Double Dragon Revive Review

If you were ever a visitor to arcades back in the day, then you might remember the side-scrolling beat ‘em up. While the genre has certainly seen a return to some degree, the new additions rarely match the love people have for the classics. With that in mind, we are going to look at developer YUKE’S latest title: Double Dragon Revive. The question is if this is a revival we want to see, or if it's time for a back-alley brawl. 

Double Dragon Revive follows the story of Jimmy and Billy, who are the last practitioners of a secret martial art. Unfortunately, a secretive criminal organisation wants it for themselves to gain the ultimate power of… punching really good. Honestly, the story is very B-movie; it’s silly, and the characters are all a bit over the top. However, that doesn’t really matter; the Double Dragon series was never going to win an award for fantastic plot or dialogue. 

In reality, the story is there to give you a paper-thin reason for running around the city while punching everyone you meet. In that regard, it does it well enough, and the character designs are at least interesting. Sadly, most of the cutscenes are primarily still images, so if you’re expecting some stylish, cinematic fights, then you’re going to be disappointed. 

But what about the real reason we are here? Well, Double Dragon Revive takes everything from the old arcade classic and adds a bit of polish to it. You move across the map from left to right, fighting each opponent that you meet. To accomplish this, you have a fast and heavy attack, a special move that sends enemies flying, and a grab.

You can also use several different weapons that enemies will drop, which can do much more damage but only offer limited strikes. Sadly, there are no big combos here where you mix and match button combinations. Instead, the focus is on hitting as often as you can while also avoiding being hit. 

The combat is fast-paced, and it can be easy to get lost in everything that is happening. However, Double Dragon Revive makes sure to use bright colours to indicate certain moves so you know the right reactions to them. For instance, if a character turns blue, then you can use your Heavy attack to counter them before they hit you. Doing so does massive damage while also adding a chunk to your two special meters. When full, these meters allow you to perform a special move that can clear a floor with ease. 

One of the newest additions to the series is the implementation of special environmental takedowns. These range from being able to throw someone off a ledge to throwing them on a giant revolving wheel. It’s a nice addition, and while there aren’t all that many of them, it’s enough to add a bit of variety to each conflict. 

There’s also a fair selection of different enemies, each with its own special moves that you need to learn to counter. Double Dragon Revive introduces these different types over the course of the campaign, so you’re constantly learning. The same goes for the boss fights that happen at the end of every phase. These fights each have their own mechanics that are never super complex, but they help to separate them from the rest of the game.

Unfortunately, there’s also the odd bit of platforming in certain levels, which, to be frank, sucks. The problem is that the world around you might be 3D, and you might have eight different directions you can move in, but the camera never changes. This can make it really frustrating to move around in certain parts. Thankfully, these sections are rare, so it isn’t the end of the world.

Visually, Double Dragon Revive is certainly better, with some lovely character designs and map effects. While it might be an improvement over the 32-bit era, the visuals feel dated at times. Thankfully, the music manages to capture the feeling of the older titles pretty well.

So, the question is whether this game is for you, which depends on what you’re looking for. The thing is that the campaign is pretty short, and while you can replay it with different characters you unlock, none of them really change much. The moves might look different, but they function in much the same way regardless. On top of that, the combat isn’t exactly deep, so if you like experimenting or finding the best combos, then this really isn’t one to look at. 

However, if you want to while away a few hours with some friends, then you could certainly do worse.