Super Double Dragon
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| Super Double Dragon | |
|---|---|
 North American cover art. |
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| Developer(s) | Technos Japan Corporation |
| Publisher(s) | Tradewest |
| Designer(s) | Muneki Ebinuma, Atsuyushi Nishizawa |
| Release date(s) | NA October, 1992 JP October 16, 1992 EU September 30, 1993 |
| Genre(s) | Beat' em up |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Cooperative |
| Platform(s) | Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Input | Joypad |
Super Double Dragon, originally titled Return of Double Dragon: "Sleeping Dragon" has Awoken (リターン・オブ・双截龍) in Japan, is the fourth game in Technos Japan's Double Dragon series of beat-em-ups. Unlike the previous Double Dragon, which were all originally released as arcade games and then adapted to the Nintendo Entertainment System (or other platforms), Super Double Dragon was made specifically for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in mind with no prior arcade version and no other console ports after that one. It was released in North America and Japan on October 1992. The North American and European release of the game were co-published by Tradewest and American Technos, instead of Acclaim Entertainment.
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[edit] The Original Plot
Unlike previous games in the series, Super Double Dragon does not have an in-game plot. This was not done by design, as cut scenes were prepared for the game, but were not used in the released version due to time constraints.
The proposed storyline does not continue from the events of previous games, but would've been an all new plot. Set in Los Angeles (rather than New York City, the setting of the previous games), Billy and Jimmy Lee set out to investigate the disappearances of several of their students after the arrival of a criminal organization known as the Shadow Warriors. Helping them on their investigation is Marian Kelly, now a policewoman (an occupation she also had in the comics and cartoon series; the latter was under production while the game was made).
Eventually the leader of the Shadow Warriors revealed to be a man named Duke, a former childhood friend of Lee brothers, who is now a corrupted martial artist. At this point, Marian would've been taken captive and the Lee brothers would pursue the gang to Duke's Mansion. In the originally planned final battle, after defeating Duke and saving Marian, Duke's evil self would manifest into his own shadow (similarly to the Doppelganger encounter in Double Dragon II: The Revenge). By defeating Duke's Shadow would, the Lee brothers end his life, but at the same time his soul is now redeemed. The game would end with the main characters visiting Duke's grave.
In the finished game, only part of the plot is mentioned in the manual and Marian the policewoman does not appear in the game at all (although artwork of her was featured in the original Japanese manual). The English version only features a simple scrolling text epilogue, while the Japanese version only has the closing credits.
[edit] Gameplay
The game's visual and gameplay style is closer to the NES Double Dragon than the arcade installments, save for the inclusion of a separate jump button (the NES games required players to press both buttons at the same time). Two new additions to the gameplay are the defend button and the dragon power gauge. The player can block an enemy's attack by pressing the B and even grab their punch. During an arm grab, the player can throw the enemy or perform a punch or kick combo. Williams and Roper are the easiest to perform the arm grab, while most of the bosses take a bit of work. The only enemies that cannot be arm grabbed are Jeff, Baker, McGwire and Carlem.
The dragon gauge allows the player to perform special techniques by filling up. The dragon gauge fills up by holding the L or R shoulder button. When gauge is less than half-full, the player can perform either a Round Backfist or a Jumping Round Kick. When it's more than half-full, the player can perform a hurricane kick. When the gauge is full, the player will enter "Angry Mode" and all of the regular attacks will have extra strength.
There are also added basic techniques, such as a low-to-high kick combo and a jumping low kick. In an attempt to differentiate the two main characters, Billy and Jimmy, both were given different basic punches and kicks. The explanation given in the manual is that the brothers leaned different styles of Sou-Setsu-Ken, with Billy having mastered the Southern style (which uses quick techniques), while Jimmy uses the Northern style (which focuses on strong techniques) Their in-game sprites were also drawn differently for the first time, with both of the brothers having different hairstyles.
[edit] Enemies
- Williams & Roper - - A pair of thugs who serves as the game's most common enemy characters. Williams usually wears a yellow vest with camouflage pants, while Roper wears a bandanna with the Japanese flag. They're the easiest enemies to parry attacks from. The dark-skinned versions of them tend to carry weapons, including nunchakus and staffs.
- Jeff - A green-clad palette swap version of Billy. He uses most of the same techniques and appears as a sort of sub-boss.
