Overview
- Number of Players
- 1 (Single Player)
- Genre
- Release Date
NES
- 8th Apr 1988
- Jun 1988
- 1990
Wii (Wii Shop)
- 28th Apr 2008, 500 points
- 25th Apr 2008, 500 points
- 24th Feb 2009, 500 points
3DS eShop
- 6th Feb 2013, ¥500
- 5th Dec 2013, £4.49
- 12th Dec 2013, $4.99
Wii U eShop
- 12th Dec 2013, $4.99
- 13th Mar 2014, £3.49
- 22nd Jan 2014, ¥500
Nintendo Switch Online (Subscription)
- Available Now
- Also Available On
- Series
- Tags
- Controller Support
Reviews
Review Double Dragon (3DS eShop / NES)
Dragon us down
From the moment protagonist Billy Lee’s sweetheart is sucker-punched in the opening sequence, Double Dragon establishes itself as an action-packed, thrilling battle through hordes of enemy combatants in an attempt to reclaim the captured damsel. As soon as gameplay begins, however, this façade is quickly stripped away to reveal an...
Review Double Dragon (Wii U eShop / NES)
Solo komodo
Double Dragon is notable for a whole host of reasons, among them that the NES version bears one of history's most misleading game titles by being a solo adventure with nary a dragon in sight. It also opens with an iconic, if anachronistic, bang — or, more specifically, a pow. A gangster brute socks a woman in the gut and carries her...
Review Double Dragon (Wii Virtual Console / NES)
Single Dragon
Double Dragon is a classic NES game that was immensely popular in its day, so much so that it led to a string of sequels. Predictably the NES conversion of the arcade original made some compromises and changes to the game, so the question is whether it stands up well in the current day. In terms of differences from the arcade version,...
Screenshots 7
Double Dragon News
Soapbox Why I'm Not Excited About Playing NES Games On The Nintendo Switch
All NES'ed out
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert admits that he's not in the least bit excited about the prospect of playing NES games again in 2018... They say that...
Video You're Unlikely To Find A More Exhaustive History Of Double Dragon Than This
"You got 50,000 on Double Dragon?!"
Technos' Double Dragon has to rank as one of the most seminal arcade games of all time. While it wasn't the first side-scrolling fighter by a long way, it laid down the foundations of the genre and inspired countless clones and even a (terrible) Hollywood movie. It also played a significant role in the cult film...
Nintendo Download 13th March (Europe)
Yoshi, Pokémon, Luigi, Cubes and more
The Nintendo Download information is a day later than normal for the second consecutive week, yet the details are finally here. They bring two Virtual Console releases and a discount for Wii U, some more Luigi-themed discounts, and in addition the 3DS has a variety of new offerings — download-only and retail...
Nintendo Download 12th December (North America)
RUSH, Double (Double) Dragon, 3D Sega and more
It's Nintendo Download day, North America, and your collection of download treats for the week has been revealed. This week brings a mix of the old and new on both Wii U and 3DS, while DSiWare also makes an appearance. There's certainly decent variety on offer, so check out the details below. Wii U...
Nintendo Download 5th December (Europe)
Bravely Default, more retro SEGA goodness, Scribblenauts and more
Another week begins as we creep towards the Holidays, and Nintendo of Europe once again sends us on our way with a fresh download update. This week has some promising offerings, including more 3D SEGA goodies, a long awaited 3DS RPG and a much overdue Wii U and 3DS retail release;...
Podcast NLFM Episode 17: Love Fest 2011
Love is in the air for this Valentine's Day special
Ho ho ho! Happy Valentine's Day, citizens of Earth! Let Nintendo Life be your love muffin this year with a very special NLFM dedicated to all things lovey-dovey-goo-goo. If the music of this episode doesn't melt your ice-cold heart even a little then we'll only be hurt just a tad. 1. Shōgo Sakai...
Learn our shocking pasts
To continue our celebration of 25 years of NES, the staff's gathered around the campfire to share their favourite memories of that little dream machine. Not everyone could make it to the party, unfortunately, but we're sure that those who couldn't had good reason to stay home. Join us now as we lay bare our souls to you and...
News US VC Releases - 28th April - Double Dragon
Hot on the tails of River City Ransom from last week the theme of violence continues with the legendary Double Dragon on the NES punching its way to the Virtual Console.
