Double Dragon IV is Arc System Works’ newest addition to the Double Dragon franchise consisting of a similar retro art and fighting style of its earlier predecessors. It’s a side scrolling beat-em’-up with a story that takes place quickly after Double Dragon II. Double Dragon IV follows the classic twins, Billy and Jimmy Lee, on an adventure to save Marian from the clutches of the Okada Sisters. Mainly focusing on co-op, the story and multiplayer are designed to have two best buds fighting each other, or fighting together to save the damsel in distress.

Double Dragon IV Review

Title: Double Dragon IV

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC [Reviewed]

Genre: Beat Em Up, Brawler

Developer: Arc System Works

Publisher: Arc System Works

Players: 1 – 2

Release Date: January 31, 2017

Price: $6.99

Story

The story of Double Dragon IV is presented after completing a mission. Each mission takes about 5 to 10 minutes to finish. Honestly, it’s almost exactly the same as Double Dragon II. There’s very little in the form of cut scenes. Instead, there’s a high focus on players constantly fighting enemies. If you are a fan of these kinds of games, then the story may mean more to you. However, it did very little for me. The characters tell you where to go with no real reason as to why they are going there. The amount of lines each character says can be read off 2 post-it notes. Ultimately, it gets repetitive fast and felt as if the the developers re-skinned things, with the only deviation being the final boss mission.

Customizable Controls 

One of the positives of Double Dragon IV is customizable controls. This allows easy access of combo attacks and special attacks for the twins. Including moves such as: a headbutt, spin kick, and even a backwards elbow strike. Each attack wielded correctly, makes Billy and Jimmy outsmart their foes effectively and attack in unexpected ways. Thus, leaving enemies on the floor waiting for their next serving of justice. The attack animations on each character are incredibly well done and suits the 8 bit style to a tee. Although, it is reused for each character encountered. Even though this is expected, it gets dull after playing 12 missions seeing the same animations repeatedly.

Characters and Gameplay

The A.I. in the game is unforgiving to the untrained beginner. However, after gaining some familiarity with the controls, A.I. attacks and behavior become expected and repetitive. Even with this, the gangs find power in numbers and the player can easily be swarmed by a handful of them. While playing solo, I found myself replaying the last few missions because of the boss battles, and because of the large number of lackeys that are always a step behind you. When it comes to designs, the different skins are impressive with easily identifiable sprites. However, as the game progresses, several moments of déjà vu occur as the skins are recolored and the same familiar faces appear. Even the upper level enemies are just re-skins of older skins found in the first few levels.

Tower Mode

After completing the game, you are granted access to tower mode. The special mode is played with only a single life. Players go through an infinite number of floors and push themselves as far as they can. Going up against regular enemies and bosses at regular intervals. Just as the name implies, there’s no real goal in the mode. Other than allowing you to unlock anyone you defeat for use in the multiplayer mode. It’s really just an extra mode for you and perhaps even a friend, to survive for as long as possible. Tower mode does get more difficult as you progress through, introducing bosses and tough enemies, which keeps players on their toes.

Multiplayer Mode

The Multiplayer game mode is just what it says. A chance to pit the twins together in a friendly duel. Thanfully, it also extends beyond that, as you can play with a variety of characters that are unlocked from story mode and tower mode. This includes lackeys of each level, to several tanks and bosses that you have encountered. Playing the mode against another person can get heated and may be the most fun to be had in Double Dragon IV.

Special Note

These controls aren’t told to you anywhere, but I discovered that the Enter key makes the game run in a semi full screen format by pressing F2. Also, for some reason, before I received the latest update on Windows 10 the game refused to open for me. However, after I got the update everything came together thankfully.

Pros:

Endless amounts of good old fashioned fighting

Co-op is integrated into all parts

Classic 80’s retro feel

Cons:

Boring story and repetitive missions

Reused character design

Little replay value

Final Rating

Overall Thoughts: 5 Out of 10 Double Dragon IV is a game for its fan base. If you are in the mood for a retro style Beat-em’-up game, this fills that fix. However, the story is better told on google than in the game itself. It also suffers from very little replay value as well. Meaning that you won’t come back for a second serving.

Honestly, this feels like it should be played with quarters, as such, $6.99 isn’t expensive for a game, but I should caution that the story mode can be completed in about one hour. I do give Arc System Works credit for including co-op, which many newer games tend to neglect. They also do a great job of recreating the 8 bit style too. However, When it comes to this game as a whole, I’d say that maybe it would’ve been better if it stayed in the 80’s.

* for the sake of transparency, the publisher did provide a digital code for review purposes. *