One set of mixtapes allows you to summon a powerful attack, provided you have enough consumable energy to use. These mixtapes, which are spread throughout each level or gathered from fallen enemies, give you two forms of bonuses that can be equipped simultaneously at the pause menu. Now, if performing the Gleam ability becomes troublesome if you are in a bind, then there are the added mixtapes you can collect. However, I did find myself failing to execute a timely Gleam boost only to see either Billy or Jimmy get knocked hard to the ground. A quick roll or two from an incoming punch or the swing of a bat can mean the difference in not losing that last bit of precious health. While at times easy to pull off, the Gleam ability is highly recommended if you find yourself cornered by more than two enemies. If you avoid an enemy attack at the last possible second, either Billy or Jimmy will start to briefly glow red, thus activating a Gleam boost that grants double damage. The first addition is the ability to evade. As a reboot of a classic beat ‘em up, having developer WayForward lean heavily into the silly and absurd (whether it’s the characters or settings) is a welcome addition that invigorates the cheesiness of the entire journey.Īlong with the changes to the scenery and mood, Double Dragon Neon also introduces some new options in how you engage in fisticuffs with various henchmen. One of the more fun and memorable set pieces has you fighting enemies inside an air lock while you must carefully avoid being sucked into the vacuum of space. From the rough and tough city streets, you are soon thrust into outer space and other new locales that put a fresh spin on the series’ formula. But, it is suddenly revealed that said gang is controlled by a menacing lich called Skullmageddon. The Shadow Warriors kidnap Marian, which then leads you into the city streets as you punch and kick your way through hordes of foes before your own thumbs tire out. To put it simply, Double Dragon Neon is a re-imagining of the original arcade classic with various bells and whistles and twists and turns added for good measure.įrom the get-go, the scenario is rather familiar to those who grew up playing Double Dragon in either the arcade or on the NES. And, quite frankly, this suped-up reboot still packs a good punch or two eight years after its initial release. So, does Double Dragon Neon still stand toe-to-toe with those that have come after it? The short answer: Yes. Since then, many new attempts at refining the beat ‘em up genre have come and gone, with quite a few-such as River City Girls and Streets of Rage 4-breathing some new life. In addition, Double Dragon creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto helped oversee elements of this new take on the classic, such as the mechanics or the designs of brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee.
#Double dragon neon soundtrack series
When Double Dragon Neon was originally released in 2012, the WayForward-developed reboot of the classic beat ‘em up was meant to give the series a much-needed boost of western feel and influences.