- For the original arcade game, see Double Dragon II: The Revenge.
- For other uses, see Double Dragon II (disambiguation).
Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons is a side-scrolling 3D beat-'em-up video game based on both the arcade and NES versions of Double Dragon II: The Revenge, developed by Korean game studio GRAVITY and published by Barunson Creative Co. Ltd for Xbox Live Arcade. The title was first announced in 2011,[1] but was shelved for release for two years. It was eventually released on April 5, 2013 as a digital download on the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade service.[2]
As of August 17, 2023,[3] Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons will be removed along with the closure of the Xbox 360 Marketplace in July 29, 2024.[4]
The remake was followed up in January 29, 2017 with the release of Double Dragon IV.
Plot[]
Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons follows the same plot as the original game, although it adds some new elements to the story, including new events and bosses now having more prominent roles.
The game starts with a raid by the Black Warriors criminal syndicate on the Sou-Setsu-Ken dojo, owned by twin brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee. While they're absent, Marian (controlled by the player during the tutorial), Billy's girlfriend and instructor at the dojo, is left with no other option than to try to fend off the attack by herself. She manages to keep the attackers at bay for a while, but eventually their leader, Willy, a criminal ganglord who has a grudge against the brothers from a previous defeat, brutally shoots her to death.
Having returned to the dojo and seeing what had transpired in their absence, the Lee brothers embark on a quest for revenge against Willy and his gang by taking it to the streets and beating down any Black Warriors that dare to stand in their way.
After having encounters in several locations (which include a final showdown with Jeff, an old rival), they eventually reach Willy's hideout and take him down. A mysterious dark spirit taking on their image attacks them afterward, but they're able to subdue it as well.
Gameplay[]
The object of the game is to defeat waves of enemies until the current area's quota has been fulfilled, and then advance some more through the level and repeat the process until reaching the end area boss, which usually requires a special procedure in order to be defeated. Stages oftentimes contain quick-time-event minigames which the player must successfully complete in order to proceed further.
Gameplay is similar to other games of the genre, but unlike most beat 'em ups, the player can face in any direction instead of the usual always right or left that doesn't change when moving up or down. Whenever the player is surrounded by enemies, instead of just being able to move out of the way, the player character will first perform a small quick-step in that direction and then start moving.
The game also features a power bar that allows the player to perform special moves and which depletes a determined amount each time one of them is used (the meter refills itself over time). "Dragon Statues" can be encountered hidden inside environmental objects, such as barrels and crates. These statues will keep changing colors and give the player a specific "special dragon skill" depending on the color it had when picked up, as well as refill their health bar. Other power-ups, such as health kits, can be encountered as well.
In order to be awarded the good ending, players have to refrain themselves from performing any special moves throughout the course of the entire game (even in the tutorial).
The game also counts with a versus mode where players can go on one-on-one matches by selecting among four available fighters: Billy, Jimmy, Marian and Jeff.
Development[]
Siliconera cited the emergence of Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons on June 23, 2011 when Germany’s USK rated the game for Xbox 360.[5]
In courtesy of Korean developer Gravity Co, Ltd. and publisher Barunson Creative Co. Ltd., Wander of the Dragons for Xbox Live Arcade was reported by Co-Optimus on July 26, 2011,[1] showing off the new stylized look of the graphics, gameplay, modes, and stages that mixes both old and new elements.[6] The game was originally tracked to launch in September of that year at a cost of 1200 Microsoft Points ($15),[7] but the release date ultimately got pushed back.
On March 7, 2013, eighteen months after its first announcement, Wander of the Dragons achievements were listed on Xbox 360 Achievements that reaffirmed its due for a 2013 release.[8] On the 26th that same month, Microsoft's Major Nelson confirmed the game's April 5 launch date.[2]
Credits[]
Barunson Creative[]
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Gravity[]
Million[]
GungHo Online Entertainment[]
Neocyon[]
Double Dragon II Arranged Soundtrack[]
Sound Work[]
Microsoft APAC[]
Special Thanks[]
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Reception[]
Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons received extremely negative reviews, with a score of 18.12% on Gamerankings and a score of 17 on Metacritic.[9] It is currently the lowest scoring Xbox 360 game on Metacritic and the sixth lowest game on all platforms. GamesRadar ranked it as the 42nd worst game ever made. The staff compared it unfavorably to the previous Double Dragon Neon.
