Double Dragon

Released by Technos Japan in 1988, *Double Dragon* is a landmark side-scrolling fighting action game that carries on the lineage of *Renegade* (Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun) while introducing a sense of depth to the field. Its use of an 8-way joystick and three buttons to execute a wide variety of moves shocked players of the time and earned the title widespread popularity. While the frequent reliance on the overwhelmingly powerful elbow strike is a playful quirk of its design, the game remains timelessly compelling thanks to its rich array of special techniques. Please note that certain arcade-era quirks—such as the graphical displays during enemy grapple attacks, the behavior of boss background music, and specific sound effects—have been preserved as historical artifacts of the original hardware.

Set in a desolate near-future city, this side-scrolling action game follows the martial artist Lee brothers. The story begins when Marian, the girlfriend of the younger brother, Billy, is kidnapped by an armed organization known as the "Black Warriors." To rescue her, Billy and Jimmy venture into a city ruled by violence and wage war against the criminal organization.