Double Dragon II: The Revenge opens with a death. Marian, the woman Billy Lee rescued in the first Double Dragon, is shot by Willy, leader of the Black Warriors. Billy and his brother Jimmy set out to avenge her.
Technos Japan developed and published the 1988 arcade beat ’em up, the first sequel to Double Dragon. A distinct version of the same name was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Two Buttons and a Back Kick
The arcade game’s biggest change is its control scheme. The original’s punch and kick buttons are gone, replaced by two directional attacks: Left Attack and Right Attack. Pressing the button matching the direction you face throws a punch series. Pressing the opposite button lands a back kick. A Hurricane Kick joins the move set.
It is a smarter layout than the first game’s, and it makes where you stand matter as much as what you press.
A Heliport, a Lumber Storehouse, a Farm
Double Dragon II runs four missions: a heliport, a lumber storehouse, a farm, and the gang’s new hideout. Each ends with a boss. Sub-bosses appear along the way. Enemy weapons include shovels, knives, chain whips and grenades, and crates, logs and steel balls can be thrown.
| Enemy | Weapons | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Williams | Knives, shovels | Low-ranking gang member |
| Roper | Knives, shovels | Throws crates, logs, balls |
| Linda | Whips, knives, grenades | Only enemy who carries a whip |
| Oharra | — | Head-swap of Abobo from the first game |
Willy Falls, Then You Do
After Willy falls in the fourth mission, the player faces a double of their own character. Two players who reach the end together each fight their own clone.
That last twist is the game’s best idea. The revenge story turns inward at the exact moment it should end, and the mirror match forces you to beat the move set you just spent four stages mastering.
An Upgrade Kit That Grew
Double Dragon II began as an upgrade kit for the original Double Dragon. It grew into a stand-alone game when memory size increased, so the developers reused assets from both. The reuse shows in the enemy roster, where returning characters get altered appearances and new attacks rather than fresh designs.
Revenge That Borrows Its Furniture
Double Dragon II: The Revenge is a sequel that fixes its predecessor’s controls and then coasts on its predecessor’s assets. The directional attack buttons and the Hurricane Kick make the combat better; the recycled enemies and reused art make the world smaller. The clone battle earns the ending. The four missions earn the trip.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
