Super Double Dragon
Encyclopedia
Super Double Dragon, known in Japan
as , is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
in . It was published by Technos Japan Corp. in Japan
and by Tradewest
in North America
and the PAL region
. Super Double Dragon is the fourth console game in the Double Dragon
series developed by Technos, following previous titles for the NES
, although unlike the NES games, Super Double Dragon is an original title and not based on any preceding arcade version.
As with previous installments of the series, the player takes control of martial artists Billy and Jimmy in their fight against the Shadow Warriors gang. The objective is to proceed through each stage and defeat all enemies, including a boss. The game consists of seven stages, which includes a casino, an airport, a martial arts gym, a fight atop a moving truck, a city slum, a forest, and the hideout of the boss.
In addition to the punch, kick, and jump buttons, the player now has a guard button for blocking attacks. If the player times the guard button right, their character can not only defend against an enemy's punch, they can also put certain enemies in an arm grab, leaving the enemy vulnerable to successive attacks. There's also a "Dragon Power" gauge under the life gauge, which the player can fill by holding down L or R buttons. While the gauge is filling up, the player can perform special attacks which vary depending on how much power the player has accumulated, which includes a flying hurricane kick. If the power gauge is completely filled, then the player's regular attacks will gain extra strength for a limited period. In contrast to previous Double Dragon games, Jimmy Lee (the Player 2 character) has different punching attacks than Billy Lee (Player 1). In the Japanese version, his Roundhouse Kick is also different.
The Japanese release, Return of Double Dragon, features several significant differences from its western counterpart: the title theme and most of the background music were shuffled around (i.e: the Mission 1 theme from the western version is played during Mission 4 in the Japanese version) and the player can perform certain actions which cannot be done in the western version (such as retrieving a boomerang after throwing it or hitting an opponent more than once successively with the hurricane kick). The enemy placement is also different in both versions and weapons such as knives and incendiary bombs do less damage in the Japanese. The final Mission also feature two additional levels before the final battle. An Option Mode is included in the Japanese version as well, allowing the player to adjust the game's difficulty setting, as well as listen to the game's music and sound effects.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as , is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
in . It was published by Technos Japan Corp. in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and by Tradewest
Tradewest
Tradewest is a now-defunct American video game company based in Corsicana, Texas that produced numerous games in the 1980s and early 1990s. The company is best known as the publisher of the Battletoads and Double Dragon series in North America and the PAL region.The Tradewest name was revived in...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the PAL region
PAL region
The PAL region is a television publication territory which covers most of Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe...
. Super Double Dragon is the fourth console game in the Double Dragon
Double Dragon
is a classic beat 'em up video game series initially developed by Technos Japan Corporation, who also developed the Kunio-kun series ....
series developed by Technos, following previous titles for the NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, although unlike the NES games, Super Double Dragon is an original title and not based on any preceding arcade version.
Gameplay
In addition to the punch, kick, and jump buttons, the player now has a guard button for blocking attacks. If the player times the guard button right, their character can not only defend against an enemy's punch, they can also put certain enemies in an arm grab, leaving the enemy vulnerable to successive attacks. There's also a "Dragon Power" gauge under the life gauge, which the player can fill by holding down L or R buttons. While the gauge is filling up, the player can perform special attacks which vary depending on how much power the player has accumulated, which includes a flying hurricane kick. If the power gauge is completely filled, then the player's regular attacks will gain extra strength for a limited period. In contrast to previous Double Dragon games, Jimmy Lee (the Player 2 character) has different punching attacks than Billy Lee (Player 1). In the Japanese version, his Roundhouse Kick is also different.
Development
According to a commentary by the game's planner, Muneki Ebinuma, the game was planned to feature more elaborate stage designs than the ones in the finished version of the game. Additionally, story sequences similar to the second NES game were planned for the game, but were not included due to time constraints. Marian, the heroine from previous games, was planned to be featured in the game as a policewoman who assist the Lee brothers, but her presence was cut (her character is only mentioned in the manual). The game was also supposed to feature another opponent after the battle with Duke.The Japanese release, Return of Double Dragon, features several significant differences from its western counterpart: the title theme and most of the background music were shuffled around (i.e: the Mission 1 theme from the western version is played during Mission 4 in the Japanese version) and the player can perform certain actions which cannot be done in the western version (such as retrieving a boomerang after throwing it or hitting an opponent more than once successively with the hurricane kick). The enemy placement is also different in both versions and weapons such as knives and incendiary bombs do less damage in the Japanese. The final Mission also feature two additional levels before the final battle. An Option Mode is included in the Japanese version as well, allowing the player to adjust the game's difficulty setting, as well as listen to the game's music and sound effects.