Double Dragon II: The Revenge

Technōs Japan

Industry	Video games
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Double Dragon II: The Revenge

is a beat 'em up arcade title created and distributed by Technōs Japan. Serving as the initial sequel to Double Dragon, which debuted the year prior, its narrative centers on Billy and Jimmy Lee seeking vengeance after Marian, Billy's girlfriend, is murdered by Willy, leader of the Black Warriors, in retaliation for his prior defeat.

Initially designed as an enhancement kit for the original Double Dragon, the project evolved into a standalone release due to expanded memory capacity that facilitated asset sharing between the two games. Additionally, a separate edition was launched for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Gameplay

The arcade edition opens with Marian’s death, propelling Billy and Jimmy Lee into a quest for retribution. Compared to its predecessor, the gameplay introduces directional attack buttons replacing traditional punch and kick inputs. This system allows players to execute regular punches or back kicks depending on movement direction, alongside new techniques such as the Hurricane Kick.

Gameplay unfolds across four distinct stages—heliport, lumber warehouse, farm, and gang hideout—each culminating in a boss battle. Classic adversaries return with refreshed designs and attack patterns. Players can wield various weapons including shovels, knives, chain whips, grenades, and throwable items like crates and logs. Notable foes include:

• Williams: A lower-tier gang member equipped with knives and shovels.
• Roper: Similar in rank to Williams; uses knives, shovels, and throwable objects.
• Linda: The sole female antagonist armed with whips, knives, and grenades.
• Oharra: A tall, shirtless combatant resembling Abobo from the original game.
• Burnov: The first stage boss wearing a steel mask; capable of reappearing after defeat.
• Bolo: A variation of Oharra distinguished by longer hair.
• Abore: The second stage boss; a large blond man sporting sunglasses.
• Jeff: A palette-swapped version of Billy/Jimmy able to perform their moves.
• Chin Taimei: The third stage boss skilled in kali stick combat.
• Willy: Leader of the Black Warriors who wields a machine gun.
• Doppelganger: The final adversary; a shadow clone that mimics player attacks while draining health.

Players monitor a life gauge that decreases upon taking damage and must complete stages within set time limits. Losing all health or time, or falling off-screen or into environmental hazards results in losing a life.

Ports

A home console adaptation of Double Dragon II: The Revenge was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System on January 15, 1990. Developed by Technōs and published by Acclaim Entertainment, this version differs notably from the arcade original. In 1993, Naxat Soft produced a remake for the PC Engine, commonly known among enthusiasts as "Double Dragon II PCE."

Virgin Mastertronic issued conversions of the arcade game for platforms including ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, IBM PC compatible systems, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, and Atari ST in 1989. These computer adaptations were created by Binary Design, who also handled ports of the initial title. In 2013, the assembly source code for the DOS version was made publicly available via the Internet Archive.

The Mega Drive iteration was launched exclusively in Japan by Palsoft on December 20, 1991. Unlike the NES adaptation, this version is a faithful arcade port featuring identical levels, movesets, weapons, and nearly all enemy characters except Jeff. Mission 2 was expanded with increased complexity. Character sprites were redesigned to be smaller and less vibrant compared to both the arcade original and Accolade’s Genesis port of Double Dragon. When using a 6-button controller’s directional pad, minor input lag can be experienced.

An unrelated Double Dragon II title for the Game Boy was released in North America and Europe in 1991. Originally part of the Japanese Kunio-kun series from 1990, it was modified with new visuals, soundtrack, and plotlines for Western audiences.

In 2013, Double Dragon II was reissued within the Double Dragon Trilogy compilation by DotEmu, available on iOS, Android, and Steam.

Reception

In April 1989, Game Machine listed Double Dragon II: The Revenge as the seventh highest-grossing table arcade game in Japan. Early in 1990, the title climbed to the third position on the Atari ST sales rankings in the United Kingdom. By 2013, Arcade Sushi recognized it as the ninth greatest retro beat 'em up, emphasizing its lasting popularity among gamers.

Legacy

Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons, a beat 'em up inspired by the original arcade Double Dragon II: The Revenge, was created by the Korean developer GRAVITY and distributed by Barunson Creative Co. Ltd. Although first revealed in 2011, its launch was postponed for two years, eventually arriving on April 5, 2013, as a digital release on Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Arcade. The title was met with overwhelmingly negative criticism and is widely regarded as one of the poorest-quality games ever produced.