Slight correction: Neon came out before Wander of the Dragons. The latter was first announced in 2011 but was shelved for two years, only coming out to ape on Neon’s popularity. Besides that, solid video per usual.
Thank you for the clarification. I was working in QA at Eidos the time, and we had access to a private "test" version of XBLA, and I distinctly remember downloading and playing DDIIWoTD on there in early-mid 2012, which messed up my memory. Hell, I even double checked the main menu of the game, and the copyright even says "2011" right there! (should have double checked on wikipedia) So I did jumble the date on that one. Still stands to reason that Kishimoto/Million were unhappy with the work done on the game, and that's why it was held up for 2 years with no one wanting to release it...not until Double Dragon Neon came out, at least.
@@MattMcMuscles To be fair the beta build of wonder of the dragons was leaked right before Neon came out in 2012. The only difference I remember if I recall corectly compared to retail release was combo font was changed from beta. So the game was pretty much done when it was leaked
I thought that was the case since I vaguely remember playing Double Dragon: Neon on the 360 and then being excited when I saw Wander of the Dragons awhile after. Neon was fantastic so I just sort of assumed that the same would be the case with Wander. Until I tried the demo. That game was baaaaaad. But yeah, it definitely came out after Neon so it's good to see that I wasn't going crazy thinking it had.
I like the fact that a Mexican game developing team named Evoga tried to get the rights to make a sequel to the Double Dragon Neo-Geo fighting game, but when they couldn't get the rights they instead made a game inspired by it called Rage of the Dragons. Though the Double Dragon influences are still visible in the final product
It's so similar I always thought it was a reboot or reimagining. The names are so close I thought they were just Engrish mistranslations. I mean the final boss is called Abubo xD
Word in the street is the owners of the DD franchise attempted to sue them over plagiarism or something. But they didn't have enough money to hire competent lawyers, and Evoga made enough changes to not give a strong case in court. Also, the game was freaking good, a shame it didn't become more popular and Evoga went into bankruptcy not long after that.
@@alfredos.2736 I remember a couple of years ago Mexican UA-cam gaming channel interviewed some of the Evoga staff, but I don't remember if they mentioned all the details regarding the development of Rage of the Dragons They did mention how they won a bet with SNK, which resulted in the creation of Ángel in The King of Fighters 2001
Billy & Jimmy were also included in the ArcSys pixel platforming brawler, Code Shifter, and unlockable characters in said title's Versus Mode minigame, Colorful Fighters. Just putting it here in case people didn't know, forgot... or both.
Man, I remember years ago when I suggested a double dragon retrospective, because of how convoluted the whole series was and coincidence or not, I can't believe it actually happened
When I was a kid, Double Dragon was such a sacred cow franchise, it felt like it could do no wrong in the eyes of the media and fans. Funny how these things change.
I grew up in the 90s but didn't really get into gaming before the 2000s, but I remember hearing about the series, heard that it had many games, and yet people only talked about 1 and maybe 2, making me curious..!
I remember when Double Dragon came out I couldn’t believe how good it was, I remember playing it at the deli , I didn’t really like Double Dragon 2 that much but the original was the bomb.
If the ten hour Double Dragon video on the Flophouse Plays channel is a super-sized main course, then this What Happened episode is the ultra-sweet dessert that Double Dragon fans are sure to eat up! Thanks for sharing over eleven hours' worth of epic Double Dragon content with us all over the past week, Matt! 😊
Honestly, this was almost inspiring in a way. This series can’t seem to catch a break, and yet no matter how rough Tina get, it and its fanbase just _refuse_ to stay dead.
You should do a whole history of what happened of Castlevania! That game also went through a bunch of ups and downs and different versions and stories that don't connect and all of that good crazy stuff like DD.
Castlevania is not that hard to follow. The American timeline went from Netflix to Lords of Shadow, the Japanese timeline ends at Dawn of Sorrow and the fighting game is non canon
*Did You Know?* A lot of stuff that was planned for _Return of Double Dragon_ actually ended up being used in a _Kunio-Kun_ game, _Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka?_ In particular, the bridge to Duke's Mansion was supposed to fall and turn into a raft that led into a subterranean part. There's also a part where Duke's Mansion was supposed to be set ablaze during the final confrontation. _Kunio-tachi no Banka_ used both of these ideas almost note-for-note.
