Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is the latest installment in the long-running beat ’em up franchise. It was developed by Secret Base Pte Ltd and published by Modus Games. A nuclear war has devastated New York City and it has become lawless. This game pays tribute to the side-scrolling beat ’em up titles of the past, with some modern magic added to give the game a more expansive feel. The streets are overrun with gangs, and something must be done. Billy and Jimmy, along with their friends, are called upon to turn the city around after it has been overrun with gangs.
The gameplay maintains the core elements that fans of the series cherish: fast-paced, action-packed combat and co-op play, but only locally. Players are able to execute a wide range of attacks, combos, and special moves easily thanks to the intuitive controls. A new set of special moves has been added to Billy and Jimmy’s classic move set, which are all unique to each character. Besides new characters, you can also unlock characters with their own attacks and special moves. You can adjust the game before you start it to make it easier, such as doing more damage and weakening the enemies, but at the cost of more cash exchange for tokens, which are necessary for unlockables, you have to pay for the tokens.
The special moves require racking up combos and attacks and picking up drops from enemies that accelerate the special gauge. However, you shouldn’t waste the special moves as they have added a unique twist to them. You get a health bonus if you hit and take down three or more enemies with a single special move. As you take down more enemies with the move, you will gain more food and health. Having full health will reward you with a cash bonus which will come in handy in other sections.
A rogue-lite element is present in this game as you get the chance to upgrade certain perks on your character at the end of each level. This also includes the special meter loading faster or the amount of damage your enemies take from them. The cash can be preserved and you can take a bit more because, as mentioned before, you can trade it in for tokens that you can use to buy things from the game’s shop like extra characters, art, or tips, which is great for replayability. I only have one complaint in this game. There are some platforming elements in certain areas that feel clunky at times. Moreover, the enemies can get stuck on certain parts of the scene.
This game features four gangs that you have to deal with. It has an innovative mechanic where you can deal with the gangs in any order. No matter what order you choose, the game becomes increasingly difficult. By mixing and matching, you can get a different experience in your next play-through. And if you beat all those gangs, you will meet the mayor at the end. However, this mayor may not be the solution for the city, so you have to decide with a large sum of money at stake and also a challenge to face. ou are encouraged to play a perfect game in order to get more cash for tokens so you can unlock more items.
Double Dragon Gaiden is visually appealing due to its beautiful hand-drawn art style and smooth animations. With the vibrant and diverse environments, players will be able to explore a mix of urban landscapes, neon-lit cityscapes, and even the depths of the underground. Character designs are inspired by the original arcade game while also infusing a modern, refreshing touch. The tracks have been remastered in a way that sounds much better. With this new twist, the game still has the same high energy as before.
Double Dragon Gaiden: ROTD is a perfect addition to the series. It keeps what makes the original series memorable. Also while enhancing the experience without going fully 3D. Fast-paced action and a variety of play moves also keeps the game fresh. As does playing the stages in different order to get new challenges. The rogue-lite elements, the unlockable items in the shop and the variety of characters you can play have all been designed to keep the game interesting. I think this game is indeed worth playing.
