Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Double Dragon EX delivers a classic beat ’em up experience that stays true to its arcade roots while introducing a few modern twists. You’ll step into the shoes of either Billy or Jimmy Lee, each sporting the same move set but offering subtle differences in speed and strength. The controls are refreshingly deep for a mobile title: you have a directional pad for movement plus dedicated buttons for punch, kick, jump, elbow, head butt, guard, squat, throw, knee, and two types of seated and aerial attacks.

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The combo system encourages experimentation, allowing you to link certain actions into two-chain or three-chain combos that can clear groups of enemies in seconds. Grabbing weapons like knives and bats or tossing barrels adds another layer of strategy—do you disarm foes quickly or conserve health by staying mobile? Timing is key, especially in tight spots where a well-placed elbow or head butt can turn the tide against hordes of the Black Shadow Warriors.

One of EX’s standout features is its time-limited levels. Each stage gives you a ticking clock that raises the stakes, pushing you to balance speed with survival. You’ll sprint through familiar city backdrops fighting waves of enemies, leap over minor platforming sections, and face a formidable boss at the end of each level. This pacing keeps the action brisk and prevents the game from feeling repetitive, even as you revisit familiar locales from previous Double Dragon releases.

With three selectable difficulty levels and an option to tweak game speed, Double Dragon EX caters to both newcomers and seasoned veterans. Beginners can take it slow, learn enemy patterns, and master combos, while hardcore fans can crank up the speed and difficulty for a true arcade-style challenge. Whether you’re after a quick playthrough or aiming to clear every level flawlessly, the game’s mechanics feel balanced and rewarding.

Graphics

Visually, Double Dragon EX is a mosaic of sprites and backgrounds borrowed from multiple entries in the franchise. You’ll recognize city streets, scaffolding, and warehouse interiors originally crafted for the NES and SNES releases, now remixed for sharper displays on modern mobile devices. The result is a nostalgic collage that pays homage to Super Double Dragon, Double Dragon II: The Revenge, and even snippets from the GBA port.

The character animations are fluid and expressive, capturing the punchy, exaggerated motions that fans love. Billy and Jimmy each have a distinctive stance and set of attack animations, and enemies like the iconic Hammer Brothers and Bolo Fighters feel faithful to their original designs. Boss sprites are a standout—scaled up and detailed to emphasize their menace as you approach the final showdown in each level.

Backgrounds mix vibrant neon signage with gritty, run-down urban landscapes, effectively conveying a city in the grip of criminal gangs. While the art occasionally shows its retro origin with blocky tiles or limited color palettes, the developers have enhanced contrast and smoothing filters to give everything a polished look without losing charm. Special effects—flashes on hits, flying debris, and weapon trails—add just enough modern flair to keep the visuals from feeling dated.

Even on smaller screens, the graphics remain clear and readable, which is crucial for a game that relies on split-second timing. Enemies never blend into the backdrop, and interactive objects like knives or barrels glow subtly to grab your attention. Overall, EX’s graphics strike a satisfying balance between honoring the series’ history and offering a spruced-up presentation for today’s mobile audience.

Story

Double Dragon EX follows a straightforward, time-honored plot: Marian, Billy’s fiancée, has been kidnapped by the nefarious Black Shadow Warriors. The criminal gang has taken over New York City, and it’s up to the Lee brothers to fight through alleyways, rooftops, and abandoned factories to bring her back. While the narrative stakes are simple, they serve as a perfect backdrop for non-stop brawling.

What the story lacks in complexity, it makes up for in classic ’80s charm. Each level opening features a brief text crawl or comic-style panel that sets the scene, reminding you of the stakes before launching you into the action. There are no lengthy cutscenes here—just punch, kick, and guard your way through waves of enemies, with the promise of rescuing Marian providing just enough motivation.

The roster of enemy characters reads like a greatest hits collection from past Double Dragon games. Familiar faces like the Hammer Brothers and Dialogue-Less Bosses pop up throughout the journey, each with their own attack patterns to learn. This cross-pollination of villains from different entries gives purists a sense of recognition while still challenging newcomers to adapt to diverse fighting styles.

Despite its brevity, the story arc feels satisfying. Every boss victory is accompanied by a brief visual payoff—Marian getting one step closer to freedom, the cityscape inching back toward normalcy, and the Lee brothers growing ever closer to their final confrontation. It’s the perfect setup to keep players engaged across the game’s three time-crunch levels.

Overall Experience

Double Dragon EX is a love letter to beat ’em up aficionados, marrying the best elements of multiple franchise entries into one compact mobile package. It’s designed for pick-up-and-play sessions, yet it offers enough depth to reward dedicated coin-op veterans who want to master every combo and speed-run every stage. The adjustable speed and difficulty settings ensure that both casual and hardcore players find their sweet spot.

The sound design enhances the overall experience with punchy sound effects—bone-crunching punches, weapon swings, and explosive barrel throws. The soundtrack reinterprets classic Double Dragon tunes, blending familiar melodies with updated audio fidelity. The result is a nostalgia-driven audio backdrop that never overstays its welcome.

Control responsiveness is excellent, even on touch screens. The virtual pads are well-spaced and customizable, minimizing the risk of misfires during heated sequences. Transitioning between normal stages and boss fights feels seamless, and the occasional platforming section, though minor, adds variety to the straight-forward brawling formula.

For gamers seeking a portable dose of retro action, Double Dragon EX delivers an engaging, polished package. It may not reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t need to—its blend of classic content, modern tweaks, and adjustable settings make it a strong recommendation for anyone craving a quality beat ’em up on the go. If you’ve ever dreamed of laying waste to the Black Shadow Warriors with a friend—or your own two thumbs—EX is well worth the journey.

Retro Replay Score

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