Arc Systems Works has announced another Double Dragon game, with a twist.
As reported by Gematsu, the company revealed in Weekly Famitsu that they are making a new 3D Double Dragon game, coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025.
The game also promises to reproduce the classic side-scrolling action, with updated controls and difficulty settings. Arc System Works will also bring their particular brand of gameplay this time to create a new experience.
Double Dragon originally released to arcades in 1987, and launched a boom in beat-em-ups, paving the way for titles like Final Fight, Streets of Rage, and a panoply of licensed multiplayer affairs, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dungeons & Dragons, and The Simpsons.
In spite of Double Dragon‘s indelible mark in video game history, it has an inconsistent track record when it comes to its gameography. Many entries are disappointing remakes of the original, but there are even more Double Dragon games that vary widely from the source material. Even the most famous Double Dragon games, on the NES/Famicom, have major differences from the arcade original.
More recent Double Dragon games have approached the dilemma of its mixed legacy with a variety of approaches. Wayforward’s Double Dragon Neon was the first original game in the series in 17 years when it released in 2012. Wayforward’s approach was highly anime-influenced and tongue-in-cheek, and generally well regarded to this day.
Double Dragon IV, released in 2017, is technically Arc Systems Works’ first Double Dragon game after they acquired the IP in 2015. They brought together former Technos staff to try to modernize the game, but the final product was surprisingly disappointing, from both technical issues and a game design perspective.
Last year, a smaller studio named Secret Base released Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, which adds a roguelike element to the beat-em-up. This game also received mixed reviews, out of the successes and shortcomings from trying to mix these genres up.
We don’t know if Arc System Works is going to try anything that crazy with the Double Dragon game that they are producing themselves. However, if you are familiar with their work on Guilty Gear and BlazBlu, or licensed games like Dragon Ball FighterZ, you would know their reputation for stylish flair and technical polish, rivaling the likes of Atlus.
So if Arc System Works’ Double Dragon may not turn out to be that big comeback that beat-em-up fans really want, we will at least know it will be a good looking game. It will also likely be a lot of fun, though we don’t know yet if that will be fun for everyone necessarily, at least not yet. Either way, this title will certainly be worth keeping an eye out for.