First off, thank you for making this mighty compilation of this franchise! I long desire hearing people who actually know and love these games speak so aptly about their peaks and valleys over the years. Now, onto business… I might be wrong, but Double Dragon Gaiden was announced recently. I just found your video and realized that it was made 2 weeks ago, so, probably that announcement missed your video for a very short time, and I think it is a good time to bring it up too (since this is yet, another DD game being developed by someone else and bringing yet another canon to the franchise with Marian using guns and some “Uncle Matin” character which is a reference to the sign on top of the house where Marian is kidnapped).
It's no wonder why double dragon just kind of disappeared. It just kept getting pushed around by a billion different developers under a publisher that just didn't give a shit and then when that publisher was gone it got pushed around by a bunch of different developers and publishers. There was just no consistency
After both Billy & Jimmy making cameos in R.C.G. 1 & 2, plus Marian being playable in 2, Sonny making a cameo in 2, Skullmageddon making a cameo in both games, & Abobo being a boss in 1 & an assist in 2 as well, plus both games being hella successful, I’m really hoping we get a Kunio-Kun/River City Ransom and a Double Dragon game from Arc/Wayforward, I already know they’d be great (& profitable) experiences
I appreciate that your sponsors are actually games on a show about games and Double Dragon will be an interesting episode, i've not played much of the franchise but i loved Double Dragon Neon
Im actually enjoyed you taking a look at the whole series, rather than one specific game. There are MANY series that deserves this style. Sad you started with one of the OG games from a era I still remember…..
You should take a look at Blade for GBC if you never have. Its got Koji Kai and Hiroyuki Sekimoto in the lead design roles and is a really cool sort of inspired by NES DD2. Youve even got a parry counter system.
Thank you for all the info, I loved Double Dragon as a kid I played the arcade when I was little in Colombia and bought the NES versions when I came to America... And somehow I forgot about it until this popped up on my UA-cam feed, I cant believe I forgot how much I loved this series.
I love how you used music from Target: Renegade at 13:24. For those that don't know, Target: Renegade for the NES was reskinned as an unlicensed pirate game titled Double Dragon 4, and it has one of the best soundtracks on the console.
The Neo Geo Double Dragon game is still one of my favorite games to fire up in MAME. The controls and animation are so smooth, and if you like street fighter, you will love it!
@@pablocasas5906 I had no Idea! I may have fired this one up once or twice but never made the connection. Reminds me of another favorite, Garou Mark of theWolves!
i absolutely loved Double Dragon Neon. i hoped for years there would be a neon 2 or something, but in current standpoint. its more likely that we will get the Lee brothers in River City Girls. which i wouldnt be upset about.
This game have a special place in my hearth. When I was a kid, my little brother and I would play together this game, and beat it multiple times, despite that, we always had fun. This was the arcade version, btw. When we got the SNES and we discovered about the Super DD game, we would rent very often and get very excited when we heard the main theme at the final stage. Truly, what a magical time. Thanks for this video.
Hey Matt, long time watcher here, and there's one franchise I've been just waiting for you to hit with the what happened treatment for a while now. Much like this one, you can probably do a video on the entire thing. It's a guilty pleasure of mine, but honestly, fits this show like a glove; the Fable franchise. Particularly Fable 1 and Fable Legends, the latter of which basically sinking Lionhead. Those are prime What Happened material if I ever saw it.
Man, watching an in depth description of how one of your favorite childhood memories got fumbled and wrecked is depressing but a little hopeful towards the end. I loved Neon and River City Girls has been a blast. Now that Marian's on the team I hope Billy and Jimmy can come out of retirement and join Riki, Kunio and the girls on their next adventure. Forget the toads, I wanna see the Dragons team up with our River City saviours to take down the Sabu syndicate that just got taken over by the Black Warriors after their recent crushing defeat. Make it happen Wayforward!
What’s up Matt!! I’m not sure if you’re aware, but there’s a new Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Trailer came out last night that will coming out this summer
First of all, how dare you question the greatness that is the Double Dragon movie. It introduced Alyssa Milano to the series. A true Asset to the series, if only for the air duct scene
18:16 Don't worry. Just becuase a few good video game movies came out, doesn't mean the curse is gone. It just missed a few. With Mario doing so well, you just know we are going to see a slew of god awful movies based on games soon as every company rushes to make one.
It's just weird that an established publisher never took over the franchise and returned it to glory. Like, actually invested resources into an IP that was so pivotal. It's like a legendary band reduced to busking.
