Double Dragon Revive has no respect for the original series, former developers say 

Ahead of Tokyo Game Show 2024, Arc System Works released a new trailer and in-game screenshots of their upcoming belt-scroll fighting game Double Dragon Revive. The new take on the longstanding Double Dragon series boasts modern graphics and detailed 3D models, but it seems that the beat ‘em up franchise’s original creators aren’t so happy with how the “revival” is looking so far. 

The original Double Dragon games were created by Technos Japan, a studio that went defunct back in 1996.  As of June 2015, Arc System Works acquired the rights to Technos Japan’s IPs with the intention to bring back their popular series. The upcoming Double Dragon Revive is being developed by WWE game developer Yuke’s. 

Unfortunately, it seems like the guys from Technos Japan aren’t on board with the project. On September 20, Double Dragon and Kunio-kun series artists Koji Ogata posted the following tweet on his personal X account: 

“I’ll be honest! No one from Technos acknowledges this as a Double Dragon game.” 

Ogata says this in response to a post linking to the trailer of Double Dragon Revive. Furthermore, in response to a commenter, he calls the upcoming title “a cheap, modern game that shows no respect for Double Dragon.” 

In a later post, the designer provides screenshots of a private conversation with the caption, “These are Mr. Ebinuma’s honest impressions of Revive.” By Ebinuma, he is referring to Muneki Ebinuma, Technos Japan’s game designer credited with directing many Double Dragon entries.  

Based on the screenshots posted by Ogata, Ebinuma does not have much nice to say about Double Dragon Revive either. He criticizes things like the screen being too dark, characters and abilities not being presented in an appealing way, effects being too obstructive, and hits feeling “lukewarm” and lacking impact. Aside from technical points, Ebinuma comments that Revive lacks the flair of violence, Bruce-Lee-ness and martial arts the original Double Dragon games had, and that he doesn’t want “this poor piece of work to bear the name of the series.”