Tradewest's NES version of Double Dragon came out in North America in June 1988, by Nintendo of America's list of NES games. double-dragon-history/release-nes-na
PublisherNES Games (Nintendo of America release list) · PDF p. 4 — the row reads Tradewest, June 1988; the next row is Double Dragon II: The RevengeDouble DragonChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Double Dragon
At the January 1988 Consumer Electronics Show, Tradewest, one of eight companies newly made Nintendo licensees there, announced that it would bring Double Dragon, which Computer Entertainer called an extremely popular martial arts arcade hit, to the NES at $44.95. double-dragon-history/ces-announcement
MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 6, no. 10 (January 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Makes Big Impression at CES, TradeWest — read on the page image; the text layer reads "extremely po martial arts"extremely popular martial arts arcade hit, DOUBLE DRAGON ($44.95), to the NES.Computer Entertainer, vol. 6, no. 10 (January 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Makes Big Impression at CES, The LicenseesThere are now 23 Nintendo licensees, with eight added at the time of the January CES.Computer Entertainer, vol. 6, no. 10 (January 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Makes Big Impression at CES, The Licensees — the end of the list of licensees just announced; the OCR splits TradeWest in twoTengen, Inc., Trade West, Inc., Ultra Software Corp., and Vic Tokai, Inc.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted "extremely popular", read on the page image.Cited by: Double Dragon
The NES version's manual presents the game as Tradewest's, licensed by Nintendo for the NES; Tradewest gives the warranty. The manual names no developer. double-dragon-history/publisher-nes
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 2Thank you for purchasing Tradewest's DOUBLE DRAGON for your Nintendo Entertainment System.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 2This game is licensed by Nintendo for play on theDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · Limited WarrantyTradewest, Inc. warrants to the original purchaser of this Tradewest software productChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The manual's pages are the story, controls, moves, levels, stages, cast and weapons, then the FCC notice and the warranty; none credits a developer or mentions the arcade game.
Cited by: Double Dragon
Computer Entertainer's July 1988 review put the NES game among the most eagerly awaited NES titles of 1988, largely because the coin-op had been so popular in the arcades. double-dragon-history/arcade-origin
MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Softwaremost eagerly awaited titles of 1988 for the Nintendo System, largely due to the coin-op's tremendous popularity in the arcades.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.In the NES manual's story, Billy and Jimmy Lee are twin brothers who learned to fight on the city's streets. Billy's girlfriend, Marian, is kidnapped by the Black Warriors, the street gang of the mysterious Shadow Boss, and Billy pursues the gang through the slums, factories, and wooded outskirts of the city to the hideout, where the Shadow Boss turns out to be his brother Jimmy. double-dragon-history/story
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 4, The Double Dragon Storytwin brothers who learned to fight on the cold, tough streets of the cityDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 4, The Double Dragon Storyhis girlfriend, Marian, has been kidnapped by the Black Warriors, the savage street gang of the mysterious Shadow Boss!Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 4, The Double Dragon Storywooded outskirts of the city to reach the hideout for his final confrontation with the Shadow Boss . .. his brother Jimmy!Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 11, Cast of CharactersBilly's twin brother, he is secretly the Shadow BossChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The manual gives the twist away itself, on the story page and in the cast list.