Good job catching that the NES release was not handled by East Technology. There are a lot of videos saying that East Tech handled both arcade and console ports but you can tell Technōs Japan made the NES port thanks to their practice of leaving debug code in their ports, something that East Tech doesn't do.
"The latter of which used the always relevant and enduring technology that is the mighty LASERDISC!" You darn right it is!!! I always wondered why "The Combatribes" artwork looked so familiar back in the day and DDIII looked like some digitized DD fan art. I played the crap out of the former and was sooooo pissed off after I beat it!!! Great vid as always. Here's to hoping ArcSys does something else with the Double Dragon franchise.
DD Neon clearly was meant to look, sound and feel like playing a 90's saturday morning cartoon. AND I LOVED IT for it! The 90's cheese dialogue alone will make you ROFL. Those IGN "reviews" in no way grew up in that era to give it such a bad score.
Great vid. i guess i understand better now why capcom is not just shopping around final fight and other franchises, it could all go down to crap and damage the brand instead
Double Dragon is to video games what The Terminator is to movies. Despite repeated attempts, there's never been a successful third installment, but the first two entries were so memorable and genre-defining that people aren't going to stop trying.
Sure, Neon was great, but that was a nostalgia project that tried to replicate how it felt to play those first two games. The sole new element it added to the series, the end boss Skullmageddon, has since appeared in more River City Girls games than he has Double Dragon games.
You think Skullmageddon was the only new element? Not the equippable buffs/songs, special moves/songs, co-op buffs, levelling system, and gleam/dodge mechanic...?
My favorite DD series easter eggs are the vehicles at the beginning of DD 1 and 2 are supposed to be from Road Avenger and Cobra Command, as I understand it. on the cartoon, I hear there was a pitch to DiC for a much more accurate-looking version of double dragon... really regretting we didn't get THAT, over what we eventually got.
I recently played Double Dragon Neon, and yes, it doesn't play fast like today's beat 'em ups, it plays slow and a little clunky like the original! Give it a go if you're a fan, it's not too bad, it doesn't take itself too seriously too.
How about the original Megaman? From supposedly starting out with the idea of giving Cut Man the starring role to having 2 whole robot masters cut for time, there seems to be a lot of material. Even Roll's one cameo is the result of scrapping a plot about Wily kidnapping her and somehow turning her into a giant robot.
11:10 - Cutting your attack speed in HALF for the USA version of Double Dragon 3 made the USA version nigh unplayable . You set the perfect example for what NOT to do if any dev intends to use the microtransaction model !! NOBODY at my local arcade played it for that poop!
Played a good bit of the first Double Dragon on the NES. One of the most fun parts was the VS mode letting you fight 1v1 against your friend, which wasn't a feature that a lot of games had back then. If there was a weapon spawn, you'd try to race to grab it before your buddy could get it. I feel like if you threw the knife it was an instant kill? It's been a long time. Also I remember it was pretty glitchy and you could despawn certain enemies by backtracking, including one of the stage bosses. And there was a trick where you could lock a certain enemy just off the screen and continuously punch it until you maxed out your exp, letting you unlock all of the moves early. Still could never get further than the third stage though, because I was, like 7.
Missed opportunity to mention Double Dragon V's (or the Criticom saga) "The Worst Figthing Game" episode there (because the other videos are mentioned) is still incredible how Double Dragon is kinda surviving all of the messes it has been during it's history.
Ever since i heard that heart-wrenching theme song from the arcade cabinet when i was 6, double dragon has been one of my favorites! Disappointed by the lack of co-op on the nes, my friends and i still had fun taking turns or doing the duels. Trolling the enemies without knocking them down to earn all the special moves early... Double Dragon 2 (i only played the NES versions from here on out) was just perfect! My best friend and i figured that one out together, the haunted house and the trap rooms are brutal! But luring the mask guy and kneeing him off the edge before he even disappears the first time was always a fun challenge! Thanks to game genie, i was able to actually enjoy double dragon 3! Eventually i learned how to beat it without - Chin is surprisingly OP! - but first going through it with codes helped me appreciate it much more! Noiram... classic! But only 1 life...? After consistently being able to use the "2 Player B" trick to earn 8 lives in DD2?!?! It was too hard a pill to swallow without help! I enjoyed Super when it came out, but it's no Final Fight... I completely ignored vs Battletoads & V.
