Summary
The fast-approaching release ofDouble Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragonspositions the title as this year’s fix for classic beat ‘em ups fans following the genre’s excellent showing in last year’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Between new entries in both of these franchises along with newerStreets of RageandRiver Citytitles, it’s safe to say that fans of classic coin-op games are eating good. Interestingly, each of these games offers its own unique spin on the beat ‘em up formula, andDouble Dragon Gaidenis looking to continue that trend through its implementation of a risk/reward mechanic and some light roguelike elements.
Game Rant recently sat down with Secret Base founder Raymond Teo to discuss the challenges of developing a new entry in a legacy beat ‘em up franchise (and one credited with being a progenitor of the genre, no less) as well as what players could expectthe newestDouble Dragonto play like. Many are no doubt curious given how other modern entries in classic beat ‘em up series have moved the genre forward. WhileStreets of Rage 4and the standout indie beat ‘em upFight N’ Rageare geared toward technical play and have high skill ceilings,TMNT: Shredder’s Revengeis more of a “pick-up-and-play” experience. Meanwhile,Double Dragon Gaidenlooks to leave its own legacy in the beat ‘em up renaissance.
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Double Dragon Gaiden’s Large Roster and Upgrades Make a Compelling Risk/Reward System
In our conversation with Teo about Secret Base Games’ approach to bringingDouble Dragon Gaideninto modern times, the question was brought up regarding where fans can expect the game to sit on the spectrum of modern beat ‘em ups. Whether players can expectDouble Dragon Gaidento be a frantic button-masher likeTMNT: Shredder’s Revengeor a technicallycomplex beat ‘em up likeStreets of Rage 4will likely be a deciding factor in how fans feel about the newDouble Dragon.Interestingly, Teo notes that fans should expect something wholly unique and not really like either game.
“It’s really hard to putDouble Dragon Gaidencombat on that same scale without being misleading. I guess the best way to describe it is thatDouble Dragoncombat is easy to execute, but it challenges the player’s resource management ability, while maintaining situational awareness. For example, the player has a SP meter which allows them to perform special moves and earn cash in the game. However, that same meter is also used to tag and switch characters, which is the best way to defend yourself when caught in a bad situation.”
This “risk/reward” gameplay certainly putsDouble Dragon Gaideninto a unique position, especially when compounded with the in-game cash shop’s allowance of purchasing upgrades between levels. Secret base has already been clear regarding its intention to retain the same weighty"feel" of classicDouble Dragon, but adding the wrinkle of having to balance the use of the special meter toward offense or defensive maneuvers adds a layer of unexpected, but welcome strategy.Double Dragon Gaiden’s combat is looking to strike a balance between simplicity and complexity, albeit in its own signature way.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragonsreleases July 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
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