Review: Double Dragon Neon (PSN,XBL Arcade)

Double Dragon started in the arcades in 1987 and was then quickly ported to nearly every video game console and computer of its time.  Gamers immediately enjoyed taking on the roll of Billy or Jimmy in pursuit of their shared love interest Marian who was taken right from under their noses by a gang of villains.  Gamers loved this new “beat’em up” genre and couldn’t get enough of it on their NES’s and Sega Master Systems.  Well, today launched a new era for Double Dragon fanatics with the just released Double Dragon Neon from Majesco.  Released in North America on September 9, 2012 for $9.99 (and free through January for Playstation Plus Members) on both the Playstation Network and XBOX Live Arcade you can once again take the roll of your favorite brawlers as time repeats itself once again in their search for Marian and the minions who stole her.

This go around you will be playing this, hopefully, on you big screens where you will notice the eye-popping neon graphics and 80′s cheese that this game is born from.  Everything about DDN screams 80′s from the neon artwork and the character costumes to the bubblegum rock balled music from Jake Kaufman (Contra 4, Bloodrayne Betrayel and Shantae Riskys Revenge)  and weapons.  And yes, there is some stereotyping going on here, but it’s all in good fun, just like it was back in the day.  DDN is filled with basic and special moves and power-ups (and thankfully, no playing tutorial) which are earned by the collection of Songs which are left behind in cassette form by your fallen enemies.  Collect these cassettes and add them to your collection of power moves which can be combined through mix tapes edited together by the Tapesmith.  Edit together combinations of moves to best suit your fighting nature.  The more music you have the more power moves you will learn and this is key to progressing further into the game where the enemies are tougher and group attacks are ruthlessly difficult.

Enemies will also leave behind weapons, which you can pick up and use against them.  Pick up bats, knives and whips and go to town!  As you make your way through the levels be sure to destroy everything in your path from trash cans to mailboxes (and lots more) to uncover cash which is needed to buy weapons, health and power-ups from various stores as well as 2-liter bottles of Dragon Dash Cola to restore your health. As we all know, the original Double Dragon was double-the-fun when you played with a friend simultaneously. And DDN is no different and adds various Hi-Five’s which can either help our hurt one another as you battle side-by-side.  Initially DDN comes with only local co-op play but is said to have a free upgrade coming soon for online co-op play.

As you start the game and progress through the initial street levels you will quickly discover the enemies who stole your girl are not of this earth.  You will have to have to see the rest for yourself as you should be dropping $10 bux on this game right now!  GO GET YOUR GIRL!

And as an added bonus you an download DDN’s incredible original soundtrack FREE directly from Jake Kaufman’s Website.

Do you have any Double Dragon games to buy or sell? Click here to register to bid or to sell.