Cited by: Double Dragon
The NES game has four stages, the City Slum, the Industrial Area, the Forest, and the Hideout of the Boss. double-dragon-history/stages
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 10, Game StagesThe action in Double Dragon takes place in 4 different stages, or scenes: the City Slum, the Industrial Area, the Forest, and the Hideout of the Boss.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Double Dragon
The NES manual's cast of enemies is Lopar, who throws oil drums; Abobo, the Middle Boss, who throws bombs; Williams, handy with a knife or a bat; Linda, who wields a whip; and Willy, the Big Boss, armed with a machine gun. double-dragon-history/cast
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 11, Cast of Characterslikes to throw oil drumsDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 11, Cast of CharactersMiddle Boss; likes to throw bombsDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 12, Cast of Charactersvery handy with a knife or a batDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 12, Cast of Charactersshe also wields a mean whipDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 12, Cast of CharactersThe Big Boss. Armed with a machine gun, and not afraid to use it.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 11, Cast of CharactersLopar: HeightDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 11, Cast of CharactersAbobo: HeightDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 12, Cast of CharactersWilliams: HeightDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 12, Cast of CharactersLinda: HeightDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 12, Cast of CharactersWilly: HeightRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the characters' names.Cited by: Double Dragon
On the NES, A punches, B kicks, and A and B together jump; pressing left or right twice gives a head butt. The NES manual says these are the Level 1 techniques, and more advanced ones come at higher levels. double-dragon-history/controls
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 5, Controlling the ActionA button: Press to punch.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 5, Controlling the ActionB button: Press to kick.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 5, Controlling the ActionPress A and B simultaneously to jump.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 5, Controlling the ActionPress to the right or left twice to use a Head Butt against your enemies.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 5, Controlling the ActionThe techniques explained above can be used in Level 1. More advanced techniques are available in higher levels.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Double Dragon
The NES manual lists the moves as punch, kick, head butt, jump kick, low kick, uppercut, hair-pull kick, over-shoulder throw, pin attack, and elbow punch; several work only on an enemy who is squatting, held by the hair, or down. double-dragon-history/moves
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 7, Attacking the EnemyUppercut: Press the A button when the enemy is squatting.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 7, Attacking the EnemyWhen the enemy is squatting, approach and pull his hair and press the B button.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 8, Attacking the EnemyOver-Shoulder Throw: Pull the enemy's hair and press the A button.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 8, Attacking the EnemyPin Attack: Approach when the enemy is down.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 8, Attacking the EnemyElbow Punch: Press the Control Pad to the left twice when the enemy is approaching from the left.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 6, Attacking the EnemyPunch: Press the A button.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 6, Attacking the EnemyKick: Press the B button.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 6, Attacking the EnemyHead Butt: Press the Control Pad leftDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 7, Attacking the EnemyJump Kick: Press the A and B buttonsDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 7, Attacking the EnemyLow Kick: Press the B button whenDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 7, Attacking the EnemyHair-Pull Kick: When the enemy isRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted all ten move names.The manual's pages 6 to 8 give ten moves; Computer Entertainer's review counts 11 fighting moves.
Cited by: Double Dragon
The NES game has seven levels of technical skill. Every game starts at Level 1, and the player learns more fighting techniques at each level; in the manual's words, when the score passes 999 a heart mark appears and the player goes up a level. double-dragon-history/levels
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 9, Technical LevelsDouble Dragon has 7 levels of technical skill. Every game starts at Level 1. At each additional level, you learn more fighting techniques.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 9, Technical Levels — the page prints a heart mark next, which the text layer reads as "\7"; the line ends "mark will appear and you will go up 1 level"When your score reaches over 999, aChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Double Dragon
In the NES game a box, rock, oil drum, dynamite stick, or knife is picked up or thrown with A, and A also swings the bat or cracks the whip. double-dragon-history/weapons
ManualDouble Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 13, Your WeaponsTo pick up or throw a box, rock, oil drum, dynamite stick, or knife, press A button.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 13, Your WeaponsTo swing the bat or crack the whip, press A button.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Double Dragon
