Double Dragon

A controversial port of the arcade brawler. It’s missing some moves and features, but still delivers that gritty beat-em-up satisfaction.

Double Dragon on C64 is a mixed bag that has aged into a cult favorite. It’s famously… 'unique.' The sprite work is actually quite good, with large, chunky characters that look the part. However, the background scrolling is absent (screens flip), and there's a distinct lack of weapons compared to the arcade.

Yet, it has a charm. The hit detection is crunchy. The notorious gap between the arcade and this version is a piece of history in itself. It’s a slower, more deliberate brawler where spacing matters more than combos. It might not be the arcade perfect port fans wanted in the 80s, but it’s a solid 8-bit fighter that captures the gritty aesthetic of the original.