Only when the Black Warrior base is reached is there a cut to inside, before the final battle begins. Time bonuses are awarded and health topped up after each section, but the factory is accessed from the streets which leads out into the woodland area that then takes you to the cliffs. Those ports also split into distinct levels (a typical approach within the genre), but here each area flows in to the next. These locations also featured in the NES and Game Boy ports, but the more powerful arcade hardware naturally leads to more detail and colour. Your rescue mission begins in the streets, but takes in the sights of a factory, a woodland area and cliffs before entering the final base. As the game progresses four enemies being on screen is a more frequent occurrence, leading to an increase in slow-motion fights as you get nearer the end, lessening your enjoyment.

It's extremely off-putting when the game speeds back up again as foes are dispatched it's disorientating and can lead to mistakes being made. More powerful members of the gang also show up as you progress, including one with similar moves to your own and hulking brute Abobo who will grab and throw you if you are not careful.Ĭombat is generally entertaining, but there is a big problem with slowdown, with performance dropping should three enemies appear on screen (and things slowing to a crawl should a fourth enter the fray). Get stuck between two thugs and you can quickly find your energy depleted as they take turns to give you a kicking. There’s never more than four enemies on screen, but often there is limited space in which to manoeuvre, making combat tricky as you go to attack one foe, while avoiding the others. These combinations are helpfully mapped to Switch’s Z buttons allowing you to perform them with ease. Pressing kick and jump when grounded will perform a spinning kick, or should you opt for punch and jump, your Lee brother will throw an elbow behind him to take out a would-be attacker.

A jump button is also present, enabling you to perform a jumping kick, but it is also used for two other moves. There’s a button to punch and one to kick and should you get close to the criminal types you can knee them in the face or throw them. Apart from weapons and objects, Billy and Jimmy have their fighting skills to draw on in their battle against the gang members.

Double dragon 3 review