The NES version is a fun adaptation of the original arcade classic however there is no 2 player simultaneous option in the main game which is a crying shame (even the Master System...
News EU VC Releases - 25th April - The Last Ninja
It seems every two weeks we get a Commodore 64 week now - No complaints from us, especially when it means that we get The Last Ninja, an excellent action platformer/puzzler hybrid featuring an agile ninja with a whole assortment of weaponry. The game was incredibly well-received in its day, being the number one selling original creation on the Commodore 64.
Accompanying it is World Games. In a fashion similar to California Games, it features a number of sports, only this time, from around the world instead of California. The game is not too special, but...
News 3 NES Beat 'em Ups Coming To US Virtual Console Soon
The North American Virtual Console is in for a treat over the next three Mondays as our pals at IGN have revealed that River City Ransom, Double Dragon and Renegade will be punching their way to the Virtual Console in successive weeks.
Much to the annoyance of North American VC fans the rather excellent River City Ransom came out in February in...
About The Game
Double Dragon is one of the most popular arcade-style action fighting games ever, and has been used as a classic model for subsequent beat'em-up games.
Published initially as an arcade title only, it's huge success has allowed the game to be converted across multiple platforms.
Double Dragon tells the story of two brothers, Billy and Jimmy Lee, who start a journey in order to save Billy's girlfriend Marian. The girl has been kidnapped by the Black Warriors, a gang of martial artists that are trying to learn the secrets of the technique SouSetsuKen, mastered by the two brothers.
Double Dragon features offers a deep combat system based on punches, kicks and many weapons and interactive items. Moreover, the story will take the player to visit and explore many different locations, from the city suburbs to the mountains.
Comments 79
YES!!! THANK YOU! I absolutely LOVE the original. I am so downloading this the day its released. How awesome would it be if we got this with River City Ransom on the same day?
OH YA! i remember playing this!! it was really short but totally awesome!
Great game that happens to be very different from the arcade version. Double Dragon is one of the first Nes games I ever played. Double Dragon is a must have game for people that like beat'em ups.
I never played this, but I love Super Double Dragon. I'll download this once it comes.
Don't give us the third one!
Anyone remember Bimmy and Jimmy?
I would rather have the Master System version than this one, but I doubt they'd release both. Oh well - take what you get, right???
no way............ i can't wait for this. this game was amazing...
You can't play simultaneous, so I'm gonna wait for an other Double Dragon!
Oh my God... How many times have I seen that girl get punched in the gut!? I'm totally getting this!
i don't think DD2 and DD3 are releasable in north america. acclaim owned the north american distribution rights and they went under. other companies have bought rights to various things here and there. super double dragon, much like this game, was published by tradewest and if this game is releasable then super double dragon will be as well. honestly, DD3 for the nes was one of the toughest games i ever played. it was practically impossible to make it anywhere in that game...
Which game is better, this or River City Ransom?
They're not comparable, really, one is straightforward while the other is open-ended and more of an RPG. I would say RCR is more enjoyable than Double Dragon these days though.
Even though this game is legendary and a lot of fun, River City Ransom is still a million times better. Still, DD has character, and it's worth 3 stars on the Jogurt scale. (Does that mean RCR is worth 3 million stars...?)
An absolute download!!!! Wouldn't mind seeing the master system version either but I doubt they would give us more than one version of the same game.
@ MasterMario
I think River city is better, but this game is also good.
The original promotional posters say Billy and Jimmy were called Hammer and Spike. LOL i dont know which sounds better..
YEAH! BRING IT ON!
I rather have Super Double Dragon on the SNES!
"Bimmy and Jimmy" lol
Was this the one with the super knee where you hit A+B when recovering from a jump?? That move was that funniest thing in a side scolling beat em up ever. Or was that DD2?? Either way it had me in stitches, the way it smashed people across the screen.
"How awesome would it be if we got this with River City Ransom on the same day?"
How about consecutive weeks?
A must download for me when it comes out
Heh heh. Time to beat up some Abobos!!
You got the plot wrong, guys - in the NES version, Shadow Boss' identity was actually Jimmy Lee, since the game was 1-player only, and they wanted both brothers in the game. When the sequel came trucking onto the NES, that plot thread was completely ignored, though.
Double Dragon for the Megadrive/Genesis instead please.
I've been spoiled by the XBLA version of this... still a great arcade conversion though.
