- Critics and fans are panning Double Dragon Revive as a step backward for the historic franchise.
- The beat-’em-ups’ 3D characters and lacklustre environments are getting a poor reception from fans.
- Overall, the game has failed to revive the franchise and subjected it to further notoriety.
In 2025, the gaming industry is one of the most valuable media ecosystems on the planet, even if the sector has slowed down a little after exponential growth. And the medium would never have reached these heights without arcade gaming popularising it in the ’80s.
Titles like Final Fight and Double Dragon were at the top of the food chain during this golden age. However, in the decades that have passed, both of these IPs have become shadows of their former selves, and Double Dragon has proved that once again with an attempted revival.
Why it matters: A legendary fighting title like Double Dragon deserves a better development team that understands its soul.
Double Dragon Revive, a new side-scrolling beat ’em up developed by Yuke’s, is being panned by critics across the board, only scoring a 33% on OpenCritic. Criticism is aimed at the game’s lackluster 3D models, which depart from the series’ usual 2D art style.
Furthermore, the uninspiring environments of Double Dragon Revive are also a contributing factor, bringing the overall experience down several folds when combined with the mediocre 3D design.
Some critics were even more scathing, saying that the title feels less like a revival and more like Arc System Works exhuming the rotting corpse of the historic series. Fans also expressed frustration with the series going backwards after Double Dragon: Rise of the Dragons gave players some hope.
Despite all the negative reviews, some parts of Double Dragon Revive received tame praise. Critics especially liked the game’s combat system, saying it could be employed in the future. However, the attempted revival has fallen flat overall, and the historic beat-’em-up is going to be relegated to notoriety once again.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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