15 Double Dragon (1987) Facts, Gameplay Tips and Walkthrough

“Double Dragon” is a 1987 beat ’em up video game developed by Technōs Japan and distributed in North America and Europe by Taito Corporation. The game is a seminal entry in the genre, and it greatly influenced many later titles. The game was originally released for arcade and later ported to a variety of platforms, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Master System, Atari 2600, and others.

In “Double Dragon”, the player takes control of martial artist brothers, Billy and Jimmy Lee, who are fighting their way through the turf of several rival gangs in order to rescue Billy’s girlfriend Marian, who has been kidnapped. The game is known for its co-operative two-player mode, which is an integral part of the experience.

Double Dragon Facts

1. “Double Dragon” was released by Technōs Japan in 1987 and quickly gained popularity, leading to its distribution in North America and Europe by Taito Corporation.
2. It is widely regarded as one of the first successful examples of the beat ’em up genre, paving the way for many future games of this type.
3. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic version of New York City, where players control the martial artist brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee.
4. The primary goal of the game is to rescue Billy’s girlfriend, Marian, who has been kidnapped by the Black Warriors gang.
5. “Double Dragon” was groundbreaking for its time due to its co-operative two-player mode. Two people could play simultaneously, each controlling one of the Lee brothers.
6. The game’s controls consist of a joystick and three buttons; the buttons used for kicking, jumping, and punching. This system allows for a variety of different moves.
7. Players can also utilize weapons, which can be picked up from defeated enemies. These weapons include baseball bats, whips, throwing knives, and dynamite.
8. Each level or ‘mission’ in the game ends with a boss fight, with the final boss being the leader of the Black Warriors gang.
9. “Double Dragon” was known for its difficulty. It has limited continues and a system that increases the difficulty level as the player progresses.
10. After the arcade version’s success, “Double Dragon” was ported to numerous platforms. This includes the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Game Boy, Sega Master System, Atari 2600, and various home computers.
11. The NES version of the game, developed by Technōs themselves, had several significant differences from the arcade original, including a more developed storyline and a level-up system for moves.
12. The game spawned a franchise, including several sequels, such as “Double Dragon II: The Revenge” and “Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones.”
13. “Double Dragon” has been referenced and parodied in numerous other games and media, reflecting its significant influence on pop culture.
14. The game was adapted into other media, including a 1993 animated TV series and a 1994 live-action film. Both adaptations significantly deviated from the source material.
15. Even after decades, “Double Dragon” retains a following. It has been re-released on modern platforms, such as Xbox Live Arcade and the Nintendo Switch Online service, keeping its influence alive in the gaming community.

Here are some tips to help you master the game:

1. Learn the Moves: Knowing all the moves at your disposal is key. You can punch, kick, headbutt, elbow strike, and even throw enemies over your shoulder. Experiment with these to figure out what works best in different situations.
2. Use Weapons Wisely: When an enemy drops a weapon like a baseball bat, whip, or dynamite, make sure to pick it up. These can deal more damage than your basic punches and kicks, and some have longer range, too.
3. Keep Your Distance: While it can be tempting to get up close and personal, keeping a little distance between you and your enemies can help avoid damage. Use jump kicks and weapons to take enemies down from afar.
4. Mind Your Surroundings: Use the environment to your advantage. You can often knock enemies into pits or off ledges, and some environmental hazards can damage enemies as well.
5. Co-op Strategy: If you’re playing in co-op mode, coordinate with your partner. Try to surround enemies or have one player act as bait while the other attacks from behind.
6. Be Aware of Enemy Types: Different enemies have different attack patterns. Some enemies prefer to keep their distance and throw projectiles, while others will try to grapple with you. Learn these patterns to predict their moves and counterattack effectively.
7. Conserve Energy: Avoid unnecessary fights where possible. Your energy is limited, and you’ll want to conserve as much as possible for the tougher, later stages of the game.
8. Avoid Getting Surrounded: Try to make sure you don’t get surrounded by enemies on both sides. Try to position yourself in such a way that all enemies are on one side of you.
9. Final Level Strategy: In the final level, after defeating the last boss, the two players must fight each other to decide who will win Marian’s affections. So, if you’re playing in co-op mode, remember to save some strength for this last fight.

Double Dragon game controls

• Joystick: Used to move the character in all eight possible directions.
• Punch Button: Makes the character perform a punch attack.
• Kick Button: Makes the character perform a kick attack.
• Jump Button: Makes the character jump.

However, many emulators allow you to customize your keyboard controls, and a common setup might look something like this:

• Arrow Keys: Used to move the character up, down, left, or right.
• Z Key: Often used to replicate the ‘A’ button on console controllers (could be used for punching).
• X Key: Often used to replicate the ‘B’ button on console controllers (could be used for kicking).
• Enter or Return Key: Used to start the game or to pause/unpause during gameplay.

Double Dragon cheats .

NES Version:

1. Extra Lives: On the title screen, press Up, Down, Left, Right, A, B, Select, and then Start. If done correctly, you’ll start the game with 20 lives.
2. Level Select: At the title screen, press A, B, B, A, A, B, B, A, and then Start. A new menu should appear that lets you select which level to start on.
3. Keep weapons between stages: Normally when you go from one stage to another you lose your weapon. If you are at the very edge of the screen when you beat the boss, you will keep your weapon.

Double Dragon Walkthrough

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