Who actually plays these games?

[Verde_]

A few days ago I was wandering in a shop near my house and I saw a copy of Double Dragon Revive.
I've never liked Double Dragon, but I searched for it online and it just looks like a boring revival of an old franchise (definitely not worth its 30$).
These games always looked dumb to me, and I don't get who's seriously playing them. Old fans?

 

[DayBreak_Illusion]

Me. I like the beat 'em up genre. Its fun, turn your brain off kind of game or play with friends. Double Dragon Neon is also another DD game I enjoyed a lot, primarily the music is great.

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

I tend not to buy revives/remakes unless there's some really good reasons for it (i.e adding quality-of-life features or some massively revamped gameplay).

 

[BrawlMan]

A few days ago I was wandering in a shop near my house and I saw a copy of Double Dragon Revive.
I've never liked Double Dragon, but I searched for it online and it just looks like a boring revival of an old franchise (definitely not worth its 30$).
These games always looked dumb to me, and I don't get who's seriously playing them. Old fans?

Revive is actually a good game. It has its issues, but it is not "bad" nor boring. There are better didi games, but I find it better than Neon. Though if you only wanna pick one, then DD Gaiden should more than suffice. That game still gets updates today, and it came out three years ago.

If you can get Revive for twenty dollars or less than go for it. To me, it was worth getting the physical version deluxe version with extra features.

Like @DayBreak_Illusion said, i am a huge brawler fan as well. We need more 3d game brawlers like Revive and Rushing Beat X to stand out from the crowd. You're awesome speaking to a huge Double Dragon fan here.

Revive is a 7/10 game made at a decent budget, and we can use more of these type of games.

 

[SpcDaicon]

Usually people who grew up with those, yes.

Nostalgia sells and usually those games are on the cheap side, so people buy it, play for a month and forget it.

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

Maybe beat em ups aren't your type of game?

 

[fRikimaru]

A few days ago I was wandering in a shop near my house and I saw a copy of Double Dragon Revive.
I've never liked Double Dragon, but I searched for it online and it just looks like a boring revival of an old franchise (definitely not worth its 30$).
These games always looked dumb to me, and I don't get who's seriously playing them. Old fans?

Most of those new versions of classics are not good at all in my opinion. Shredder's Revenge, Double Dragon Gaiden... They are not even near to the originals. The only new game that I liked quite a lot was Streets of Rage 4.

 

[Verde_]

Maybe beat em ups aren't your type of game?

I like beat 'em ups , despite being a total noob. It's about that revival thing, in every game genre. I don't get it, especially since most of them don't seem to be that good.

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

I like beat 'em ups , despite being a total noob. It's about that revival thing, in every game genre. I don't get it, especially since most of them don't seem to be that good.

Yeah, some are trash but i guess that some others are good i guess, not really play these games.

 

[BrawlMan]

Most of those new versions of classics are not good at all in my opinion. Shredder's Revenge, Double Dragon Gaiden... They are not even near to the originals.

Because they're all better than the original arcade versions could ever be. Shredder's Revenge is pretty much the SNES Turtles in Time, but even more awesome, that it makes the port and the arcade original look even more simplistic by comparison. The sales and the reception from all across the board say otherwise. Also, another game that got even better improvements with the updates and got more than two years worth of updates. Again similar case to DDG, but it still gets updates today and new characters.

DD Advance is better than any of the arcade versions of the original DD. Even the NES ports are better than their arcade counterparts, but I don't like DD III in general.

 

[Verde_]

Me. I like the beat 'em up genre. Its fun, turn your brain off kind of game or play with friends. Double Dragon Neon is also another DD game I enjoyed a lot, primarily the music is great.

Revive is actually a good game. It has its issues, but it is not "bad" nor boring. There are better didi games, but I find it better than Neon. Though if you only wanna pick one, then DD Gaiden should more than suffice. That game still gets updates today, and it came out three years ago.

