Double Dragon punches its way onto Virtual Console

21 Comments by Justin McElroy Apr 28th 2008 9:00AM
Filed under: Retro, Nintendo Wii, Fighting

We can't even pretend that we're really excited about this week's Virtual Console release, Double Dragon, or that we didn't play it a year ago in a sexy high-res remake on XBLA for the exact same price (500 points/$5). We love us some side-scrolling and punching, but even we have limits.

But maybe you've never heard of the legend of Billy Lee and his decision to risk his kidnapped girlfriend's safety in order to keep his karate secrets to himself. If so, feel free to buy away, if only to more fully appreciate the roots of the beat-em-up genre.

Tags: double-dragon, doubledragon, virtualconsole, virtualconsolemonday

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Bonafide247: Apr 28th 2008; 9:08AM

This version of Double Dragon was unique, in that it had an "experience" based system that allowed you learn new techniques over time.

skyrous: Apr 28th 2008; 9:18AM

Why would i buy double dragon when the infinitely more playable River City Ransom came out just last week?

Lars: Apr 28th 2008; 2:13PM

Nostalgia?

I know I'm buying it for that reason. I sold my cart almost 20 years ago. I always regretted that. I haven't been able to find another cart, but at least I can download it now.

Felnor: Apr 28th 2008; 9:21AM

Is it just me or is Nintendo not really using their VC to their advantage. Meaning that shouldn't they be trying to get more games out than just at least one a week? The NES had alone 600 Games. At this pace it's going to be 11 Years before we see the entire collection on VC.

Erwos: Apr 28th 2008; 9:29AM

The plan was never to release all NES games on VC. For one thing, you probably wouldn't want more than about 5% of them, and that 5% is not as variable as you'd think.

FOXHOUND: Apr 28th 2008; 10:11AM

Keep in mind also that the conversion efforts, licenses and pricing/royalties that go into producing these games onto VC. If I remember correctly, TMNT1 for NES was 600 instead of 500 points. And there's still the whole matter of any RARE™ games coming on VC...

xFenixKnightx: Apr 28th 2008; 9:30AM

Man that looks umm, eww...

I have the XBLA remake and its awesome. Great with online co-op!

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/19311.html

Totally worth it just for that oldschool feeling no doubt, and the achievements are actually pretty fun in this. You can turn off the redone HD graphics as well to get the full oldschool feel.

TheHuntIsOn: Apr 28th 2008; 9:56AM

I'd pay money to not use a 360 controller for a 2D game. They're fixing the RRoD but screw the crapily designed dpad.

xFenixKnightx: Apr 28th 2008; 10:10AM

D-pad? Okay...I never used the dpad on this game.

Yourself: Apr 28th 2008; 9:38AM

I couldn't even bring myself to get the XBLA version, I so detested this game back in the day.

However, Double Dragon 2 will be worth it...

and "Battletoads and Double Dragon"...

and not that last one...

Lars: Apr 28th 2008; 2:16PM

Damn, I miss Battletoads... that was a freakin awesome game.

Jhongerkong: Apr 28th 2008; 9:45AM

Damn it man, where the hell is Tetris Attack? Its been out in Japan for months!

Freelance: Apr 28th 2008; 9:45AM

Right left right-left you're toothless. Then you say,

Deck: Apr 28th 2008; 11:12AM

Double Dragon was great... I remember playing for long periods of time back on my NES.

Though I really don't know if I could get into it again now.

Donald: Apr 28th 2008; 11:49AM

One step forward, two steps back for VC this week.

I don't mind one-game weeks, but it should never be an NES game unless it's something on the order of, I dunno, Mega Man 2.

DyslexicAlucard: Apr 28th 2008; 12:53PM

Damn it! I was hoping for the recently announced Earthworm Jim games!

Alas, I knew in my heart it was but a pipe dream for them to come out so soon after the announcement.

Nick Ritch: Apr 28th 2008; 1:17PM

NES or master system???
The master system version was superior and had 2 player co-op.

Alzheimers: Apr 28th 2008; 3:47PM

Master System. Aside from 2-player co-op, it was true to the original and didn't have all the bugs the NES version did.

Iwa: Apr 28th 2008; 5:16PM

Not to mention the SMS version had vastly superior graphics compared to the NES version. The version that should be released is the Genesis version. Though, that's not likely to happen as Ballistix was an unlicensed Genesis provider.

playwhutyalike: Apr 28th 2008; 7:34PM

Alright, another reason to throw my Wii-mote at the TV. If I remember correctly, this game was hard as a mo' fo. Or I suck at gaming.

Either way, my TV is toast.

DBuck_Eye: Apr 28th 2008; 8:37PM

In addition to buying River City Ransom in this game's stead, you could also just wait for Castle Crashers on XBLA...IF it ever comes out...

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