Double Dragon IV from Arc System Works is a fully official and proper new entry in the long-running series. It follows brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee after they defeated the Black Warriors in Double Dragon II, and it even borrows the look of Double Dragon II on the NES for this particular release. Are you ready to fight the good fight once more? Then read our Double Dragon IV review to learn more!
Double Dragon IV is a direct sequel to Double Dragon II, and it even uses the same art style as the NES classic. After they defeated the Black Warriors, Billy and Jimmy Lee decide to share their knowledge by setting up training dojos around the country. Unfortunately, it seems that peace is not something that the brothers will get to experience. A new gang called the Renegades is up to no good and are set on destroying the brothers.
Nostalgia kicks in right away as soon as you start the game with visuals that take you back to many, many years ago when the NES ruled the world. If you want the full experience, you should go into the options menu to change the music to retro before you start your run! All the enemies you remember from Double Dragon II are back along with some new enemies in an all-new adventure.
To make this new entry in the long-running series extra special, Arc System Works managed to get the original developers to work on Double Dragon IV! Original Planner Yoshihisa Kishimoto, Designer Koji Ogata, and Composer Kazunaka Yamane worked alongside Arc System Works to give us a game that feels true to the series. You’ll punch, kick, jump, spin kick, elbow, and head-butt your way through the new missions created for this release, and you’re either going to love it or hate it.
This is a game with a very old-school feel, so if you’re not into that, you’re not going to enjoy your time with Double Dragon IV. The game can be completed in around 40 to 60 minutes depending on skill. Yes, this might seem a bit on the short side, and the developers knew it. So on top of the main game, they have added a Two Player Duel mode where two players enter a small area, and only one will leave. There’s also Tower mode where players will be tasked with completing a tower that is 100 floors high. Tower mode is unlocked after you complete the main story, and it provides players with a hefty challenge.
The game features a full trophy list with a Platinum trophy. Most trophies are awarded for completing the game with each of the secret characters you can unlock after completing the Story mode and making your way through Tower mode, and this is where you’ll spend most of your time as you aim to unlock the Platinum trophy at the end of the road. There are other trophies for completing specific missions in Story mode, not to mention the trophies for reaching certain milestones in Tower mode.
You’re either going to love or hate Double Dragon IV and its old-school vibe. If you’re a fan of the NES releases in the series and have always wanted more, then you’re going to love this new one. If, on the other hand, you didn’t grow up playing 8-Bit games and favor flashy 3D graphics and games that are 12+ hours long, then you better stay far away from this one. As someone who enjoyed the Double Dragon games back I the day, I had a lot of fun with this new one and I look forward to seeing what Ark System Works does with the series.
Disclaimer
This Double Dragon IV review is based on a PS4 copy provided by Ark System Works.