I feel like there's something to be said about how low Double Dragon fell when they were bought by a company that was also struggling to maintain control of their own IPs under a bigger company.
I love Double Dragon and the Kunio games too. Maybe they could be resurrected by joining forces somehow; the cute character designs from Kunio series remain appealing to this day and yet can bring in people to a Double Dragon-like brawler gameplay!
So, Double Dragon is the Devil Summoners of Kunio/River City. . Double Dragon inspired beat-em-ups, micro-transactions (it was EA before EA became EA), AVGN's BIMMY and JIMMY, and the greatest NES character of all time: "ABOBO". . What a legacy Double Dragon left behind and it was all from a guy who beat the shit outta people because a girl dumped him. . Great video Muscle-Mick! . .
Check out GOD OF ROCK HERE ➤➤➤ godofrockgame.com/
Godo Frock lives on!!!
@@jetcitykitty God of Riz-ock is that good?
I thought about getting it on the Switch.
How about the development of Titan A.E. The Movie (& Cancelled Video Game)? It was kinda the reason behind the fall of Fox Animation Studios
@@thatwickedjuggalo1110 yeah like to see a cover of this huge flop of don
I still have both Double Dragon games for the Atari 2600 and 7800.
One of the most satisfying things in video games is kicking the boss off the roof in Double Dragon, saving a long battle.
Man, I did not know franchise numbering could possibly get this confusing.
Maybe even, Chronologically Confusing.
@@PhanFanMan Damn, beat me to it 😂
Kingdom Hearts does have a confusing numbering too
Slight correction: Neon came out before Wander of the Dragons. The latter was first announced in 2011 but was shelved for two years, only coming out to ape on Neon’s popularity.
Besides that, solid video per usual.
Thank you! I was going to look that up because I remember seeing previews after Neon released
Thank you for the clarification. I was working in QA at Eidos the time, and we had access to a private "test" version of XBLA, and I distinctly remember downloading and playing DDIIWoTD on there in early-mid 2012, which messed up my memory. Hell, I even double checked the main menu of the game, and the copyright even says "2011" right there! (should have double checked on wikipedia) So I did jumble the date on that one. Still stands to reason that Kishimoto/Million were unhappy with the work done on the game, and that's why it was held up for 2 years with no one wanting to release it...not until Double Dragon Neon came out, at least.
@@MattMcMuscles To be fair the beta build of wonder of the dragons was leaked right before Neon came out in 2012. The only difference I remember if I recall corectly compared to retail release was combo font was changed from beta. So the game was pretty much done when it was leaked
I thought that was the case since I vaguely remember playing Double Dragon: Neon on the 360 and then being excited when I saw Wander of the Dragons awhile after. Neon was fantastic so I just sort of assumed that the same would be the case with Wander. Until I tried the demo. That game was baaaaaad. But yeah, it definitely came out after Neon so it's good to see that I wasn't going crazy thinking it had.
I forgot about wander of the dragon. With good reason too
I like the fact that a Mexican game developing team named Evoga tried to get the rights to make a sequel to the Double Dragon Neo-Geo fighting game, but when they couldn't get the rights they instead made a game inspired by it called Rage of the Dragons. Though the Double Dragon influences are still visible in the final product
It's so similar I always thought it was a reboot or reimagining. The names are so close I thought they were just Engrish mistranslations. I mean the final boss is called Abubo xD
Word in the street is the owners of the DD franchise attempted to sue them over plagiarism or something. But they didn't have enough money to hire competent lawyers, and Evoga made enough changes to not give a strong case in court. Also, the game was freaking good, a shame it didn't become more popular and Evoga went into bankruptcy not long after that.
I was waiting for it in the video, because I always forget that's not an official Double Dragon game.
@@alfredos.2736 I remember a couple of years ago Mexican UA-cam gaming channel interviewed some of the Evoga staff, but I don't remember if they mentioned all the details regarding the development of Rage of the Dragons
They did mention how they won a bet with SNK, which resulted in the creation of Ángel in The King of Fighters 2001
It's a shame they didn't get the rights, because that game was so cool.
Billy & Jimmy were also included in the ArcSys pixel platforming brawler, Code Shifter, and unlockable characters in said title's Versus Mode minigame, Colorful Fighters.
Just putting it here in case people didn't know, forgot... or both.
We need more Jimmy and Bimmy
Bimmy and Jammy must fight on!