If you can get Revive for twenty dollars or less than go for it. To me, it was worth getting the physical version deluxe version with extra features.

Like @DayBreak_Illusion said, i am a huge brawler fan as well. We need more 3d game brawlers like Revive and Rushing Beat X to stand out from the crowd. You're awesome speaking to a huge Double Dragon fan here.

Revive is a 7/10 game made at a decent budget, and we can use more of these type of games.

I get what you mean. It's kind of the same for me with the original Doom. It's my favourite game and I've played lots of mods. Most people would just assume they suck but as a fan I'll always think they are good in some way.
The main thing I don't get is the price. Why should I spend 30 bucks when I can just play the originals for free?
Anyway, thx for answering :)

 

[BrawlMan]

The main thing I don't get is the price. Why should I spend 30 bucks when I can just play the originals for free?

Because they're actually new games and not remakes in terms of gameplay, If we're talking Double Dragon. You don't have to pay for these; just wait for a sale. Gaiden usually goes on sale for pretty cheap at $9. Though it's $20 new digital, and $25 physical when it released. With all the content and extra characters that have come out for free, it's worth it at those prices, or even less. People wanted and crying about wanting cheap games with high replay value and, a great game play loop and not spend $60-$70+. Congratulations, your wish has been granted. Also, as much as I love the classics I can't keep playing them over and over again. That's why i'm happy to be a Double Dragon fan and see games come out on a more consistent basis, and not wait 5+ years.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

Beat em ups are one of my favorite genres of all time, been playing them my entire life.
Never was a fan of Double Dragon, too jank for me, but Neon was kind of ok Jank and we'll see if Revive is any good.

As long as a beat em up keeps it simple and doesn't ruin the formula with mandatory combos and such like Fight 'n Rage did, it has potential for me to love it a lot if the atmosphere, visuals and movement/fighting is good.

 

[BrawlMan]

Beat em ups are one of my favorite genres of all time, been playing them my entire life.
Never was a fan of Double Dragon, too jank for me, but Neon was kind of ok Jank and we'll see if Revive is any good.

Neon really doesn't have that much jank and is slightly more polished than Revive. I still prefer Gaiden and Revive due to having much better combat, and not constantly having to pause the screen to switch stances. Neon's other flaw ain't exactly its own fault, but it's really lacking in content, aside from doing the harder difficulties. This was a XBLA game.

 

[fRikimaru]

Because they're all better than the original arcade versions could ever be. Shredder's Revenge is pretty much the SNES Turtles in Time, but even more awesome, that it makes the port and the arcade original look even more simplistic by comparison. The sales and the reception from all across the board say otherwise. Also, another game that got even better improvements with the updates and got more than two years worth of updates. Again similar case to DDG, but it still gets updates today and new characters.

DD Advance is better than any of the arcade versions of the original DD. Even the NES ports are better than their arcade counterparts, but I don't like DD III in general.

I agree that Double Dragon Advance is the best Double Dragon ever. But not Shredder's Revenge. A game that you can complete the same afternoon you buy it, it is not a classic beat'em up.

 

[shaggi]

I'm not intro remasters and such, so i wouldn't buy that game. If i get it as a gift, i probably play it, because i like beat'em ups in general. Also i played old Double Dragon games, so it's nostalgic for me.

 

[BrawlMan]

game that you can complete the same afternoon you buy it, it is not a classic beat'em up.

Then, you're not as big as a brawler fan as you think, and your sentence is nothing but contradiction on everything. I know difficulty was a big thing for these games back then, but most of these games I can complete in the afternoon. Or hour and a half at best. Most of these brawlers that come out from indie teams can be beaten within a day or two hours. It's a matter of if the gameplay loop is fun and the extra bonus content. Shredder's Revenge trumps TMNT IV. Both can be beaten in an afternoon. Only difference being is that the super nintendo port is one hour less depending on skill level. BTW, you can beat Streets of Rage 4 within 1 hour depending on skill level and what difficulty you're playing. I did an arcade run on very hard and I beat the game within an 1 hour and 10 minutes, but I have about over 700 hours total in the game. I don't eat my brawler games to be over seventy something hours of levels. I'm a champion of short games that play good and have good game play loops. Not nrawlers, nor games in general that drag themselves way past after the twenty five hour mark. Also these games ain't $70+, so it was money well spent in my and most others' opinion. Also, your repeat playthroughs are gonna be shorter than your first play through. That's how it is for most games general, and is not an inherent net negative.

