TGS 2024 | "Double Dragon Revive"
After Double Dragon Neon was released in 2012, I was surprised that Arc System Works didn’t stick to that style. Thankfully, after years of waiting for a proper return (no, let’s forget Double Dragon IV for the time being), the Lee Brothers are truly back with Double Dragon Revive. On top of that, Arc System Works chose a hell of a developer team to bring it to life: Yuke’s, the people behind WWF No Mercy and AEW: Fight Forever. After experiencing the demo at Tokyo Game Show, my excitement for Double Dragon has reached massive levels!
I was transported to the most classic of Double Dragon levels after I chose Billy: the backstreets. As you’d expect, there are a bountiful of baddies waiting to put Billy in the ground. However, the Lee Brothers are Grade-A ass-kicking machines, and once I started getting in the arcade mindset, Billy started sending those enemies flying! Not only did my punches, kicks, and combos do plenty of damage, but some new super-powered attacks that showcase a new level of strength from these classic video game heroes.
One of the awesome things about Double Dragon Revive is how your environment can be used as a weapon. There’s — of course — weapons like knives, bats, and chains, with the ability to pick them up being light-years easier than any past Double Dragon game. However, the real star is when you can use your backdrop as tools of punishment, ranging from slamming people into fences and refrigerators, to literally slam dunking a punk through a basketball rim. When these moments occurred, I couldn’t help but smile like the young kid I was playing the arcade original!
There were two boss battles I got to experience in this demo, the first being the classic Abobo. He’s become more of a tough guy than in the past, with his running attacks delivering damage. However, just as soon as I was nearing his defeat, the coward up and ran! As for the other boss (whose name escapes me), he wound up being a far tougher guy to handle. On top of his wielding a chain-covered bat, his goons constantly overwhelmed my attacks any chance they got. Sadly, my time with the demo ended with a loss.
However, despite being handed the L, I was enthralled by what Double Dragon Revive had to offer. It not only felt true to the classic arcade game, but it also felt like a proper step forward for the franchise. After experiencing its subpar previous sequel, I felt giddy again to be taking on this dangerous world alongside Jimmy and Billy. Hopefully, the rest of the game will deliver something that's both nostalgic and fresh, just as this first level was able to successfully offer.
Double Dragon Revive arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X in 2025.
