Yie Ar Kung-Fu!
To celebrate St George’s Day, I wanted to feature an Atari ST game and thought something dragon-related would be perfect. I tried a few games but wasn’t feeling them, and sadly, nothing else really grabbed my attention. Then I remembered Double Dragon 3. Ahem. Come on, it has got the word "dragon" in the title!
After returning from two years of martial arts training, brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee encounter a fortune teller named Hiruko, who sets them on a mission to locate three ancient Rosetta Stones. These are powerful artefacts said to grant immense strength, potentially enough to dominate the world. I guess we must travel the world, kick-assing everyone along the way? Are you up for traveling the world, beating up people?
I reckon so! Well, Double Dragon 3 begins its global adventure in the tough streets of America. From the outset, we’re plunged into the chaos, facing a horde of thugs eager to ambush us. Being a hard dude, the game offers a variety of kicks and punches to unleash onto the enemy hordes. So let's use them!
This game appears to have it all, so let's pause for some screenshots...
You don't mess with guys that look like these two!!
But I gotta laugh at the fun artwork throughout. It's great, but a little creepy!!
Kick him when he's down!
From the outset, it’s clear this game prioritises fake Hollywood action over any pseudo-realism. The villains are fantastic and can attack in groups, creating a frantic experience that’s perfect for a joystick-bashing time. At times, I felt like I was playing Golden Axe, and I thoroughly enjoyed the barrage of silly fighting.
The controls are smooth and responsive, allowing for easy execution of kicks and punches. In fact, DD3 is incredibly easy to pick up and play, giving me that arcade feeling I was hoping for. There’s no learning curve, and even a complete noob like myself gets a thrill from this arcade-style kicker! Occasionally, shops appear offering power-ups like weapons and so on (there's always someone willing to cash in on your pain!!). This adds depth and longevity to the entertainment and proves that beating people up is always incredibly fun.
The gameplay is well-balanced, neither too easy nor overbearing. I soon discovered a jumping/flying kick that’s very effective. However, repeating the same move quickly became boring, so I resorted to my joystick-waggling skills to uncover other hidden moves. Before long, I found a spinning vertical kick - yay! The enemies are a traditional bunch with predictable AI, but their slow movement reduces the overall pace.
It's like a game version of a Chuck Norris movie!! I love it, so here are more screenshots...
Come on, get up and take some more smackin'!! Yeah, I can take on anybody GRR!!
Ah, he's big. Well, they say that the bigger they are... (I hope that's true!!)
The CryptO'pinion?
Double Dragon 3 is a blast full of punches, kicks, and silly thrills. I loved the gritty American streets setting, and the graphics are superb throughout. The controls are very responsive, so flinging your little man with all sorts of daft movements is great. The sound effects are good, but it’s a shame there’s no in-game music.
I’m a total noob to the genre, but I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this beat 'em up, and I highly recommend it. Kick-ass action, so it scores top marks from me. Ya' gotta play this!!
