Double Dragon IV

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 29
  3. Negative: 7 out of 29
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  1. Wayneok
    Feb 7, 2017
    4
    Saying I had high hopes for this is an understatement. The NES series of Double Dragon games is like an old friend. Double Dragon II in particular remains one of my favorite games of all time. Seeing the familiar aesthetic in the preview screenshots filled me with an old sense of joy. Double Dragon II has returned!

    I was never particularly taken by the arcade series for a number of    Saying I had high hopes for this is an understatement. The NES series of Double Dragon games is like an old friend. Double Dragon II in particular remains one of my favorite games of all time. Seeing the familiar aesthetic in the preview screenshots filled me with an old sense of joy. Double Dragon II has returned!

    I was never particularly taken by the arcade series for a number of reasons. I always felt the controls were loose, the collision detection was inconsistent at best, and brutal at worst. The AI was cheap and reactive and combat felt "one-for-one". I knock you down. You get up and knock me down. Repeat.

    In contrast, Double Dragon II felt natural. The controls were tight. The enemies seemed to have distinct personalities (all 5 or 6 of them... this was NES after all.) Billy and Jimmy had a simplistic move set that was easy to get the hang of, but deadly when mastered. (Flying knee! KERPOW!)
    Combine this with memorable setpieces, an eerie atmosphere and combat that was just plain fun and you instantly have everything that Double Dragon IV is not.

    Sad, but true.

    Playing Double Dragon IV instantly evokes the frustration I felt playing the arcade versions of the game.
    Despite having a similar moveset (albeit with a few added extras) the brothers feel clumsy and lumbering.
    Enemies hover just outside the "hitbox" when you attack them and then manage to slip a few attacks between your flurry of punches. Hi Billy... this is floor. You'll be spending a lot of time together.
    The reactive AI from the arcades is in full force in this game. At one point I was surrounded by 7 enemies... who were standing dead still. Why were they doing this? They were watching me stand dead still. Tap the control two steps forward. Lo and behold, we all moved two steps together and then stopped dead. Two steps back? Guess what happened. It was like watching an 8-bit line dance where you knew as soon as someone throws a punch all hell was about to break loose. Eventually i did throw a punch which floated through the air like without connecting with so much as a pixel. What did connect was every single attack that was thrown my way. The line dance was over. Hmph. Everyone is a critic.

    After playing the game for 10 minutes I was already spamming the "rising" special attacks to clear through the enemies. In fact, this easiest way to play the game is to wait for an enemy to knock you over and then thin the crowd using a super uppercut or flying knee. Effective? Very. Fun? Not so much.

    Is it worth playing? Definitely, if you are a fan of the game.
    The retro aesthetic and feel is not the problem here. The mechanics feel broken. The storytelling is weak, and the memorable moments just aren't there.

    Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll fire up Double Dragon II and take my frustrations out on some goons who don't mind a fair fight!    … Expand
  2. TightNinja
    Feb 4, 2017
    10
    If you over the age of 30 and remember playing Double Dragon on NES. GET THIS GAME NOW!! It is a true sequel to the NES series. Although I would have liked a modernized version (Neon sucked). This will do in the meantime
  3. JimmyJoined
    Feb 6, 2017
    10
    I read a bunch of reviews from many big gaming publications and it makes me wonder what's wrong with the management of those editorial agencies. They are clearly assigning work the wrong people. If your reviewer only knows about NASCAR you don't make him review a Formula 1 game. Reviewers need basic understanding of what a product is and to what kind of audience is the product designedI read a bunch of reviews from many big gaming publications and it makes me wonder what's wrong with the management of those editorial agencies. They are clearly assigning work the wrong people. If your reviewer only knows about NASCAR you don't make him review a Formula 1 game. Reviewers need basic understanding of what a product is and to what kind of audience is the product designed for. This game was clearly designed for people who wanted a trip to the 80s, The game meets those requirements perfectly. There are no errors in accomplishing that purpose. The game is exactly what fans of the series wanted and therefore it deserves the highest recognition.… Expand
  4. KcWright
    Jan 31, 2017
    8
    If your looking for a new gaming experience you wont find it here but thats alright. Double Dragon 4 picks up where Double Dragon 1 and 2 on the nes left off the graphics and controls are ripped right from those classic games. I for one really enjoyed playing this game if you liked the originals you'll love this throwback to a simpler time.
  5. Destro9
    Jan 31, 2017
    7
    Ah...a new Double Dragon game! From Arc System works no less;developers of the Guilty Gear series...Should be a visual treat ! Oh.....? What? It;s based on the NES versions and uses the same graphic engines as DD 1 and 2...Er...ok...

    Ok...i wasent a huge fan of the NES versions ,was an Arcade junkie myself,,,but what we have in DD IV is a solid and respectful nod to the past but with    Ah...a new Double Dragon game! From Arc System works no less;developers of the Guilty Gear series...Should be a visual treat ! Oh.....? What? It;s based on the NES versions and uses the same graphic engines as DD 1 and 2...Er...ok...