Good review Dazza
I have such fond memories of this game. Can't wait for Double Dragon II: The revenge
The Wii shop write-up for this says 1-2 players in the summary and mentions co-op in the main synopsis - anyone with the points willing to check this out?
In the main game you just take turns if playing 2 players. The only simultaneous 2 player action on offer here is in the VS mode.
I honestly can't give this more than a 3. Removing co-op removes alot of the fun.
Seems a nice game so far but...
Do you still jump by pressing two buttons at once?
Absolute classic! Fingers crossed for DD2 on the NES too, that was my favourite of the lot.
@Dazza
Even so, in the middle of the Wii shop page "Double Dragon features 2 player co-op". Naughty Nintendo if they're stretching definitions to get downloads. I was just wondering if they'd added co-op to rival the XBLA release.
@CopyofCopyX
Yes
@milkboy enterprises
That's why I bought it. I thought that they'd either added it or that the VCR was wrong. Unfortunatly though, it is 2p. Just in VS.
Naughty Nintendo it is then. Even the C64 version had co-op! And leotards in purple and pink.
No Co-op? Forget that.... *sigh
No co-op kinda takes the double out of the title and everyone knows one dragon is cool, but not megacool like you know - double dragon!
Ahh.. My brother and I love this game! a must download. Where's my other dream game, Mega Man 2?
Corey: 50,000! You scored 50,000 points on Double Dragon?
Lucas: I love the Power Glove. It's so bad.
Corey: Yeah, well, uh, just keep your Power Gloves off her, pal, huh?
I love the opening cutscene; those dudes know how to knock out a girl with style!
Super Double Dragon Please....!!
The NES version sucked bad in comparison to the arcade. No 2p coop? No thanks.
I'll definitely pick up Double Dragon 2 when it comes though.
I agree, loved the arcade version and after playing that DD1 was a total disappointment on NES.
It is disheartining that the NES left out the 2-player; However, as a stand alone game, it is actual quite fun. Hopefully, we will see the NES's version of Double Dragon 2. That is co-op and is a blast. It was one of the few games some of my friends, who didn't enjoy video games, enjoyed playing. The knee and spin kick could be touchy at times to pull-off, but if you failed, your partner was always there to back you up.
no 2 player is a sad, sad state of affairs
My buddies and I used to try and see how far we could get in the game with only using punches and jump kicks. No regular kicks allowed. It was great fun.
An entertaining little game.
I still remember beating the two Abobos in the third level and walking past the cave, causing the level to loop!!
No two player co-op really kills this one for me. I must've played the Genesis version. The glory of this game was the co-op mode. And then after you beat the final boss you duke it out for who gets the girl. Gloriousness!
deggs - Your reasoning is flawed. Just because Acclaim published DD2 and DD3 here and they're now out of business doesn't mean another company could pick up the rights, which is what was done here to begin with (DD1 was published by Tradewest). The publishing license is not the same as the intellectual properties. The NES version of DD2 was recently ported to mobile phones in Europe FYI.
Finally made it to the last boss today (who, yes, is Jimmy Lee. Willy's only his henchman here)- man, this game is much tougher than I remembered, and you pretty much have to rely on semi-cheap tactics in order to make it past some of the tougher sections. And the first part of level 4 with the moving pillars is a killer.
Great fun, though. Yes, the lack of a co-op mode is annoying, but you get tremendously extended levels in exchange. A must play.
Scored over 50000 points, too
I realy like this game. Cant wait for Double Dragon 2, one of my favorit beat-em-up game ^^.
Aaand beat it. What a great game. Bring on the sequels, please.
Those pillars in the beginning of level 4 is by far the hardest part of the game, though. Willy is a close second.
Thank you Virtual Console, Double Dragon was the only reason a regretted selling my NES; but now a Wii Solution! I find this game to be most enjoyable though I still tend to die after or during the fight with those 2 big dudes with green shorts, And those Tomba Mother F%^*ers with the purple pants are truly on my last nerves...
I'll start by stating that I usually download NES games on a whim and a pint, I've found that very few have aged well enough to download, Punch Out and the Mario series being definite standouts as timeless classics. This game has aged well, and is still highly playable and fun. If you are a fan of the arcade game, then this might not do it for you, but it's still a great version of this classic game. I would recommend RCR over this, but DD is 500 points well spent. The SoR series is much better if you lack the nostalgia for this game and just want a great beat 'em up.