That Avgns review was a classic 😂
Jummy and Bummy
A man of culture, I see
Bimmy Rolfe
Man, I remember years ago when I suggested a double dragon retrospective, because of how convoluted the whole series was and coincidence or not, I can't believe it actually happened
When I was a kid, Double Dragon was such a sacred cow franchise, it felt like it could do no wrong in the eyes of the media and fans. Funny how these things change.
I grew up in the 90s but didn't really get into gaming before the 2000s, but I remember hearing about the series, heard that it had many games, and yet people only talked about 1 and maybe 2, making me curious..!
I remember when Double Dragon came out I couldn’t believe how good it was, I remember playing it at the deli , I didn’t really like Double Dragon 2 that much but the original was the bomb.
If the ten hour Double Dragon video on the Flophouse Plays channel is a super-sized main course, then this What Happened episode is the ultra-sweet dessert that Double Dragon fans are sure to eat up!
Thanks for sharing over eleven hours' worth of epic Double Dragon content with us all over the past week, Matt! 😊
I'm still working through that double dragon video
And just today, a new Double Dragon game was announced, your video will the serie back into existence
Honestly, this was almost inspiring in a way. This series can’t seem to catch a break, and yet no matter how rough Tina get, it and its fanbase just _refuse_ to stay dead.
You should do a whole history of what happened of Castlevania! That game also went through a bunch of ups and downs and different versions and stories that don't connect and all of that good crazy stuff like DD.
Castlevania is not that hard to follow. The American timeline went from Netflix to Lords of Shadow, the Japanese timeline ends at Dawn of Sorrow and the fighting game is non canon
Billy and Jimmy can't seem to catch a break now can they?
At least those guys are on the main box art, Bimmy is nowhere to be found!
*Did You Know?* A lot of stuff that was planned for _Return of Double Dragon_ actually ended up being used in a _Kunio-Kun_ game, _Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka?_
In particular, the bridge to Duke's Mansion was supposed to fall and turn into a raft that led into a subterranean part. There's also a part where Duke's Mansion was supposed to be set ablaze during the final confrontation. _Kunio-tachi no Banka_ used both of these ideas almost note-for-note.
First off, thank you for making this mighty compilation of this franchise! I long desire hearing people who actually know and love these games speak so aptly about their peaks and valleys over the years.
Now, onto business… I might be wrong, but Double Dragon Gaiden was announced recently. I just found your video and realized that it was made 2 weeks ago, so, probably that announcement missed your video for a very short time, and I think it is a good time to bring it up too (since this is yet, another DD game being developed by someone else and bringing yet another canon to the franchise with Marian using guns and some “Uncle Matin” character which is a reference to the sign on top of the house where Marian is kidnapped).
Sometimes I completely forgot about Bimmy and Jimmy in Battletoads & Double Dragon on the SNES, I used to rent that game a bunch of times.
And now we have Double Dragon Gaiden incoming and it looks AMAZING.
Double Dragon Advance was one of my favorite games as a kid.
I think it was the best one in terms of game play
It's no wonder why double dragon just kind of disappeared. It just kept getting pushed around by a billion different developers under a publisher that just didn't give a shit and then when that publisher was gone it got pushed around by a bunch of different developers and publishers. There was just no consistency
After both Billy & Jimmy making cameos in R.C.G. 1 & 2, plus Marian being playable in 2, Sonny making a cameo in 2, Skullmageddon making a cameo in both games, & Abobo being a boss in 1 & an assist in 2 as well, plus both games being hella successful, I’m really hoping we get a Kunio-Kun/River City Ransom and a Double Dragon game from Arc/Wayforward, I already know they’d be great (& profitable) experiences
I appreciate that your sponsors are actually games on a show about games and Double Dragon will be an interesting episode, i've not played much of the franchise but i loved Double Dragon Neon
[Modus, ArcSys, and Secret Base:About that Matthew……..]
Speaking of dragons, you should make a video on why Dragon Quest is such a huge success in Japan and the exact opposite in America
This franchise is a giant clusterfuck of varying quality.
Facts
Funny. Just finished watching this and Double Dragon Gaiden gets announced
My take from this episode is that I need to go try River City Girls.
Absolutely, gameplay is great and the soundtrack is godtier
That and Neon just for Skullmageddon, he's in both!
Man, Double Dragon looks like a pretty cool game. I wish there was a video comparing all the various original games, ports, and remakes.
ehh there wasn't that many, it'd be like 2 minute video or sth
PROBABLY
Arc Sys must've watched this...
