Double Dragon (Neo Geo)

Infobox VG
align = right
title = Double Dragon


developer = Technos Japan Corp.
publisher = Technos Japan Corp.
released = MVS version
vgrelease|JP=March 3, 1995

Neo Geo version
vgrelease|JP=March 31, 1995

Neo Geo CD version
vgrelease|JP=June 2, 1995

PlayStation version
vgrelease|JP=April 26, 1996
genre = Fighting
platforms = Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, PlayStation
series = "Double Dragon"|nihongo|"Double Dragon"|ダブルドラゴン|Daburu Doragon is a 1995 fighting game spinoff of the "Double Dragon" series developed and published by Technos Japan. It is based on the 1994 "Double Dragon" movie, which in turn was based on the original arcade game. It was originally released for the Neo Geo (in AES and MVS formats) and later released for the Neo Geo CD and PlayStation (the latter ported by Urban Plant). It was Technos Japan's last "Double Dragon" game before the company went out of business.

Overview

The game plays like a conventional fighting game of its time, that is battles are one-on-one and conducted on best two-out-of-three matches. One of the unique aspects of "Double Dragon" is the lack of specific punch and kick buttons like most fighting games. Instead, there are four attack buttons of varying strength and speed, which can perform punches or kicks depending on the character's position. The player's character and his opponent have a super move meter called the "charge meter", which is overlaid on the character's remaining health. The less health the character has, the quicker it will fill up. "Charge moves" are usually performed by executing the command of a regular special move and pressing two attack buttons simultaneously at the end instead of just one.

The characters and stages are inspired by the "Double Dragon" movie featured prominently in the game's intro. This includes the appearances of a submerged Hollywood, the Dragon Mobile vehicle, Billy and Jimmy's ability to transform themselves and the inclusion of Koga Shuko as the game's final boss. However, the game's characters are depicted in a more anime-like style and only five of the game's twelve fighters are actually featured in the movie; Burnov and Duke are from previous "Double Dragon" games and rest were created specifically for this game.

Characters

* Selectable
** Billy Lee - The first half of the Double Dragons duo, Billy is a master of the martial arts style Sousetsuken, a combination of numerous martial arts style learned by Billy and his brother, Jimmy. Billy has blond hair and wears a blue and red casual outfit in his default form. In his transformed form, he wears a blue martial arts gi. Has faster attacks than his brother Jimmy. Billy was the first player's character in the original "Double Dragon", although his character design and ability to transform is taken from the movie.
** Jimmy Lee - The other half of the Double Dragons, he is Billy's elder brother. Jimmy has brown hair and wears an orange and black outfit in his default form. He wears a red martial arts gi in his transformed form and has stronger attacks than his brother Billy. Jimmy was the second player's character from the original "Double Dragon". Like Billy, his design and transformation ability is based on his movie counterpart.
** Marian - A childhood friend of the Lee brothers and female gang leader at Bloody Town. Fights using a street fighting style with techniques based on figure skating. Marian was the damsel in distress of the earlier "Double Dragon" games, although her depiction as a gang leader was based on the movie as well.
** Abobo - A former pro-wrestler from New York who works for Shuko. Abobo was the first stage boss in the original "Double Dragon". In one of his super moves, he briefly turns into a bloated freak similar to the mutation he undergoes in the "Double Dragon" movie.
** Burnov - An obese pro-wrestler from Detroit feared as the "human bomb". He has a rivalry with Abobo. Burnov was the first stage boss in "".
** Amon - A master of the fictional ninjutsu form of "Ryuganinpoh". He seeks for the whereabouts of his missing family and believes Shuko might know something. It's notable that this character is identical in design to Yagyu Ranzou, the third stage boss in "".
** Dulton - A street brawler from Italy who is looking to take down Shuko.
** Rebecca - A tonfa-wielding female martial artist from Holland. She was once romantically involved with a man named Eric, who turned out to be a spy for Shuko, and now seeks to get revenge.
** Eddie - A kickboxer from Venezuela who trains Shuko's henchmen.
** Cheng-Fu - A master of the Drunken Fist from Hong Kong.

* Bosses (unlockable in the home versions)
** Duke - Shuko's bodyguard and the last opponent before fighting Shuko himself. A master of the assassination style "Moukohisouken" from San Francisco. Duke was the final boss in the home console game "Super Double Dragon", where he was originally planned to be a childhood friend of the Lee brothers.
** Koga Shuko - The final boss, Shuko is the evil dictator of Bloody Town. A powerful master of kobujutsu and ninpoh. Shuko was the main antagonist in the "Double Dragon" movie.

ee also

* "Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer" (Technos Japan's other Neo Geo fighting game)
* "Rage of the Dragons"