning of Koga Shuko's organization, Burnov quit wrestling and became one of Shuko's right-hand men. Burnov is also voiced by Daisuke Gouri.

Eddie

A Venezuelan kickboxer, Eddie is in charge of training Koga Shuko's henchmen. Eddie's fighting style is a unique combination of Muay Thai and other martial arts. Although he is a martial arts teacher, he is also an incredibly powerful fighter, and is consistently searching for ways to improve upon his abilities. Eddie is voiced by Yukimasa Kishino.

Amon

A mysterious warrior of Asian descent, not much is known about Amon. He practices a fighting style employed by ninjas, known as Ryuganinpoh. Very little is known about him, other than the fact that he came to America to search for his lost family, believing that Koga Shuko might have information about their disappearance. Amon is voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa.

Cheng Fu

Another opposer of Koga Shuko, Cheng Fu is a unique fighter whose fighting style is Suihassenken. A carefree justice-lover, Cheng Fu enjoys sake, a type of Japanese alcohol. Although he is a skilled fighter, he dislikes trying to learn (particularly lectures), and is constantly sneaking out of his training. Cheng Fu is voiced by Hisao Egawa.

Dulton

An Italian street fighter, Dulton wanders from city to city searching for an unknown person or thing. It is believed by some that he is searching for Koga Shuko, but no other information is known regarding his nomadic tendencies. Dulton is a proud, powerful fighter, but can also be very caring or responsible towards others. Dulton is voiced by Yusaku Yara.

Rebecca

A Dutch fighter, Rebecca is another person seeking Koga Shuko. She had fallen in love with a man named Eric, who she met at her father's martial arts dojo. Eventually, she discovered that Eric was a spy from Shuko, and that he was attempting to absorb the dojo into his evil operations. After an emotional battle with Eric, she decides to take down Shuko. Rebecca is voiced by Keiko Han.

Duke

Practicing the fictional art of Moukohisouken, a Chinese fighting style also known as the shadow murder, Duke is the right-hand man and bodyguard of Koga Shuko. Duke is a ruthless fighter, willing to murder without reserve. He enjoys causing pain to others, especially pain that merely tortures someone rather than killing them. Duke is voiced by Hisao Egawa.

Koga Shuko

The main antagonist of both the game and the film, Koga Shuko is behind most of the nefarious organizations and businesses in Bloody Town. Shuko practices both kubojutsu and ninpoh (magical abilities). The final boss of the game, Koga Shuko contains nearly limitless power. Koga Shuko is voiced by Osamu Saka.