Double Dragon Gaiden announced, the franchise isn't dead yet.
Im actually enjoyed you taking a look at the whole series, rather than one specific game. There are MANY series that deserves this style. Sad you started with one of the OG games from a era I still remember…..
Us Double Dragon fans appreciate what you've been doing. Thanks Matt
26:42 Less than 2 weeks later a new original Double Dragon was announced
And it looks pretty good
You should take a look at Blade for GBC if you never have. Its got Koji Kai and Hiroyuki Sekimoto in the lead design roles and is a really cool sort of inspired by NES DD2. Youve even got a parry counter system.
Thank you for all the info, I loved Double Dragon as a kid I played the arcade when I was little in Colombia and bought the NES versions when I came to America... And somehow I forgot about it until this popped up on my UA-cam feed, I cant believe I forgot how much I loved this series.
I love how you used music from Target: Renegade at 13:24.
For those that don't know, Target: Renegade for the NES was reskinned as an unlicensed pirate game titled Double Dragon 4, and it has one of the best soundtracks on the console.
The Neo Geo Double Dragon game is still one of my favorite games to fire up in MAME. The controls and animation are so smooth, and if you like street fighter, you will love it!
That game was so great that a Mexican game developer made a spiritual sequel, Rage of the Dragons, with the help of Noise Factory
@@pablocasas5906 I had no Idea! I may have fired this one up once or twice but never made the connection. Reminds me of another favorite, Garou Mark of theWolves!
i absolutely loved Double Dragon Neon. i hoped for years there would be a neon 2 or something, but in current standpoint. its more likely that we will get the Lee brothers in River City Girls. which i wouldnt be upset about.
I still regard SNES Super Double Dragon among the best beat-'em-ups I've ever played. Pleasant to the ears as well with a banger of a soundtrack.
This game have a special place in my hearth. When I was a kid, my little brother and I would play together this game, and beat it multiple times, despite that, we always had fun. This was the arcade version, btw. When we got the SNES and we discovered about the Super DD game, we would rent very often and get very excited when we heard the main theme at the final stage. Truly, what a magical time. Thanks for this video.
Hey Matt, long time watcher here, and there's one franchise I've been just waiting for you to hit with the what happened treatment for a while now. Much like this one, you can probably do a video on the entire thing. It's a guilty pleasure of mine, but honestly, fits this show like a glove; the Fable franchise.
Particularly Fable 1 and Fable Legends, the latter of which basically sinking Lionhead. Those are prime What Happened material if I ever saw it.
isn't most of Fable's issues just from Peter Molyneux overhyping and straight up lying about what's going to be in the games?
Man, watching an in depth description of how one of your favorite childhood memories got fumbled and wrecked is depressing but a little hopeful towards the end. I loved Neon and River City Girls has been a blast. Now that Marian's on the team I hope Billy and Jimmy can come out of retirement and join Riki, Kunio and the girls on their next adventure. Forget the toads, I wanna see the Dragons team up with our River City saviours to take down the Sabu syndicate that just got taken over by the Black Warriors after their recent crushing defeat. Make it happen Wayforward!
I legit did not know that there was more than 4 double dragons, let alone all the other behind the scenes stuff. Wowzers
You tell a 90s kid Scott Wolf, Mark Dacascos, and Robert Patrick are doing a Double Dragon movie and our allowance was spent. No question.
What’s up Matt!! I’m not sure if you’re aware, but there’s a new Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Trailer came out last night that will coming out this summer
First of all, how dare you question the greatness that is the Double Dragon movie. It introduced Alyssa Milano to the series. A true Asset to the series, if only for the air duct scene
And in the Brazilian dub, a drinking game based on how many times they botch spelling Koga Shuko's name.
Double Dragon: The series famous for being an originator, yet also being very dead, and never getting a good chance to come back.
18:16 Don't worry. Just becuase a few good video game movies came out, doesn't mean the curse is gone. It just missed a few. With Mario doing so well, you just know we are going to see a slew of god awful movies based on games soon as every company rushes to make one.
Here's hoping!!
Oh matt double dragon is back again :P
Thank you for introducing me to that sweet theme at the end! Gonna listen to the whole arranged album now.
What's the name of the song that started playing for the outro of the video at 27:55 ?
