Double Dragon Revive Review – Not The Dragon

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Even before playing Double Dragon Revive, I had to adjust my expectations based on the trailers. It wasn’t going to feel like Absolum in terms of how it looks or how the fighting works, nor would it offer the same level of world-building or story. It wouldn’t likely recapture the excitement of the series like Streets of Rage 4 did – offering more than just updated graphics. And it probably wouldn’t appeal to fans of retro-style games in the same way as Fight’N Rage.

It’s interesting because Double Dragon is a hugely important game – it basically created the beat ’em up genre and influenced classics like Golden Axe and Final Fight. However, later games in the series haven’t lived up to the original. With Double Dragon Gaiden and Neon trying different approaches with varying success, does this new game, Revive, manage to recapture the magic of the original and set a better path forward for the series?

And unfortunately, it doesn’t work. Even if the game was good on its own, it isn’t, and the developers, Yuke’s, really missed the mark. This revival feels less like a successful comeback and more like a demonstration of how not to make a fighting game.

The Pagoda’s unusual design is meant to work with the game’s eight-way movement, but it creates a strange feeling when going up stairs. However, when the game simplifies things, like on the highway, it just feels dull.

My initial impression of Double Dragon Revive was surprisingly negative, specifically regarding its visuals. The cutscenes, while colorful and eye-catching, used static images that felt out of place. What really disappointed me, though, was the game itself. After those vibrant cutscenes, I was met with a drab, 3D world and uninspired character designs. While simpler to create, the overall look felt flat and uninteresting.

The game’s level design and special features don’t really address these issues. While moving from left to right is typical for a beat ’em up, there’s a lot of room for creative gameplay, interesting enemies, and varied level structures. Double Dragon Revive attempts this, but doesn’t always succeed. For example, one section in the Power Plant felt more like a platforming game with moving belts and fire vents. It was different, but didn’t fit the overall game, especially since it lacked enemies.

The Pagoda’s unusual layout is designed to work with the game’s eight-way movement, but it makes climbing stairs feel strange. Even when the level simplifies, like on the highway sections, it becomes quite dull. This part feels incredibly long and lacks excitement, aside from a few encounters with enemies on motorcycles.

At the start of the game, you can play as either Billy or Jimmy. The story is set 15 years after a nuclear war in a city-like colony now controlled by a gang called the Shadow Warriors. People are disappearing, and when their friend Marian is kidnapped, Billy and Jimmy set out on a dangerous quest to find her and get answers.

I don’t mind difficult bosses, but the repetitive and boring tasks during fights in Revive really take away from the enjoyment.

Okay, so the big reason these guys were even on their whole adventure got wrapped up super fast, which was kind of a letdown. The kidnapping plot turned into this really weird story about their past and how they learned to fight, and honestly, the cutscenes, while pretty to look at, went on forever. At first, the characters seemed cool, but the writing just wasn’t funny, so I found myself hitting the skip button a lot. That’s probably why some plot twists totally came out of nowhere! But seriously, even for a game like Double Dragon, the story was just… silly.

Battles are fairly straightforward: you have a quick attack for chaining combos, a stronger attack to push enemies back or briefly stun them, and a special move. You can also defend, evade, and grapple opponents, throwing or slamming them around the environment. Filling a special meter lets you unleash a powerful area-of-effect attack that hits several enemies at once.

Despite the simple combat, each character offers a distinct fighting style. Billy is balanced, able to knock enemies back with a spinning kick and powerfully slam them into the scenery. Marian, in contrast, is fast and nimble, using diving kicks, aerial dodges, and a powerful rising knee attack.

The game offers interesting combo possibilities, and it’s satisfying to use the environment – like pinning enemies against walls – to extend them. However, movement feels stiff, and blocking and dodging aren’t always dependable. While enemies aren’t helpless, powerful area-of-effect attacks can make some fights too easy. Breaking enemy armor, particularly when they telegraph attacks with a blue glow, can be frustrating, especially since it’s key to powering up special attacks. Also, the requirement to wait for on-screen prompts to use powerful Hyper Blows feels clunky and disrupts the flow of combat.

Okay, so the bosses… man, they’re frustrating, but not in a good way. They rely on these super annoying tricks, just like the levels do. There’s one that’s constantly tossing me around, and it’s not even his main attack that gets me – it’s these little barrels he throws that knock you flying with the slightest touch! Another one has flames popping up all over the place while he’s zooming around. You’re just trying to survive all this to charge up a special attack, because his regular attacks drop explosives that, surprise surprise, send you flying again. I don’t mind a tough boss fight, but honestly, the bosses in Revive are just tedious and not really enjoyable.

Honestly, this beat ’em up just didn’t grab me. It has a familiar title, but that’s about it. If you’re really desperate for a new brawler, trust me, there are way better choices out there. I wouldn’t recommend spending your time on this one when so many other great options exist.

Beyond taking several hours to complete a single run with limited replay value, Double Dragon Revive doesn’t leave a lasting impression. While playing with different characters or friends is a draw, the uninspired level design makes me not want to revisit it. A few enemies are memorable – I especially liked the swordmaster who required jump attacks – but most are uninteresting and dull to fight.

If you want to get the most out of the game for your money, you can purchase extra episodes that offer more background on the villains. While they can be a good challenge, they aren’t essential. There are also optional side missions, such as defeating a certain number of enemies, which can help you progress without tackling the main story’s harder parts.

Double Dragon Revive is pretty much what I anticipated, even with lowered expectations. It’s a basic beat ’em up that relies heavily on its familiar name. If you’re really craving a new game in this style, there are much better choices out there.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-10-28 15:16