- Baker - A common enemy whose fighting style involves wielding two Chinese swords (shuangdao).
- Steve - A suit-wearing martial artists who specializes in kick techniques.
- Jackson - The boss at the airport. A former heavyweight boxer. He has a special attack in which he grabs his opponent and punches them repeatedly in the gut.
- Chen Longfu & Chen Longbiao - Twin martial artists who are in charge of Duke's martial arts gym in Chinatown. They specialize in Chinese Martial Arts, with Longfu specialized in punching techniques and Longbiao in kicks.
- McGwire - A clown-like fatman who can block attacks with his stomach. He also has a Blanka-style rolling attack.
- Carlem - A tall enemy who wears a jacket and sunglasses. His special technique is the "Leg of Death".
- Duke - The final boss. Uses a flashy style which includes a rolling attack and sweep kick. He's the only enemy who can counter the arm grab.
[edit] Weapons
- Nunchaku - Has quick speed and good range. Billy's preferred melee weapon.
- Bo - A powerful melee weapon that has also a good range. Jimmy's preferred melee weapon.
- Boomerang - Can be thrown towards an opponent, only to come back. Depending on the version, it can be pick up again automatically or hurt the player if not deflected.
- Knife - A quick knife throw is capable of taking half of the player's life. However, it can be deflected back to the thrower with a well-timed punch.
- Incediary bomb- Will detonate a few seconds after hitting the floor, in which a burst of flames will emerge. Can kill friends and foes alike instantly.
- Rock and Drumcan - Heavy objects usually carried and thrown by green-clad Ropers.
- Punching bag - There are two types. The heavy bag, which will eventually break off after repeated usage and can be used like the Rock and Drumcan. Or the speed bag, which never breaks, but can hit the player if one's not careful. Both can be found on Mission 3.
[edit] Stages
- Mission 1: Las Vegas - The Lee brothers' initial battle with the Shadow Warriors takes place on the streets of Las Vegas. The player will enter a Casino and eventually ride an elevator which takes them to the top floor, where Steve awaits.
- Mission 2: Airport - The stage begins inside the lobby and then proceeds to a stairway and then the runway. At the end of the runway, the player will confront Jackson. After Jackson is defeated, the plane will take off.
- Mission 3: Chinatown - The location of Duke's martial arts gym. The majority of the stage takes place inside the three-story gym. There are various punching bags that can be used as weapons. At the balcony, the player will confront the Chen brothers, who proclaim themselves to the real Double Dragons.
- Mission 4: Golden Gate Bridge - The stage begins on top of a moving truck, with the wind pushing the player away. The truck will pass the bridge itself, a park and a residential area before colliding with the side of a building. At the end of the stage, will encounter Duke and have a brief fight with McGwire.
- Mission 5: City Slum - Takes place in a city slum that is reminecent of the first stage of the original game. The player will eventually clim a building. McGwire awaits at the other side of the building.
- Mission 6: Mountain/Forest Area _The battle will begin at the forest and then proceed to a falling suspension bridge. The boss of this area is Carlem.
- Mission 7: Duke's Mansion - The final battle with the Shadow Warriors.
[edit] Alternate versions
While neither, the Japanese (Return) nor English (Super) versions of the game are true to the designers' original vision, the Japanese version was based on a more completed build of the game and features various notable enhancements and changes. Among them:
- An Option Mode is added, in which the player adjuct the number of buy-in credits and difficulty level from one of three settings. The game also features Music and Sound tests (the former includes unused track).
- While the English version only has one difficulty setting, it is considerably harder than the ones in the Japanese version, which includes different enemy ratio and more damage done by weapons.
- The music played in the title screen in the English is a new theme. It is replaced by the standard Double Dragon theme in the Japanese version. Oddly enough, the Japanese title does not feature the Double Dragon kanji characters.
- The background music for most of the stages are different. For example, the city slum theme from the first game is now played on Mission 5, rather than Mission 3.
- In the Japanese version, if the player has a weapon currently equipped, it can be exchanged with another on the floor.
- Likewise, the player will pick up the boomerang when it is thrown and then returns to the player's direction.
- The hurricane kick knocks enemies with single hits in the English version, while it does multiple hits in the Japanese version.
- And finally, the final stage has two new areas. After the grand hall, the player will go through a series of stairways and then a huge room where all of the previous stages' bosses are confronted before the battle with Duke.