    Ok...i wasent a huge fan of the NES versions ,was an Arcade junkie myself,,,but what we have in DD IV is a solid and respectful nod to the past but with very little in the way of innovation.The move sets are largely the same,with some extra attacks mapable to the the shoulder buttons; same gameplay and yes...the NES platforming sections are back,,,if you dig that sort of thing.You will fly through the game in no time untill the later stages ;unlocking bonus characters for the 2p Dul mode after each stage is beaten.Old enemies return,weapons to pick up and bad guys to elbow in the face.
    Not a classic but yeah if you are fan,,get it! Its cheap ,has some rocking tunes and hopefully will pave the way for a FULL sequel.    … Expand
  6. redspencer
    Feb 2, 2017
    10
    For those of you who's childhood consisted of a NES in your household, Double Dragon IV is the perfect sequel to the classic NES series. Many of the sprites and retro music come straight from the old NES classics and unlike the NES version, you can have quite a number of enemies to battle at one time. Both Billy and Jimmy have a large variety of moves to utilize that weren't in theFor those of you who's childhood consisted of a NES in your household, Double Dragon IV is the perfect sequel to the classic NES series. Many of the sprites and retro music come straight from the old NES classics and unlike the NES version, you can have quite a number of enemies to battle at one time. Both Billy and Jimmy have a large variety of moves to utilize that weren't in the original trilogy and the replay value increases with being able to play the story mode with many of the enemy characters. If you're one of those folks that had to buy a NES Classic Edition system for the holidays, Double Dragon IV is your kind of game!… Expand
  7. Rastan88
    Feb 3, 2017
    10
    Exactly what it is intended to be. A fun beat em up NES style. True to the Double Dragon name, and a blast with two players. Gameplay is smooth, and the graphics are a welcome return to the days when 8-bit ruled.
    It's cheap, it's fun. Enjoy.
  8. stratogustav
    Feb 6, 2017
    10
    This game was designed specifically for those of us that love the NES trilogy. Double Dragon I & II had arcade counterparts that were well received, however Double Dragon III the predecessor to this game was best received on the NES since both the arcade version and the more powerful Genesis version that despite the "better" graphics they had, were not very good and gave the franchise aThis game was designed specifically for those of us that love the NES trilogy. Double Dragon I & II had arcade counterparts that were well received, however Double Dragon III the predecessor to this game was best received on the NES since both the arcade version and the more powerful Genesis version that despite the "better" graphics they had, were not very good and gave the franchise a bad rep, however the NES version was the one people loved just like people loved the other 2 previous games. This one is the continuation of that awesome influential trilogy.

    Arc System Works took the necessary care to make this game released affordable for current platforms to look and feel exactly like those games people loved. If no one told you when this game was made, you would not be able to tell which one out of the 4 games was made in the 21th century, that's how awesome this game is, and that's how grateful are fans of the series for receiving a game made with the respect it deserves.

    Whether you are playing solo or co-op you would have a lot of fun finding better ways to approach different sections of the games and defeat enemies just like in the old good days. The difficulty level is perfect and the length is appropriate. It also has many unlockable characters to enjoy battleling your friends. I highly recommend it. It is definitely one of the best beat 'em up releases in recent years.    … Expand
  9. Cerenzio
    Nov 20, 2017
    8
    Looks like crappy nes, port of Double Dragon. Sounds like nes, feels like NES, but...Plays better, has more moves, more animation, more sound, more everything. This is exactly as advertised. Enjoyed it a TON. Video on my YouTube: PLAYwithGREGG

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
49

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 18
  3. Negative: 8 out of 18
  1. GameCritics
    Feb 20, 2017
    65
    Despite how fabulous the extra stuff is, though, Double Dragon IV just isn’t a good game. It is, however, a compelling and fascinating oddity. For franchise fans it’s a must-purchase, since it’s as much a historical trip as it is a new entry. While I can’t recommend it based on gameplay, the fact that it’s such a straight-faced resurrection of a long-dead style alone makes it worth a look.
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  2. Digitally Downloaded
    Feb 16, 2017
    50
    It does seem as though Arc System Works were relying entirely on the nostalgia to sell Double Dragon IV. And while it captures the essence of those original games it falls short of being a good game today simply because the original hasn’t aged well. It would have been pretty rockin' back in the 80s though.
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  3. Gaming Age
    Feb 13, 2017
    83
    Double Dragon IV is fun for a limited time. while it captures the look and feel of the classic games, it tends to get a bit stale and starts to grind on your nerves. Its awkward platforming and imperfect controls hinder the overall experience, while the lack of online play hurts as this game would be perfect for some drop in / drop out action! Overall, I still liked the entire package and can ignore its minor issues long enough to have a great time. New players may find it boring, while fans of the classic games will feel right at home. Pick this up if you want to try out what beat-em ups were like in the '80s!
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