Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

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BY VI RG I N/MAS-
TE RTRON IC
L ast released year VirginiMastertronic
conversions of Technos
highly popular coin-op.
Double Dragon. and although
they sold well, all versions were
disappointing This Christmas
sees the same company releasing
conversions of the sequel to
Double Dragon, the imaginatively-called
Double Dragon II
If you don't already know.
Double Dragon 11 is a horizontally
scrolling beat 'em up in
which one or two players get
the chance to walk into the
wrong side of town and do
battle with anyone they fond
there The reason for all this violence
is simple a group of baddies
has once again kidnapped
y our girlfriend (didn't they get
the message last time'). so you
(and a mate if he's not busy
have to go and rescue her
The backdrops are suitably
seedy as the heroes begin their
50
0 LE
RAGON
quest, and within seconds the
first gang members leap out
from nowhere and attack These
are a pretty motley crew ranging
from cartwheeling martial
arts experts and whip-wielding
dominames to nine-foot giants
All attempt to hit the heroes and
wear down their energy bars - if
this happens three times, their
quest is over
Fortunately the heroes can
give as good as they get, and
have a range of kicks and punches
which can be used to good
effect They can also pick up and
use items dropped by baddies
such as whips, knives, baseball
bats and large boxes
At the end of each level is a
7a 1
'
very large bad guy who must be
overcome before the heroes
can continue, and at the end of
the very last level is the boss -
luck his head in and true love
can finally prevail
While Double Dragon II is basically
very similar to Double
Dragon, the ST conversion is far
better than last year's effort,
The graphics are almost identical
to the coin-op. and the gameplay
is very faithfuL The twoplayer
mode works very well,
adding more fun to the proceedings.
and the game is challenging
and addictive It's a shame VirgintMastertronic
didn't get It
right last year, but at last there's
now a decent computer Double
Dragon game that beat 'em up
fans will genuinely envoy,
JULIAN RIGNALL
UPDATE
Amiga-owning Double Dragon
IS fans will be pleased
to hear that the version for
their machine will feature
even better graphics and
sound than the ST version.
We've seen absolutely nothing
on the 8 bit versions, so
check 'em out before
buying.
ST £ 1 9 . 9 9
GRAPHICS 8 I cl/o
SOUND 7 2 %
VALUE 76c
1
/o 2
1
-fans
should relish.
i
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. k
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ZA
dB
fI
An accurate conversion of
the popular arcade combat
game which beat 'em up
OVERALL 80%