Double Dragon Neon

Double Dragon Neon is a 2012 beat 'em up video game in the Double Dragon series. It was developed by WayForward Technologies and published by Majesco Entertainment, and it is the reboot of the Double Dragon series. It was the first game in the series where Million, the previous owner of the Double Dragon series after Technōs Japan became defunct, had no involvement in its development. Arc System Works bought the series rights in 2015 along with all intellectual properties of Technōs Japan.

Double Dragon: Neon
Promotional artwork featuring logo and characters
Developer(s)WayForward Technologies
(PS3, X360)
Abstraction Games (PC)
Publisher(s)Majesco Entertainment
Midnight City (PC)
Director(s)Sean Velasco
Producer(s)Jeff Pomegranate[1]
Designer(s)Michael Herbster
Aaron Davis
Barrett Velia
Programmer(s)Shane Calimlim
Ian Flood
Artist(s)Matt Bozon
Paul Castillo
Gonzalo Ordóñez
Composer(s)Jake Kaufman
SeriesDouble Dragon
Platform(s)PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)
Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade)
Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
ReleasePlayStation 3 (PSN)
  • NA: September 11, 2012
  • EU: September 20, 2012
  • JP: December 12, 2013
Xbox 360 (XBLA)
  • WW: September 12, 2012
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: February 6, 2014
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: December 21, 2020
Genre(s)Beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player, co-op

Series creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto was consulted during the game's development, and described Neon as "a very western adaptation of Double Dragon" with certain mechanics taken from the previous games, and a "mood and feel" that reminded him of the original arcade game.[2]

Gameplay

As with previous installments of the series, the player takes control of martial artists Billy Lee (Player 1) and Jimmy Lee (Player 2) in their fight to rescue Marian from the Shadow Warriors gang, this time led by the super-lich Skullmageddon. The journey starts on the city streets and progresses through an outer-space dojo, Asian countryside, a genetics lab, and a graveyard before concluding at Skullmageddon's palace.

In addition to the standard punch, kick, and jump buttons and a designated run button, the player now has an evade button for dodging attacks. If the player times their evasion right so as to perfectly dodge an enemy attack, they will "Gleam" by briefly glowing red, during which time their attacks will be more powerful. The player can collect life-replenishing sodas, money to buy items from shops, and special mixtapes that can be equipped from a pause menu. Two different tapes can be equipped at once: one to grant the brothers a powerful attack that consumes a separate energy meter, and one to alter their statistics and grant special effects (such as making it easier to stun enemies or healing HP with every connecting blow). By collecting multiple copies of a tape, its effect gradually increases until it reaches a maximum capacity. Each tape's maximum capacity can be increased further by visiting a "Tapesmith" and paying him Mythril, which is obtained from defeated bosses.

In a two-player game, both Billy and Jimmy can utilize a special "high-five" technique to split and share their life meters to an equal amount, "psych" the other one out to harm them or make them fall over, or to instantly trigger a Gleam effect. If one player is defeated in battle, the other player has a limited time to revive him before a life is deducted (unless both players are defeated together). When one player is completely out of lives, he can steal one from the other player if he has at least two left.

Development

Yoshihisa Kishimoto, designer of the original two Double Dragon arcade games, served as a consultant during the development of Neon, offering feedback on character designs and gameplay elements.[2]

Double Dragon Neon was released in North America on September 11, 2012,[3] in Europe on September 20, 2012 and in Japan on December 12, 2013 on PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network, and worldwide on September 12 on Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade,[4] to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the series. The game's dialogue and graphical style is heavily 80s-inspired, and features a soundtrack composed by Jake Kaufman, inspired by the original Double Dragon as well as 80's pop music and arcade game soundtracks.

This is also the first commercially released Double Dragon game to use 3D graphics rendered with polygon-based models.[5][6] The game has been released for Microsoft Windows on February 6, 2014. Ported by Abstraction Games, the port features online multiplayer.[7] Skullmaggedon along with the Double Dragon Neon incarnations of Billy, Jimmy and Marion would later cameo as shopkeepers for WayForward's River City Girls (a spin-off game based on the Kunio-kun property by Technos Japan)

A port for Nintendo Switch was released on December 21, 2020.[8]

Reception

Double Dragon Neon received mixed reviews. Electronic Gaming Monthly rated the game a 90/100, commenting "if you grew up with the genre or the franchise, then this’ll hit every sweet spot in your gaming core. If you’re not as familiar with the ’80s, lack a sense of humor, and have difficulty appreciating classic gameplay, then Double Dragon: Neon may give you some trouble."[12]

GameSpot rated it a 7/10 and praises the game for its humor and rewarding combat system, saying "By shifting the tone from serious to crazy and making the combat system rewarding for the most dedicated players, this is a beat-'em-up that fits alongside modern games."[16]

References
  1. "Double Dragon Neon (2014) Windows credits". MobyGames. Blue Flame Labs. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  2. Leone, Matt (October 12, 2012). "The man who created Double Dragon". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. Haro, Morgan (September 10, 2012). "PlayStation Plus Update: Free Double Dragon Neon and Scott Pilgrim, Early Jet Set Radio Access". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  4. Nichols, Scott (September 12, 2012). "Xbox Live update: 'Double Dragon Neon'". Digital Spy. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  5. Vore, Bryan (September 11, 2012). "The Lee Brothers rescue Marian and their Dusty Franchise – Double Dragon Neon – PlayStation 3". Game Informer. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  6. Hinkle, David (September 10, 2012). "Double Dragon Neon Review: Rock me, Amadeus". Joystiq. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  7. "Slender coming to consoles, Krautscape and Double Dragon: Neon hitting Steam". Polygon. January 8, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  8. "Double Dragon Neon coming to Switch on December 21". Gematsu. December 10, 2020.
  9. "Double Dragon: Neon for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  10. "Double Dragon: Neon for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  11. "Double Dragon Neon review". Edge. September 24, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  12. Carsillo, Ray (September 11, 2012). "EGM Review: Double Dragon: Neon". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  13. Stanislao, Manuel (October 24, 2012). "Double Dragon Neon - review".
  14. Deesing, Jonathan (September 19, 2012). "Double Dragon Neon Review for Xbox 360". G4tv. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  15. "Double Dragon: Neon Review". Gamerevolution.com. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  16. Mc Shea, Tom (September 12, 2012). "Double Dragon: Neon Review - GameSpot.com". Gamespot. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  17. Dyer, Mitch (September 11, 2012). "Double Dragon: Neon Review – IGN". IGN. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  18. Double Dragon Neon review, Official Aus PlayStation magazine
  19. Double Dragon Neon review, Official US PlayStation magazine
  20. Rudden, Dave (September 17, 2012). "Official XBOX Magazine – Double Dragon: Neon review". Official Xbox Magazine. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  21. Double Dragon Neon review, Play magazine
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