Shredder's Revenge I got about 50 hours on.

Fine, you have a personal preferences, but if you're hating just because (supposedly) short playtime, then you might as well just hate on any classic brawler that was just a short or even shorter. Difficulty or not. Lots of those games were only made.So difficult, so you could buy them instead of renting them. These modern brawler games are still challenging, but are challenging for the right reasons.

Games like SR, TheTakeover, SOR4, DDG & DDA, etc I will be coming back to far more often than a majority of their original counterparts, or previous entries.

Edit: also, those classic brawlers costed way more at the starting price than most of these modern brawlers. Cartridges were expensive and you were paying at least between $60-$80 at the start. Golden Axe costed $79.99 when it first launched on the Genesis. A game that can be beaten in half an hour.

 

[Badseed Badseed]

A few days ago I was wandering in a shop near my house and I saw a copy of Double Dragon Revive.
I've never liked Double Dragon, but I searched for it online and it just looks like a boring revival of an old franchise (definitely not worth its 30$).
These games always looked dumb to me, and I don't get who's seriously playing them. Old fans?

Did some digging and found out according to Steam:
Double Dragon Revive had an all-time peak of 95 concurrent players on 22 October 2025.
So if we assume this one game illustrates a trend in it's particular "genre" the
answer to your question is NO ONE.

 

[BrawlMan]

we assume this one game illustrates a trend in it's particular "genre" the
answer to your question is NO ONE.

95 is "no one". People are playing just not the entire population of areas. Also, people still be playing SOR4 and Shredder's Revenge. Cosmic Invasion is a thing as well. We got the TakeOver 2 coming out this September.

 

[zombie100379]

not played revive but i did enjoy gaiden a lot

 

[Badseed Badseed]

@BrawlMan
I was just using the OPs game as an example. and I said "IF trends".

I got it for us brother, let's go back to 1989...

I'll be Mr. Perfect because well... just look at me,
You are The Professor. I'll bust in and tell everyone
what's up, then you come in and drop the knowledge.
Perfect RGT tag team. We'll fix the skin color in post.

 

[BrawlMan]

@BrawlMan
I was just using the OPs game as an example. and I said "IF trends".

I got it for us brother, let's go back to 1989...

View attachment 187213

I'll be Mr. Perfect because well... just look at me,
You are The Professor. I'll bust in and tell everyone
what's up, then you come in and drop the knowledge.
Perfect RGT tag team. We'll fix the skin color in post.

I just really motivated about this topic right now.

 

[Badseed Badseed]

@BrawlMan
F**K YEA!!! brother I love your enthusiasm and style.
Like Tyler Durden said

"Oh I get it, it's very clever. Keep it up, keep it right up."

 

[Fietto!]

I like beat 'em ups , despite being a total noob. It's about that revival thing, in every game genre. I don't get it, especially since most of them don't seem to be that good.

You should’ve started the thread like that!

But I also agree about revivals. They’re coin flips. But hey. At least most of em are unique. & usually separate from the typical remakes.

Plus let’s mention about you not liking a classic. You wouldn’t know if you like the revival more unless you give it a go.
That’s usually how these games attract new fans that way.

 

[Mileena]

I agree that Double Dragon Advance is the best Double Dragon ever. But not Shredder's Revenge. A game that you can complete the same afternoon you buy it, it is not a classic beat'em up.

?

The classics can all be beat the same afternoon you buy it, so they’re not classic beat ‘em ups now lol?