I began frequenting arcades in the late '80s, and one of the first games I remember playing was the iconic 1987 beat-em-up, Double Dragon. Although it might not have been the most suitable game for a seven-year-old, I eagerly pumped quarters into it and spent countless hours playing the NES port. Despite its peak in the late '80s and early '90s, the Double Dragon series has seen numerous iterations and revamps over the years. Now, a new version based on the original game is set to release in 2025.

Figure 1. The Double Dragon Series Makes a Comeback with A Modern Tribute to The Original Game.

Double Dragon Revive, produced by Japanese developer and publisher Arc System Works, who acquired the rights to Double Dragon in 2015 after the original developer Techno’s went out of business, is the latest iteration. Unlike Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, released in 2023 with a distinctive cartoonish style, Revive adopts an ultra-modern and more realistic aesthetic. Figure 1 shows the double dragon series makes a comeback with a modern tribute to the original game.[1]

It resembles recent Street Fighter games, with characters boasting a greatly expanded set of moves to battle waves of enemies. While details about the game are still scarce, Arc System Works emphasizes that Revive isn't a simple button-masher, stating that it "requires adaptation and variety."

Revive also distinguishes itself from Rise of the Dragons, which featured roguelike elements, 13 playable characters, and a tag-team ability for character swapping. True to its name, Revive will likely adhere more closely to the classic Double Dragon formula. Whether this will resonate with players in 2025 remains to be seen, but there are surely many nostalgic fans from the '80s eager to give it a try. The game will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X/S, and Steam.

References:

1. https://www.engadget.com/the-double-dragon-series-returns-yet-again-with-an-ultra-modern-tribute-to-the-original-game-142722631.html

Cite this article:

Gokila G (2024), The Double Dragon Series Makes a Comeback with A Modern Tribute to The Original Game, AnaTechMaz, pp. 31