Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone

Double Dragon 3

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Predecessor	Double Dragon II
Founded	1990
Founder	Technōs Japan, East Technology (developer)
Successor	Double Dragon Trilogy (re-release)
Headquarters	Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Akira Inoue, Takaro Nozaki (composers)
Products	Double Dragon 3 arcade game and home ports
Owner	Technōs Japan

Double Dragon 3 is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade title launched by Technōs Japan in 1990. Serving as the third arcade entry in the Double Dragon franchise, its development was delegated to East Technology, which led to noticeable differences in gameplay and visual style compared to its predecessors.

In this installment, players assume control of twin martial artists Billy and Jimmy Lee, who set out on a worldwide adventure to recover three enigmatic Rosetta Stones located in Egypt, following guidance from a fortune teller named Hiruko. The arcade supports up to three simultaneous players, introducing a new character named Sonny Lee. The version released in the United States incorporated item shops where players could spend additional credits to acquire weapons, new moves, and characters—an early form of microtransactions. However, this feature was omitted from the Japanese release, which instead employed a traditional character selection system akin to titles like Golden Axe and Final Fight.

After the arcade debut, home adaptations were made available for platforms including the Genesis, Game Boy, and multiple personal computers. In 2013, DotEmu brought back emulated versions of the original arcade game across different systems as part of the Double Dragon Trilogy collection.

Gameplay

Double Dragon 3 accommodates up to three players simultaneously. The first two players control returning protagonists Billy and Jimmy Lee, while the third player commands Sonny—a yellow-clad character modeled as a palette swap of the Lee brothers. The control scheme utilizes an eight-directional joystick alongside three buttons, reverting from the directional attack system used in Double Dragon II back to the punch-and-kick setup familiar from the original game. Certain moves such as elbow strikes and hair grabs were removed; instead, new techniques were introduced including running (activated by double-tapping the joystick), back-to-back hurricane kicks, triangle jump kicks, running head-butts, belly-to-back throws, and jumping knee drops.

At specific points during gameplay, players can access an item shop by inserting coins to purchase power-ups priced at one credit each. Available items typically include "Energy" (which restores health up to 150%), "Power Up" (boosts attack speed), "Tricks" (unlocks two additional moves), and "Weapons" (nunchaku available in Mission 2; swords found in Missions 3 and 5).

The "Extra Guys" option allows players to take control of one of three alternative fighting sibling pairs beyond the Lee brothers, effectively replacing the conventional extra lives mechanic. These teams consist of the Urquidez brothers (specializing in mixed martial arts), Chin brothers (tai chi practitioners), and Ōyama brothers (karate experts). Players may keep up to three reserve fighters and briefly switch between them before automatic selection occurs. Availability of these characters depends on the mission: Urquidez brothers appear in Missions 1 and 5; Chin brothers are present in Mission 2; Ōyama brothers appear during Mission 3. New characters inherit any special moves previously purchased but must buy attack speed enhancements again. Unlike the Lee brothers, these fighters cannot buy or pick up weapons.

The Japanese version, which was released after the international edition, removed the item shop feature entirely and allowed players to select any character at the outset—including all three new fighter pairs alongside Billy and Jimmy Lee. Each character has access to their full move set, although executing the Hurricane Kick requires more precise timing. Weapons are found scattered on the ground rather than bought and are exclusive to the Lee brothers. Additionally, this version was rebalanced for easier gameplay by reducing enemy damage output by approximately one-third compared with overseas releases.

Plot

Following a two-year training journey, Billy and Jimmy Lee meet a fortune teller named Hiruko, who instructs them to locate three dispersed Rosetta Stones in order to face the world's most formidable opponent.

The adventure begins in the United States, where the Lee brothers overcome surviving members of the Black Warriors gang. Their quest then takes them across China, Japan, Italy, and Egypt. Each nation protects one of the Rosetta Stones and is defended by distinctive fighters—such as ninjas in Japan and archers in Italy—who stand as challengers to the brothers. Once all three stones are gathered, the Lees travel to Egypt to battle supernatural entities within Cleopatra's tomb and unravel the secrets behind the stones.

Development

This installment diverged from prior entries by being developed by East Technology, recognized for the 1989 arcade shoot-'em-up Gigandes, while Technōs Japan concentrated on other projects like WWF Superstars and The Combatribes. The sequel introduced fresh gameplay mechanics and a new graphical approach. It generated controversy due to the inclusion of item shops requiring real currency to acquire power-ups; this feature was subsequently removed from later Japanese versions following unfavorable reactions.

Music

Akira Inoue and Takaro Nozaki took over composition duties from original Double Dragon composer Kazunaka Yamane, who was engaged with The Combatribes at the time (Yamane returned for Super Double Dragon). Inoue was responsible for music in the US, Italy, and Egypt stages, including boss themes, while Nozaki composed the remaining tracks. The soundtrack was released on June 21, 1991, by Pony Canyon in Japan as a combined CD with The Combatribes (catalog PCCB-00065). The first half contains tracks from Double Dragon 3, featuring an arranged version of the title theme but omitting shop themes found in export editions.

Inoue later shared demo versions of his compositions online in 2014, recorded using a KORG T3 synthesizer.

Release

The Nintendo Entertainment System received a version titled Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones in February 1991, shortly after the arcade debut in Japan. This NES edition was developed concurrently with the arcade game but presented different visuals, gameplay elements, and characters despite sharing a similar storyline.

Double Dragon 3 was licensed by Tradewest and adapted for platforms such as ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Amiga, and Atari ST toward late 1991, followed by releases on IBM PC and Game Boy in 1992. A Genesis version launched in 1993. Most ports were produced by The Sales Curve, except for the Genesis adaptation developed by Software Creations. The Game Boy and Genesis editions, issued by Acclaim under the title Double Dragon 3: The Arcade Game, differed notably from the earlier NES release.

In 2013, Double Dragon 3 was reissued as part of the Double Dragon Trilogy compilation by DotEmu on platforms including iOS, Android, and Steam, featuring only the international version.

Reception

In late 1990, the game achieved strong commercial success in the United States, with average weekly arcade coin drop revenues of $188.25 per unit. In Japan, it was ranked as the third most popular table arcade game in January 1991.

Julian Rignall of Computer and Video Games commended the arcade installment’s transition to a more lifelike art style and recommended it to fans of the series, assigning an 83% rating.

The arcade release provoked debate due to its use of microtransactions for purchasing in-game items in North America—a feature that was later removed from Japanese editions.