It's just weird that an established publisher never took over the franchise and returned it to glory. Like, actually invested resources into an IP that was so pivotal. It's like a legendary band reduced to busking.
Good job catching that the NES release was not handled by East Technology. There are a lot of videos saying that East Tech handled both arcade and console ports but you can tell Technōs Japan made the NES port thanks to their practice of leaving debug code in their ports, something that East Tech doesn't do.
DD needs the Streets of Rage 4 treatment, a good combo system and replayability.
"The latter of which used the always relevant and enduring technology that is the mighty LASERDISC!"
You darn right it is!!!
I always wondered why "The Combatribes" artwork looked so familiar back in the day and DDIII looked like some digitized DD fan art. I played the crap out of the former and was sooooo pissed off after I beat it!!!
Great vid as always. Here's to hoping ArcSys does something else with the Double Dragon franchise.
Tecmos made probably the best arcade wrestling game (Wrestlefest) in the 90s and it shows they still had potential for a similar good dd game.
Super Double Dragon is awesome. Movement is slow but the fighting mechanics are so good. Great OST too.
You know what this franchise needs? A crackpot fanfic writer to stitch everything together and the guys behind TMNT Rescue-Palooza to make it happen.
DD Neon clearly was meant to look, sound and feel like playing a 90's saturday morning cartoon. AND I LOVED IT for it! The 90's cheese dialogue alone will make you ROFL.
Those IGN "reviews" in no way grew up in that era to give it such a bad score.
“Modus games is today’s sponsor”
“Modus games is involved in new double dragon project”
OKAY. Someone knew what was up. 😂
I absolutely had ZERO idea that Wander Of The Dragon was a thing. Never saw it on shelves or in magazines. No wonder.
The whole using the gun thing has me crying.
Your narration was perfect
Fantastic video. Learning how little oversight Technos paid to the franchise certainly explains A LOT of things with the many inconsistencies.
I wouldn't say "little oversight", their management of their franchises and what they put their money into was what led them into bankruptcy.
Double Dragon 3 microtransaction is insane, one coin per transaction, the same price for playing the game itself.
*UPDATE* Double Dragon Gaiden coming out this summer on Xbox, PS5/PS4, Switch and Steam..long live Double Dragon 🎉
I love how Mirian in River City Girls 2 is just got tired of being kidnapped so she got buff, fought the kidnappers and rescued herself
I also like how when she explained her story and they asked “Which one were you dating?” She responds both.
Great vid. i guess i understand better now why capcom is not just shopping around final fight and other franchises, it could all go down to crap and damage the brand instead
It was never meant to be - there can be only one dragon, Kiryu-chan.
You can always be like a dragon like Ichiban. :V
Double Dragon is to video games what The Terminator is to movies. Despite repeated attempts, there's never been a successful third installment, but the first two entries were so memorable and genre-defining that people aren't going to stop trying.
Sure, Neon was great, but that was a nostalgia project that tried to replicate how it felt to play those first two games. The sole new element it added to the series, the end boss Skullmageddon, has since appeared in more River City Girls games than he has Double Dragon games.
You think Skullmageddon was the only new element? Not the equippable buffs/songs, special moves/songs, co-op buffs, levelling system, and gleam/dodge mechanic...?
@@maxxpower3d6 They added a shit ton of new stuff? Did you even play it???
My favorite DD series easter eggs are the vehicles at the beginning of DD 1 and 2 are supposed to be from Road Avenger and Cobra Command, as I understand it. on the cartoon, I hear there was a pitch to DiC for a much more accurate-looking version of double dragon... really regretting we didn't get THAT, over what we eventually got.
"This was the first appearance of in-game microtransactions"
Okay I've just heard of these people but... Screw you, East Technology!
For the record, Double Dragon Neon is amazing.
Matt, love the attention you've been giving this classic, yet long ignored franchise!
Nice video man! I love beat em ups! This was some great content!
fun fact they weren't originally known as *billy and jimmy lee* "bimmy and jimmy" they were originally called *spike and hammer*
One moment Sonic broke the videogame-movie-course. The first movie was great and the second was amazing.
I'm still surprised that there was a Movie AND a Cartoon! How'd i miss them?! I was around during that era!!
They really didn't get pushed all that hard. Like. I *barely* remember them.
I remember the movie but not the cartoon. Movie is an interesting watch, I would put it on par(or even slightly worse) than the 90s Mario movie
theres something homoerotic about a duo of guys called "spike and hammer" with matching tattoos but i cant quite put my finger on it
Loved this. Thanks! Was happy to find you in RCG2. Talk about an appropriate cameo.