Bryan Vore was one of the first to post a critique of Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons for Game Informer on April 6, 2013, rating the game with a low 3 points out of 10. Vore criticized the conceptional reinterpretation of the original arcade for it's bland character models, gross environment texture, remixed tunes, and the sloppy 8-way fighting method.[10] Three days later, The Financial Post published their review with a score of 2.0 out of 10, with Chad Sapieha calling out the remake's inept storytelling, stiff controls, inefficient movements, and technical issues that affected the game's performance.[11] Dave Rudden from Official XBox Magazine gave a 2.5 of 10 rating on April 12, lambasting the game for its bland visuals, minimal audio, awful framerate, clunky combat, and poorly designed stages.[12]
On April 15, Metro.co.uk rated Wander of the Dragons with only 1 point out of 10 for its ugly art design, horrible movements, broken mechanics, and technical bugs. In his conclusion, David Jenkins wrote, "It’s often said that no game can ever be considered perfect, but this comes close in that absolutely every element is as bad as it can possibly be. We’re not sure how to celebrate that really, except to say that video games now how have a new standard for quality – and a new bottom of the barrel."[13] Hardcore Gamer's Nikola Suprak shared a simular judgment with a score of 1 of 5, stating that, "This is a broken, glitchy, ugly, poorly designed mess and nobody on staff should ever be allowed to work on another game ever again. Hell, nobody on staff should even be allowed to play another game ever again, because this is absolutely the worst game I've played in years."[14]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- One of the most criticized aspects of the game is that in order to be awarded the good ending, the player is not allowed to perform any special moves throughout the course of the entire game, even in the tutorial, where the game explicitly teaches and encourages the player to use them, unknowingly assuring them to obtain the bad ending from the beginning.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "3D Double Dragon II Remake Coming to XBLA as Wander of the Dragons" by Paul Acevedo at Co-Optimus (July 26, 2011)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Double Dragon 2: Wander of the Dragons launching April 5 on XBLA, Xbox Live Spring Sale begins today" by Samit Sarkar at Polygon (March 26, 2013)
- ↑ "Official: The Xbox 360 Marketplace to close in July 2024" by n64ra at Delisted Games (August 17, 2023)
- ↑ "Xbox 360 Marketplace Resources" by n64ra at Delisted Games (December 11, 2023)
- ↑ "Double Dragon II: Wanderer Of The Dragons Cyclone Kicking Xbox 360" by Siliconera Staff at Siliconera (June 23, 2011)
- ↑ "Double Dragon II Remake Coming to XBLA" by Daemon Hatfield at IGN (July 26, 2011)
- ↑ "Double Dragon II Remake Coming To XBLA" by Matt Miller at Game Informer (July 26, 2011)
- ↑ "Double Dragon 2 remake achievements suggest upcoming, belated release" by Sinan Kubba at Engadget (March 7, 2013)
- ↑ Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons at Metacritic
- ↑ "Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons Review" by Bryan Vore on Game Informer (April 6, 2013)
- ↑ "The Double Dragon II remake is so bad you shouldn't even waste time reading this review" by Chad Sapieha at Financial Post (April 9, 2013)
- ↑ "Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons review" by Dave Rudden at Official XBox Magazine] (April 12, 2013) (Archived: April 12, 2013)
- ↑ "Double Dragon II: Wander Of The Dragons review – worst game ever" by David Jenkins at Metro.co.uk (April 15, 2013)
- ↑ "Review: Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons" by Nikola Suprak at Hardcore Gamer (April 19, 2013)
External links[]
- Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons at Xbox 360 Marketplace
- Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons at GameFAQs
- Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons at Hardcore Gaming 101
- Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons at MobyGames
| Double Dragon II: The Revenge | |
|---|---|
| Versions | Arcade • NES |
| Characters | Billy Lee • Jimmy Lee • Marian |
| Bosses | Arcade: Burnov • Abore • Chin Taimei • Willy • Double Illusion NES: Burnov • Bolo • Ninja • Abore • Double Illusion • Mysterious Warrior |
| Enemies | Williams • Roper • Linda • Right Arm • Ninja • Bolo • Abore • Chin Taimei • Jeff |
| More | Soundtrack • Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons |