Nerdicus NES Review # 188 : Double Dragon 2: The Revenge

Title : Double Dragon 2: The Revenge

Publisher : Acclaim

Developer : Acclaim

Genre : Beat 'em Up

Players : 1 / 2 Players

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $15 - $20

Oy! Every so often I look at my blog, and think to myself, "Damn, I need more free time to update it like I used to." Don't worry, folks. I promise, more updates will be coming soon. Still trying to combine the blog and the youtube channel, and it's hectic as hell with work and all that good 'ol personal life business. Seriously, I wish I could just game 24/7, ha!

And a reminder - here's a link to my youtube channel. Actually have a 150 sub contest going on, so if you want a chance to win some free video games, be sure to check it out!

150 SUB CONTEST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w62TK_01Y60

Last time we did a NES review, we were rocking out on one of the most memorable (and most difficult) beat 'em ups, DOUBLE DRAGON. Well, BIMMY AND JIMMY are back, and this time they are going to get some revenge. After all, Marian just got shot, and well, that doesn't bode to well for the Mysterious Warrior. I really wish they kept the same name as the arcade version for the main antagonist.

I mean, come on. MYSTERIOUS WARRIOR....or MACHINE GUN WILLY. Then you'd have BIMMY (billy), JIMMY, and WILLY. Is it me, or was there some sort of obsession with names ending in "y"

Hope you guys are thirsty for some beat 'em up love, because we're going in hot. 

While I am a huge fan of the Double Dragon series, I have to say I really regret some of the changes that were made from the ARCADE versions to the NINTENDO. I know they had some limitations, but idiotic things like name changes, and even level / enemy designs sort of irk me. I always wished they stayed as true to the original as possible, but you know what I guess you also have to think about it as a fresh start for the 8-bit systems. An opportunity to adapt on an already huge success. With that said, let's get started.

As stated earlier, the famed martial artists Billy and Jimmy are off to get revenge over the death of their lady friend Marian. I really think Marian is sleeping with both of them, but that's just me. You'll have to battle your way through 9 pretty large stages in order to face your final foe, and trust me when I say you'll have tears streaming down your face from the incredible difficulty this game challenges you with.

I swear, you would think these games would get easier as you play them, but nope. They are relentless. At least this game gives you the opportunity to access the entire move sets instead of "leveling up" your characters which is somewhat of an advantage. Still, you need to learn how to properly use these moves as well as adapt to the somewhat irritating hit detection. At least it was better than the first game.

Compared to the first game, the fighting mechanics and controls are a lot smoother, and even the animations feel a bit more fluid. There's a nice variation in enemy design, with a few changes made from the arcade version that gave enemies access to various weapons, adding a bit more uniqueness to the way the NES version was developed. It was always nice to see an enemy hitting you over the head with a pipe.

Still, I feel like the easiest way to defeat an enemy in this game is to just spam special moves and make sure you don't get trapped at the edges of the screen. Either that, or grab them with a nice knee to the face. Doesn't always work though, so you have to be careful. Choose wisely, spam buttons and hope you get the first punch in, or be calm and cautious with each enemy you face.

One thing that CONTINUED to irritate me was the platforming elements. A beat 'em up does not need this, and the controls are NOT made for it. It's like that damn jump in the original TMNT game near the end where you have to be in a precise spot to make some dumb ass one gap jump. Just let me beat the crap out of people, I don't need to make jumps. I'll jump when I want to kick.

From a brilliant soundtrack, to much-improved controls, to a difficulty setting that'll make you cry to your mommy and then scream with joy when you finally beat the damn game, DOUBLE DRAGON 2 offers quite a bit for the average NES gamer.

It's one of those games that you just want to invite your friend over and ask, "You ready? ARE YOU READY!?" - grab a beer, play the game, and ignore your loved ones as you spend an hour or two trudging your way through each level. Oh that glorious feeling when you reach the cut scenes between levels, that were a very nice addition by the way. It actually made you feel more connected to the Lee's story.

Stay tuned for the next NES review, where we finish off the DOUBLE DRAGON series with #3...my personal favorite.

Final Score (out of 5) :



Until Next Time, Keep On Gaming!