Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Reviews
On balance, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons has captured us with its playful system halfway between tradition and innovation and has been able to give us several hours of carefree fun.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Double Dragon Gaiden is an interesting game with a lot of creative ideas. We’ve seen roguelikes and brawlers mixed before, but not nearly as intricately. I could feel that spark of passion as I played. Unfortunately there are some key drawbacks that betray many of those neat ideas and really hamper the experience. From getting slapped out of defensive tags and juggled to death to subsequent runs feeling more and more like a grind, I had less fun the more I played. I love that Arc System Works has been producing cool, experimental games since snagging the Double Dragon and Kunio-kun/River City licenses. This one has a lot going for it, but stumbles toward the finish line.
Have no doubt, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is one of the best beat 'em ups of recent times, and considering the great quality we have had in the genre today, this is more than a compliment.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Double Dragon Gaiden focuses on replayability to its detriment. Solid combat mechanics give way to balance considerations made to justify all of the difficulty sliders and upgrade systems. If I had to pick between a game with a lot of "replayability" versus a game I simply like to play, the latter will win out every time. Double Dragon Gaiden isn't far off from being enjoyable on the merits of the gameplay alone, but it's far enough to consider going back to the dojo and polishing its Sou-Setsu-Ken technique.
With fun, bright graphics and a novel approach to level design, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons refreshes the classic beat-em-up genre, even if it can sometimes feel a bit repetitive.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons does a reasonable job of bringing back a classic series, but it's unfortuantely hit and miss. Some imaginative stage design, a fantastic soundtrack, and stages changing dependent on the order you pick are all satisfying additions. But a focus on making money to earn tokens, some nasty difficulty spikes, and what feels like forced replayability detracts from the experience. This is close enough to a classic Double Dragon title that it'll likely attract some fans of the originals. However, it's also an example of a game that could have gone a little further and perhaps should have considered taking some inspiration from other successful recent revivals in the genre.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons revives a fundamental beat-em-up dynasty, with variable paths and multipliers making it a worthy multiplayer investment.
Double Dragon Gaiden is a new take on a beat ’em up series that refuses to go away and is one of the better Double Dragon games released in a while. While some will be tired of the pixelated look that many retro games have adapted, it fits, and the combat is as apparent as a punch to the face. Tossing in a pinch of nostalgia with some new roguelite elements that don’t break the game, you have a beat ’em up that fans of the genre will gobble up and ask for seconds.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons enriches the feel of classic beat 'em ups. The basics are supplemented with modern sensibilities that sprinkle in some variety but perhaps not enough longevity for players drawn in by its "roguelite" branding.
From the arcadey '80s through the modern day, beat 'em ups are a dime a dozen. But the best of them offers a satisfying gameplay loop with thrilling co-op and unique visual stylings. Double Dragon Gaiden gets some of that right. It's not the worst beat 'em up game you could spend your time on. But it's most definitely not the best, either.
Double Dragon Gaiden is another solid addition to a year of excellent brawlers.
A well crafted return for the legendary franchise, that mixes in an interesting way its beat'em up soul with some roguelike elements.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons adds some interesting ideas to the beat 'em up genre that offer a neat twist on the standard formula the series and genre offers.
While the new fighting mechanics and large roster of playable characters hit the mark, the rogue-lite elements don't quite stick the landing. Still, the game is a fairly fun beat-'em-up experience, especially with a friend along for the ride.
Not a mere reboot or refresh, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons delivers a fiendishly familiar beat ‘em up that will have you hooked on its charming retro styles and clever modern trappings.
Double Dragon Gaiden's got one big problem. It's not what you'd think, but exactly what you should've expected.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons lives up to the legacy of its predecessor, Double Dragon: Neon, while offering a unique and captivating experience. While it may lack the bold and bombastic soundtrack of Neon, Rise of the Dragons compensates with incredibly varied gameplay that keeps players hooked.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons carves out its own unique character against its predecessors and provides a fantastically edgy game that consistently calls you back for more!
A solid sequel in the beloved beat 'em up series with some roguelite elements
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons brings some innovations that nicely revitalize the gameplay and offer a new experience, but the game somewhat loses its essence from the well-known series. It provides replayability, but it is still relatively short.
Review in Slovak | Read full review