Billy and Jimmy Lee are making a return in the upcoming Double Dragon title, Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, as revealed by Modus Games, and will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC, this summer.
Interestingly enough, this updated take of the beloved Dragon Dragon series is being handled by the indie studio Secret Base, which also happens to be the same developer behind the super violent but enjoyable beat ’em up Streets of Red.
However, Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons won’t be a straight beat ’em up and includes roguelite elements, such as earning money to unlock character upgrades and a dynamic mission select function that will influence your mission length, enemy count, and difficulty.
New York City in the year 199X: the city has been devastated by nuclear war. Its citizens fight for survival as riots, crime, and chaos flood the streets. Criminal gangs terrorize what remains as they vie for dominance. Unwilling to endure these conditions any longer, young Billy and Jimmy Lee take it upon themselves to reclaim their city.
Double Dragon brothers won’t be fighting alone, as they’ll be joined by long-time girlfriend Marian and a newcomer Uncle Matin who wields a riot shield. Players will be able to tag in and out during gameplay. With a two-player local co-op mode, the action quadruples as you and a friend clean up the mean streets.
To be honest, I was hoping that Lizardcube and Dotemu would tackle the Double Dragon games after their amazing Streets of Rage 4 and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge titles. But seeing what Secret Base has in store, I’m looking forward to kicking some butt with Bimmy and Jimmy Lee (those who know, know) when Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons releases this Summer 2023.
