Double Dragon II: The Revenge

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PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Some sequels play it safe. Others tear up the blueprint and start fresh. Double Dragon II: The Revenge falls into the second camp, trading the light RPG mechanics of the first NES game for something leaner and far more aggressive.

Billy and Jimmy Lee return, and for the first time on NES, a second player can jump in without waiting their turn. That alone made this one of the more requested rentals at video stores back in 1990.

Double Dragon remains one of my favorite retro series. Time to jump back in.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

Picture a side scrolling beat em up where every screen throws two enemies at you at once, and you clear them out before the game lets you move forward. That is the entire shape of Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

Billy and Jimmy Lee punch, kick, and throw their way through nine missions set across a ruined New York, chasing down the Shadow Warriors gang responsible for killing Marian. Yup, they went from kidnapping to murder in this one.

Three difficulty settings shape how much of the story you actually see, with only the hardest unlocking all nine missions and the true ending. It is a strange design choice that ties the ending itself to how much punishment you are willing to take.

The combat obviously carries the game. Every punch and kick has a real sense of weight, and the special moves, a cyclone kick, a hyper uppercut, a flying knee, give both brothers a surprisingly deep toolkit for a 1989 release.

Weapons like chain whips, knives, and steel pipes can be picked up mid fight and used against whoever is left standing.

The directional controls work well for combat. You punch toward the direction you are facing and kick the opposite way, so managing your position matters as much as your timing. Where the game struggles is jumping.

Special moves require a jump followed by a precise button press at the peak of the arc, and later missions lean hard on platforming sections built around disappearing platforms and instant death pits. It is a genuine difficulty spike that has little to do with skill and a lot to do with stiff jump physics.

Two players can fight side by side for the first time in the NES series, which changes the pace considerably. Splitting enemy attention with a partner smooths over some of the rougher platforming stretches, even if it cannot fix them entirely. This series is meant to be played with another, so it’s nice to see it in this version.

Visually, the game holds up better than its reputation suggests, with varied backdrops that range from a moving helicopter to an undersea base. The soundtrack is serviceable rather than memorable, doing its job without leaving much of an impression once the console is off.

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GAME INFORMATION

WHERE TO PLAY

• Nintendo Switch Online - NES app.

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $12

  • Complete: $77

  • New/Sealed: $485

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GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

So why play Double Dragon II: The Revenge in 2026? For one, it is easy to access. The game has lived on Nintendo Switch Online's NES app since 2019, and earlier Virtual Console releases mean plenty of players already have a copy sitting in their library somewhere.

For another, the fighting still holds up. Two brothers and a surprisingly generous move list make for a satisfying brawler even before you bring a second player into the mix. Just go in expecting to grumble at a few jumps along the way.

SUPPORT

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RETRO HARDWARE

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