Retro game remakes and distant sequels are a funny thing. When the game you're remaking is ancient by today's standards, how do you reimagine it? What do you do with the graphics, the sound, the gameplay? How do you stay true to, or at least honor, the spirit of the original, while updating the experience for modern times?
Double Dragon Neon can be considered a mashup of the original games, their themes and concepts. The ability to go shopping is from the third game, the levels are a mixture of settings from multiple games in the series, the story also cribs ideas from throughout the series. A lot of comedy has been added referencing elements of the 1980s, such as a giant plant boss referencing the stage play Little Shop of Horrors, 80s slang, playing air guitar after each level, and a boss themed after He-Man's Skeletor, complete with his distinctive voice.
Despite the game being a comedy, and being developed by an American studio, Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the creator of Double Dragon gave his blessing and supplied the character artwork, played early builds of the game, and provided feedback. To quote Kishimoto, "It feels like a new take on the series; the general mood and feel remind me of the original arcade game, but the mechanics cherry-picked the good parts of Double Dragon 2 and 3, and the visual style is very American." Furthermore, the addition of the original games' music was actually Kishimoto's own request.
The major update is the combat. Let's face it, the original Double Dragon had pretty lame combat lacking in depth, especially by today's standards. The combat in this game avoids button-mashing and is more tactical, while still being fast-paced. The ability to run, and the removal of the full-nelson grab both raised Kishimoto's attention, but after their benefit to the gameplay was explained to him, he approved both changes.
However, there's one thing that bothers me. The way the shops are used. Shops only appear in some levels, and you can purchase extra lives there that are used only for that level. If you enter any level, you start with the standard amount of lives. That doesn't make sense. Considering how much the difficulty spikes up in the later levels... I haven't beaten it! I gave up trying. I guess you could say that that is old-school.
A Westernized take on the classic, with approval from its original Japanese developer himself
Retro game remakes and distant sequels are a funny thing. When the game you're remaking is ancient by today's standards, how do you reimagine it? What do you do with the graphics, the sound, the gameplay? How do you stay true to, or at least honor, the spirit of the original, while updating the experience for modern times?
Double Dragon Neon can be considered a mashup of the original games, their themes and concepts. The ability to go shopping is from the third game, the levels are a mixture of settings from multiple games in the series, the story also cribs ideas from throughout the series. A lot of comedy has been added referencing elements of the 1980s, such as a giant plant boss referencing the stage play Little Shop of Horrors, 80s slang, playing air guitar after each level, and a boss themed after He-Man's Skeletor, complete with his distinctive voice.
Despite the game being a comedy, and being developed by an American studio, Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the creator of Double Dragon gave his blessing and supplied the character artwork, played early builds of the game, and provided feedback. To quote Kishimoto, "It feels like a new take on the series; the general mood and feel remind me of the original arcade game, but the mechanics cherry-picked the good parts of Double Dragon 2 and 3, and the visual style is very American." Furthermore, the addition of the original games' music was actually Kishimoto's own request.
The major update is the combat. Let's face it, the original Double Dragon had pretty lame combat lacking in depth, especially by today's standards. The combat in this game avoids button-mashing and is more tactical, while still being fast-paced. The ability to run, and the removal of the full-nelson grab both raised Kishimoto's attention, but after their benefit to the gameplay was explained to him, he approved both changes.
However, there's one thing that bothers me. The way the shops are used. Shops only appear in some levels, and you can purchase extra lives there that are used only for that level. If you enter any level, you start with the standard amount of lives. That doesn't make sense. Considering how much the difficulty spikes up in the later levels... I haven't beaten it! I gave up trying. I guess you could say that that is old-school.