I still can't get pass Mission 4 and those weird wall bricks that knock me down.
I think this game's not that great. No two player? I'll stick to River City Ramson/Street Gangs.
I think that they should have kept the co-op mode instead of making people go one at a time. Still, it is a decent beat 'em up game and the loss of co-op mode just raises the difficulty for this game. 3/5
does anyone remeber battletoads double dragon for the snes that was kinda my first introduction to double dragon in a way. but it was an awsome game
I had to decide between this and River City Ransom. I decided on RCR in the end though, since that game had Co-op and the RPG elements piqued my interest. I think I made the right decision.
great game. good music and good controles.
i hope they dont releas the 3rd one
BIMMY AND JIMMY???
greeaaat game !! I waiting for double dragon II revenge too !!
"deggs - Your reasoning is flawed. Just because Acclaim published DD2 and DD3 here and they're now out of business doesn't mean another company could pick up the rights, which is what was done here to begin with (DD1 was published by Tradewest). The publishing license is not the same as the intellectual properties. The NES version of DD2 was recently ported to mobile phones in Europe FYI."
Jonny2x4, acclaim published a ton of nes games. though many of them were licensed games, many also were just North American and european releases of japanese games. Not one North American acclaim property that I know of has been released on VC on north america (feel free to prove me wrong though because i hope i'm wrong). i'm not saying that that can't change. it's just that when a game is rereleased years later, the person holding the copyright has to obviously give consent (not like they wouldn't want to as they have an opportunity to make some money). in this case, aksys either bought the copyright or got the rights to publish it for vc i guess.in the case of dd2 being released on mobile phones in europe, who knows who controls that copyright, if they have any intention to release it on vc or what...
what i should have said was that to release this game, one would also have to go through similar efforts to release super double dragon so if this one is releasable, then so is super double dragon. dd2 and dd3 would require clearing things with different people. that doesn't mean that it is impossible that they would ever come to vc.
Ahh those where the days . . kicking the badies on the street. Maybe not the best DD game but this game has made Double Dragon as it is. 4 stars
it was a fun game, but i had double dragon 2 before playing this one and i (still) prefer that one
i do remember the vs mode, was also fun, playing as bosses (if i remember correctly)
and i agree with RetroNL, its fun to fight baddies on the street, so if double dragon 2 will be released on VC i buy
this game never really attracted me much, but nr2 did
we can play police without weapons (we take those from the bad guys ) it still gets 4 stars
(double dragon 2 will get 5 stars, but then it has to be on VC first )
Yeah this game was so fun
However I'm still waiting for the sequels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such as
Double Dragon 2: The revenge
or even
Super Double Dragon
whatever you do, don't release Number 3
So come on what is taking so long
@ Sharecrow and Tony
AGREED AGREED AGREED
^About the SMS port. . .
But I think I have the old DD SMS cart somewhere..
so who cares
Not as good as RSR, but still oaky.
I only bought this because I want to say that I played through and beat it. Its a big piece of gaming history but it is very rough around the edges. DD2 is by far my favourite in the series and I would love to add it to my Wii menu. So I'll play through it, get frustrated with the weird difficulty, and then add it to my trophy room of completed games. Good enough.
Even though this game didn't come with the co-op, it was still fun its own right.
NOW, if we could only get the Nes's version of DOUBLE DRAGON 2, then the world would win.
i love double dragon!!!!!!!!!!
Heehee Adamant and Mirokunite!
Its that INCREDIBLE FILM ...The Wizard!
"You scored 50,000 points on Double Dragon!??!"
!!!
I wish they'd release the Genesis version of Double Dragon, I love that game so much.
god i love this game, but guess what I LOVE DOUBLE DRAGON 2 EVEN MORE!!! QUIT SLEEPING NINTENDO AND SEND US IT NOW!!!
^^ Amen!! Double Dragon II was the best of the entire series.
Please give us the rest of the double dragons. I'd download DDII and III the minute they're available. All three of these games are must-haves for any serious nintendo collection.
when are they releasing the arcade version??
When my big brother and I were little, we played co-op on this game. We rented it. Anyway, I remember that we didn't get very far on the game, but we eventually did beat River City Ransom (then again, we bought that, so we had more time). Should I get this on the VC, or do you think it might be too hard?
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