Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Reviews
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a side-scrolling beat'em up that basically restarts the franchise respecting its roots, valuing the classic style of the genre and updating specific concepts that guarantee the reference for old-school fans. At the same time, it proves to be a beautiful gateway for new fans of good old beat'em up in the best pixel art style.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Double Dragon Raiden: Rise of The Dragons is a great beat 'em-up game that takes everything you loved about the series and adds a ton of strategy. With a great retro look and sound, this is a must-play, even though it doesn't always explain things very well!
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a solid successor to one of the most iconic beat 'em up series out there. If you're up for some brawling fun with an interesting roguelike structure then definitely give it a go but watch out for those TNT blasts.
Are you looking for a cute beat m' up? Then this is your game. It's nice to play together and you can unlock a lot of characters.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Even if Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is technically a new game or a "one-off" from the franchise, I can't say it's a comeback. The dazzling flame of novelty is quickly snuffed out, leaving a lukewarm experience marked by underdeveloped roguelike elements and difficulty balance issues. In short, it's fun, but only for very short periods.
Review in French | Read full review
Double Dragon Gaiden is the breath of fresh air this franchise needed. It does just enough to modernize the graphics and gameplay while preserving many of the best elements that make Double Dragon the revered fighting game series it is today.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is an appreciable attempt from a small team of devs who are well-versed in its legacy. Huge character variety, Tag system and the Roguelite elements are welcome additions to the long-stagnant IP, and it can be a genuinely fun game at times. However, it does not always hit the right notes. A criminally short campaign, the lack of additional gameplay modes and the TBA online co-op makes it a tough sell when SoR and TMNT have offer so much more at a cheaper price point. If I were you, I’d wait for some content updates before taking the plunge.
It makes you want more. Very dynamic and eager to invite someone to play to unlock everything you have and continue feeding the content that the game itself gives. An imperative recommendation to any lover of the genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A call back to the Double Dragon series golden days. Gaiden offers a fair beat 'em up experience, but its rogue-lite mechanics aren't well implemented.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons is set in the year 199X where a nuclear war has devastated New York City. Citizens are left to their own devices by fighting for their survival as riots and crime invade the streets. The city has been overtaken by criminal gangs fighting for total dominance of the now-destroyed Big Apple. It’s up to young Billy and Jimmy Lee to take it upon themselves to drive the gangs out of their city.
This gives me hope that maybe we will get a new main installment in the series sooner, rather than later, but as it is, Gaiden is a more than suitable re-introduction to a franchise that still has a fanbase, and can still attract new players.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is one of the best games in the series, combining elements of a beat 'em up with those of a roguelike while maintaining the challenge for which Double Dragon is known. The sprite animation is superb. It's a decent buy for the price of $25. You can get a fantastic time on the standard difficulty. This game will put your understanding of beat 'em ups to the test on the more challenging modes.
It’ll be interesting to see what other beat ’em ups get the modern retro treatment, maybe ‘Golden Axe’ or ‘Final Fight’? For now though, it’s time for the Dragons to rise from the ashes and beat down the streets once again, with hours upon hours of old-school couch co-op fun and soon, online as well. Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is the long overdue modern classic that fans have been waiting for.
The game ultimately can’t shake off the repetitiveness that eventually sets in, while the lack of rewarding incentives and awkward platforming do not help its cause. Yet, the combat delivers with great impact, helped by a colourful roster of unique characters and a smart tag-team system that expands the possibilities of combat approaches. All in all, Double Dragon Gaiden is a journey worth embarking on, even if it is for the first few runs to give players a taste of the various mechanics in play.
I loved Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons as a fan of the genre and a fan of the franchise. The Gaiden moniker is certainly apt as this doesn’t look or feel like a traditional Double Dragon, but as we haven’t had an original title from the series in six years, it’s hard to argue whether this is a side or mainline release at this point. Its addictive and random nature is fantastic for the genre, but I can imagine that coupled with the art direction, it isn’t going to be a street everyone will want to walk down. Tokens cashed in, this is a fantastic addition to the genre and franchise and hopefully, it spurs more Dragons in the future!
There’s some undeniable fun to be had if you can look past the hit collision issues, or the lack of proprietary support for online coop. The roguelite elements are interesting but don’t feel essential in any sense, almost as if a mandatory box to tick and tickle the fancy of some fans. As a throwback to one of the all-time brawler greats, Double Dragon Gaiden is competent, but doesn’t really pack the punch that the series deserves.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons dives headlong into renewing the franchise, even though it respects the classic a lot and avoids mischaracterizing it, thus preserving the nostalgia factor. The changes that bring new perspectives to the gameplay and fighting strategy in the campaign are very welcome, thus differentiating the title from its contemporaries. The stumbles in difficulty and the injustice caused by wrong decisions, however, take the shine out of the journey – both solo and in duo –, which is fun most of the time, until it becomes extremely frustrating.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a very good brawler, not just for fans of the series but for anyone that wants to sit down for a satisfying blast of one-two-punch action. It’s great to see a brawler add more depth to the single-player experience by allowing you to pick two characters and swap between them on the fly. It’s not quite as enjoyable as playing in local co-op mode with a friend, but it’s a welcome feature. Gaiden may be a side story compared to the main series, but it’s easily one of the best entries I’ve played. It’s just such a blast to jump in and attempt a run. With a similar feeling I got playing brawlers back in the retro days; only the controls are much tighter. Whether alone or with a friend, Gaiden will surely keep you entertained on your next game night.
“Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons” features an amazing cast with awe inspiring combos and styles. Sadly, the game ends up being dragged down by poor level design and a “roguelike” mode that barely fits the formula.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The legendary franchise is back with Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, a delightful gameplay, pixel art and an irresistible chiptune soundtrack. A videogame that puts Billy and Jimmy Lee in their rightful place: among the beat 'em up elite and in the top 3 games to enjoy with friends.
Review in Spanish | Read full review