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Double Dragon (Sega)

Double Dragon is a side-scrolling beat-’em-up game that made its debut in arcades in 1987, created by Technōs Japan. It quickly gained fame for its compelling gameplay and was subsequently adapted for various platforms, including multiple Sega consoles. One notable port was for the Sega Master System.

Plot

Set in a dystopian urban landscape overrun by gangs and rampant crime, Double Dragon introduces players to the city’s only hope: twin brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee, known on the streets as “Spike” and “Hammer.” These brothers are martial arts experts trained in the disciplines of Kenpo and Kung Fu. The plot thickens when the Black Warriors gang kidnaps Billy’s girlfriend, Marian, to lure the brothers into a trap. This sets the stage for a rescue mission where the brothers must navigate through the city’s most dangerous areas to save Marian and defeat the gang.

Gameplay

Players control either Billy or Jimmy Lee through four challenging missions that take them from city slums and factories to wooded areas and the gang’s stronghold. The game features a rich array of martial arts techniques, which players can execute using a combination of directional inputs and action buttons for kicks, punches, and jumps. Advanced moves include grabbing and throwing enemies or using various weapons such as bats, whips, and dynamite.

Enemies vary in strength and weaponry, adding complexity and requiring strategic thinking to progress. Weapons can be picked up from defeated foes, adding a layer of strategy as players decide when to engage in melee combat or use weapons.

Players start with a finite number of lives and a health gauge that depletes upon taking damage. The game ends if all lives are lost or upon defeating the final boss. In a unique twist for multiplayer mode, if both players reach the end, they must then confront each other to determine who wins Marian’s love, adding a competitive edge to the cooperative play.

Double Dragon remains a beloved classic for its innovative fight mechanics, co-op gameplay, and dramatic narrative, setting a high standard for future games in the beat-’em-up genre.