Did you know that there's still time to pre-order your version of Battletoads & Double Dragon on the Nintendo Entertainment System? It's true, Retro-Bit's newest must-own reproduction cartridge can still be yours, assuming you reserve your copy before May 22nd. With only a few days left, I thought it might be fun to take a few minutes and see what the critics thought of the games starring the Battletoads and Double Dragon when they first came out.
In case you're wondering, Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed a total of 17 games from these two franchises between 1989 and 2009. As you would imagine, that includes a whole bunch of ports of the original Battletoads and Double Dragon games, as well as a myriad of sequels and prequels. Today we're going to countdown the best and worst games from these two series using EGM's own words and review scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back in the day. Join me as we see how Electronic Gaming Monthly ranked the Battletoads and Double Dragon franchises.
Double Dragon V (Super NES)
#17
"If you're thinking of the Double Dragon guys from the arcade and not the cartoon, you're in for a surprise. The characters all have very similar, yet simple movements. Unfortunately, the charge time and control aren't as easy. It plays OK, but unless you're a fan of the show, there's nothing special about it. The game play and control need to be sharpened to improve the playability. Close, but nothing exceptional." (5.25 out of 10)
Double Dragon V (Jaguar)
#16
"Compared to the other Jag fighting games, it does play okay, but still below par for most other systems. The game actually plays better on the Super NES and doesn't look all that different. The biggest problem, once again, is lack of control. Sure, it may be the most playable one so far, but it still isn't good enough for the fighting fanatic. I never cared for this game too much, and this version hasn't changed my mind. If you have a Jag, you might want to check it out." (5.9 out of 10)
Double Dragon (Game Gear)
#15
"Double Dragon is a fairly decent game for the small screen, but it is hard to see exactly what is going on sometimes. I would have liked to see more technique built into this classic game, since all I had to do was punch, punch, punch, punch. Overall, Double Dragon is a good fighting game if you're on the move." (6 out of 10)
Double Dragon (Game Boy)
#14
"A perfect translation of the NES version of Double Dragon to the Game Boy. This game duplicates almost every aspect from the bone-busting game play to the various special moves and weapons. The soundtrack is also very good." (7 out of 10)
Battletoads & Double Dragon (NES)
#13
"Yet another great game for the NES! The game play is absolutely incredible. There are tons of new attacks and cool moves for two players. The action is nonstop, and the graphics are surprisingly good for an 8-bitter. Lots of parallax and neat effects, too. A solid fighting game with loads of action and lots of fun." (7.25 out of 10)
Battletoads (Game Gear)
#12
"Hey, I think I remember this game from a couple years ago. Will the trend of bringing older games to the portable systems ever end? Anyway, for those who thoroughly enjoyed the old Battletoads games, you know what to expect here. This is a solid game that offers plenty of action and tons of enemies and a difficulty level sure to challenge any avid player. Now, about the age thing ..." (7.25 out of 10)
Double Dragon (Game Boy Color)
#11
"I was immediately relieved when I read through the documentation and found that Double Dragon did indeed have the option for two player simultaneous play. While the game does capture the fun from the arcade, most of the spontaneity and surprise are unfortunately missing. None-the-less, a good translation of an incredible coin-op game." (Hit out of Direct Hit)
Battletoads (Genesis)
#10
"This is basically the 8-bit game with a little bit of graphics and audio enhancements. Nothing wrong with it, but the improvement isn't that drastic. The game is still great with lots of moves and hilarious animation. The game is very hard and will challenge the best. While not as pretty as the Super NES version, it plays very well." (7.5 out of 10)
Double Dragon (Master System)
#9
"Sega has done an excellent job of duplicating the two-player version of the Double Dragon arcade game. With two player, the game is truly cooperative, exactly the way the game was meant to be. The graphics exceed Sega's usual high standards and with enough practice you should be able to master all of the special moves as on screen control is exceptional. I'll put up with a little flicker if I can beat up the bad guys with my friends." (Hit out of Direct Hit)
Battletoads (Game Boy)
#8
"I loved the Battletoads on the NES and I think they hold up just as well on the Game Boy. It's one of the few action games that really has the power to pull you back for more. Game Boy Toads shares a lot in common with its 8-bit cousin and throws some new features in for good measure." (7.75 out of 10)
Battletoads in Ragnarok's World (Game Boy)
#7
"Yes! I love the Battletoads, and this is the best portable game so far! This is identical to the 8-bit smash, down to every detail. The story is different and has been altered to accommodate one player, but the two-player mode is the only thing that is missing. A bit slow, but still packs a punch. Move to this!" (7.75 out of 10)
Double Dragon 3: The Sacred Stones (NES)
#6
"Ever since Double Dragon surfaced in arcades years ago, no fighting game has come close, other than the incredible sequels. This sequel is no exception, sporting new radical moves, boggling techniques, powerful bosses and two player simultaneous play. A winner!" (8 out of 10)
Double Dragon 2: The Revenge (NES)
#5
"Every bit as good, and even better, than the first. It's all new, too! New moves, new scenes, great graphics, excellent player control and multiple difficulty levels. Double Dragon 2 is easily the best kick and punch game ever made." (8 out of 10)
Battletoads & Double Dragon (Super NES)
#4
"Yes, I will move to this! This is identical to the NES version with some differences, but the graphics are improved ten-fold. Putting these two teams together was a great idea, and fans of both will not be disappointed. Yes!" (8.2 out of 10)
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (Super NES)
#3
"I can't believe it took this long, but it was worth the wait. Battletoads is everything it was hyped to be with great music, vibrant graphics and tons of enemies. The button set-up was a bit awkward to get used to, but didn't make it unplayable. This game rocks with two players, I love the cooperative attacking of the enemies." (8.25 out of 10)
Battletoads (NES)
#2
"Excellent! Radical! Most triumphant! If Battletoads doesn't make you laugh at the hysterical animations, or fry your brain cells with utter amazement, you are reading the wrong mag. The amount of work that went into this game is phenomenal. This'll make up for Double Dragon." (9 out of 10)
Double Dragon (NES)
#1
A more appropriate name might have been Single Dragon, since the home version, unlike the arcade classic, only allows one player on the screen at a time. Don't by any means let this detour from what is otherwise an incredible gaming masterpiece. In order to keep the crisp graphics, the great definition of characters and the true action gameplay that made Double Dragon a number one hit in the arcades, Technos had to make a choice between two player option and solid gameplay. They might the right choice, because Double Dragon now has the quality as well as the content. (Direct Hit out of Direct Hit)
It's also worth noting that Double Dragon took the top prize as Electronic Gaming Monthly's Best Video Game of the Year in 1988.
