Double Dragon

From Sega Retro

For the 1993 Game Gear game by Virgin Interactive, see Double Dragon (Game Gear).

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DoubleDragon MD title.png

Double Dragon
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Ballistic
Sega Master System
Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code

Double Dragon (ダブルドラゴン) is a 1987 arcade beat-'em-up by Technos. It was ported to a variety of consoles; Accolade brought it to the Sega Mega Drive in 1993 and Sega to the Sega Master System in 1988. Accolade's version was licensed by Sega, despite the ROM header saying otherwise.

Gameplay

The game takes place over four levels ending at the final boss, Willy. The first player is Billy and the second controls Jimmy. The characters are able to punch (C), kick (A), and perform a variety of moves by using combinations of the available buttons. The Mega Drive version has a jump button (B) while the Master System version only allows jumping through button combinations. Weapons found throughout the level can be picked up and used against opponents. Weapons that can be used include bats, whips, barrels (not in Master System version), boxes, rocks, knifes, and sticks of dynamite.

Levels

Levels include a slum, a industrial area, a forest, and the boss's lair. Level hazards include pitfalls, water, conveyor belts, poles which come out of walls (not in the Mega Drive version), and spikes.

Version Differences

The Mega Drive port is a straight port of the arcade with slight differences in graphics and sound. The enemies also easily mimic the players up and down movement, which can lead to some annoyance.

The Master System version has slightly different controls due to the controller only having two buttons. Some parts of the levels are designed differently and extended. The mohawk Abobo is missing in this version. Unlimited continues are available up until the final stage (although unlimited continues can be attained in the final stage through a cheat).

Master System version, while graphically more impressive than most other ports (NES for instance) it is generally considered inferior due to removed parts which actually made the game shorter. It is also one of the few two player action games that exist for Master System.

Physical Scans

Mega Drive

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
59 №9, p64/65/66
52 №7, p46/47
78 №14
71 №32, p173
82 №1, p64
59 №19, p102/103/104
72 №7, p34/35
72 №18, p65
Sega Mega Drive
68
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[1]
Console XS (UK) PAL
72
[2]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
30
[3]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
84
[4]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
52
[5]
Joypad (FR) PAL
78
[6]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-U
71
[7]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
31
[8]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
40
[9]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
40
[10]
Mega Action (UK)
82
[11]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
53
[12]
Mean Machines (UK)
59
[13]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
59
[14]
Power Play (DE)
58
[15]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
13
[16]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
72
[17]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
72
[18]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
43
[19]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
70
[20]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
60
[21]
Video Games (DE)
54
[22]
Sega Mega Drive
57
Based on
22 reviews

Double Dragon

Mega Drive, US/EU
DoubleDragon MD US Box.jpgNospine.png
Cover
Doubledragon md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US
(Video Game Classics)
DoubleDragon MD US Box Front Classic.jpg
Cover

Master System

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
82 №1, p54
79 №4, p95
76 №86, p175
81 №14, p75
77 №6, p24/25
85 №23, p41
60 №23, p56
77 №2, p45
Sega Master System
77
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
82
[23]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
79
[24]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
85
[25]
Computer Action (DK)
75
[26]
Console XS (UK) PAL
70
[27]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
76
[28]
The Games Machine (UK)
81
[29]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
70
[30]
Player One (FR)
77
[31]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
85
[32]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[33]
Sega Pro (UK)
77
[34]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
70
[35]
Tilt (FR)
75
[36]
Sega Master System
75
Based on
14 reviews

Double Dragon

Master System, US
DoubleDragon SMS US noR cover.jpg
Cover
Doubledragon sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, US
® variant
DoubleDragon SMS US Box.jpg
Cover
DoubleDragon SMS US cart.jpg
Cart
Doubledragon sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
DoubleDragon SMS EU noR cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
® variant
DoubleDragon SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
8 language variant
DoubleDragon SMS EU 8lang cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, JP
DoubleDragon SMS JP Box.jpg
Cover
DoubleDragon SMS JP cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
DoubleDragon SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
DoubleDragon SMS BR cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, KR

DoubleDragon SMS KR cart.jpg
Cart



Double Dragon games for Sega systems
Sega Master System
Double Dragon (1988)
Sega Mega Drive
Double Dragon II: The Revenge (1991) | Double Dragon (1992) | Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone (1992/1993) | Battletoads/Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team (1993) | Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls (1994)
Sega Game Gear
Double Dragon (1993)
  1. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 93
  2. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 129
  3. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 39
  4. GamePro, "March 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 48
  5. Game Zone, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-22), page 46
  6. Joypad, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 48
  7. Joystick, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 173
  8. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79
  9. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 36
  10. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
  11. Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 64
  12. MegaTech, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-20), page 52
  13. Mean Machines, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-28), page 64
  14. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  15. Power Play, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-13), page 149
  16. Sega Power, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-07), page 30
  17. Sega Pro, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-16), page 34
  18. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  19. Sega Force, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-14), page 32
  20. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 52
  21. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 44
  22. Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 50
  23. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 54
  24. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 95
  25. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 55
  26. Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 34
  27. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 139
  28. Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 175
  29. The Games Machine, "June 1989" (UK; 1989-05-18), page 74
  30. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 133
  31. Player One, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 24
  32. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 41
  33. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 56
  34. Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 47
  35. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
  36. Tilt, "Mars 1989" (FR; 1989-0x-xx), page 71