And now...there's the announcement for Double Dragon: Gaiden!
Hmm what timing after the recent announcement for double dragon gaiden.
Just in time for the announcement of a new Double Dragon game.
I recently played Double Dragon Neon, and yes, it doesn't play fast like today's beat 'em ups, it plays slow and a little clunky like the original! Give it a go if you're a fan, it's not too bad, it doesn't take itself too seriously too.
How about the original Megaman? From supposedly starting out with the idea of giving Cut Man the starring role to having 2 whole robot masters cut for time, there seems to be a lot of material. Even Roll's one cameo is the result of scrapping a plot about Wily kidnapping her and somehow turning her into a giant robot.
11:10 - Cutting your attack speed in HALF for the USA version of Double Dragon 3 made the USA version nigh unplayable . You set the perfect example for what NOT to do if any dev intends to use the microtransaction model !! NOBODY at my local arcade played it for that poop!
Played a good bit of the first Double Dragon on the NES. One of the most fun parts was the VS mode letting you fight 1v1 against your friend, which wasn't a feature that a lot of games had back then. If there was a weapon spawn, you'd try to race to grab it before your buddy could get it. I feel like if you threw the knife it was an instant kill? It's been a long time.
Also I remember it was pretty glitchy and you could despawn certain enemies by backtracking, including one of the stage bosses. And there was a trick where you could lock a certain enemy just off the screen and continuously punch it until you maxed out your exp, letting you unlock all of the moves early. Still could never get further than the third stage though, because I was, like 7.
I never knew that DB Neon had bad reception. I loved that game.
Cartoon Bimmy being a western version of Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star in terms of visuals never fails to amuse me
Missed opportunity to mention Double Dragon V's (or the Criticom saga) "The Worst Figthing Game" episode there (because the other videos are mentioned) is still incredible how Double Dragon is kinda surviving all of the messes it has been during it's history.
my uncle George was the AD on the Double Dragon movie. He has since had it wiped from his resume (hes also long since retired as of 2018)
Ever since i heard that heart-wrenching theme song from the arcade cabinet when i was 6, double dragon has been one of my favorites!
Disappointed by the lack of co-op on the nes, my friends and i still had fun taking turns or doing the duels. Trolling the enemies without knocking them down to earn all the special moves early...
Double Dragon 2 (i only played the NES versions from here on out) was just perfect! My best friend and i figured that one out together, the haunted house and the trap rooms are brutal! But luring the mask guy and kneeing him off the edge before he even disappears the first time was always a fun challenge!
Thanks to game genie, i was able to actually enjoy double dragon 3! Eventually i learned how to beat it without - Chin is surprisingly OP! - but first going through it with codes helped me appreciate it much more! Noiram... classic!
But only 1 life...?
After consistently being able to use the "2 Player B" trick to earn 8 lives in DD2?!?!
It was too hard a pill to swallow without help!
I enjoyed Super when it came out, but it's no Final Fight...
I completely ignored vs Battletoads & V.
DD was the first beat em up I ever played back on my mastersystem. Absolutely loved it
That DD:Neon IGN review pisses me off so much. The reviewer clearly didn't even try to learn how the dodge/gleam system.
I feel like there's something to be said about how low Double Dragon fell when they were bought by a company that was also struggling to maintain control of their own IPs under a bigger company.
I love Double Dragon and the Kunio games too. Maybe they could be resurrected by joining forces somehow; the cute character designs from Kunio series remain appealing to this day and yet can bring in people to a Double Dragon-like brawler gameplay!
Great Stuff! My brother had the PC Engine version! It was a nice refresh of the NES game, of course it was plenty different!
So, Double Dragon is the Devil Summoners of Kunio/River City.
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Double Dragon inspired beat-em-ups, micro-transactions (it was EA before EA became EA), AVGN's BIMMY and JIMMY, and the greatest NES character of all time: "ABOBO".
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What a legacy Double Dragon left behind and it was all from a guy who beat the shit outta people because a girl dumped him.
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Great video Muscle-Mick!
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A new one just got announced lmao
I loved the Double Dragon series as a kid and if it wasn't for Marvel's Double Dragon comic book, I would of never gotten into comics!
Amazing choice for ending music. Double Dragon will return better than ever, this I believe.