Unlike the arcade game, Computer Entertainer wrote, the NES version doesn't let the two brothers fight side by side. Its selection screen offers one or two players in Mode A or Mode B: in the standard game two players take turns against the gang, and the head-to-head game sets one player against a computer opponent or two players against each other. Nintendo Power's guide puts the head-to-head games in Mode B, the Arena: alone the player battles the fiercest of the Black Warriors, and two players fight each other. double-dragon-history/modes-nes
MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareUnlike the arcade version, this DOUBLE DRAGON does not permit cooperative play with the two brothers fighting side-by-sideComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareIn the standard two-player game, both players take turns at confronting the gang of bad guys.Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareThe selection screen offers four choices: one or two players in Mode A or Mode BComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Software(Solo, 2-player alternating or 2-player competitive; Pause.)Nintendo Power, issue 1 (July-August 1988) · p. 62 (PDF p. 65), Double Dragon — under "Mode B 2 Players"; the scout read it on the page image, as the pinned OCR of these pages is garbledTest your techniques against a friend in the Arena.Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Softwareoption of head-to-head competition for one player against a computer-controlled opponent or for two players against each otherNintendo Power, issue 1 (July-August 1988) · p. 62 (PDF p. 65), Double Dragon — under "Mode B 1 Player"; the scout read it on the page imageEnter the Arena, and battle the fiercest of the Black Warriors.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted Computer Entertainer's head-to-head sentence whole, not cut at "against a".Cited by: Double Dragon
Computer Entertainer's reviewer complained that the NES manual never mentions the head-to-head mode or explains Mode A and Mode B; the manual's control page says Select chooses between two game modes, one-player against the computer and two-player against another player. double-dragon-history/manual-complaint
MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareThere is not a single reference to the head-to-head mode of the game in the booklet.Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Softwarethe instructions don't mention this and don't ever explain Mode A and Mode B.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 5, Controlling the Action — the manual goes on in the next quoteSelect button: Press to choose between two game modes.Double Dragon (NES) instruction manual · p. 5, Controlling the ActionIn one-player mode, you play against the computer. In two-player mode, you challenge another player.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Restated as the reviewer's complaint about the head-to-head modes, without "only".Cited by: Double Dragon
Computer Entertainer's July 1988 review gave the NES version four stars for graphics and three and a half for game play, out of four, and recommended it. double-dragon-history/ce-score
Value
{
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}p. 10, Nintendo Software — the stars follow the title at the head of this sentence; the OCR reads them as "kx&xx/ xx x1/2", and the scout read four, then three and a half, on the page imagemost eagerly awaited titles of 1988 for the Nintendo SystemComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareRecommended. (MSR $44.95).Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 2, The Rating System — the OCR reads "Ist"1st set of stars=quality of graphics; 2nd set=quality of game play and entertainment valueComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 2, The Rating System4 STARS = EXCELLENTChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Double Dragon
Computer Entertainer called the NES version a very good fighting game with enough variety to hold interest, especially alone and head to head, praised its drawing and animation, and said it outshone its fighting-game competition, Renegade in particular. Players devoted to the arcade game's cooperative mode would not be pleased, it wrote, though it thought few would miss it. double-dragon-history/ce-verdict
MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareDOUBLE DRAGON is a very good fighting game with many challenges and enough variety to keep the player interested, especially in the one-player and head-to-head games.Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Software — continued after the page's folio, "very well animated"the graphics are beautifully drawn andComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Software — the parenthesis closes on "Renegade"DOUBLE DRAGON unquestionably outshines its fighting-game competition (particularly the one-dimensionalComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo Softwarecoin-op fans who are especially devoted to the two-player DOUBLE DRAGON of the arcades that lets them play cooperatively with a friend will not be pleased with this Nintendo version.Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareThe lack of a cooperative mode won't be missed by many playersChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The review is unsigned.
Cited by: Double Dragon
Computer Entertainer's July 1988 review said the NES game was for the Nintendo system only, and that Sega was planning a separate version for its own system. double-dragon-history/sega-version
MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 10, Nintendo SoftwareAvailable for Nintendo System only; separate version planned for Sega System (by Sega).Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Restated as the review's own words, Nintendo only, with Sega planning its own version.Cited by: Double Dragon
The NES version was fourth on Computer Entertainer's chart of videogames in July 1988 and first in August 1988. In Nintendo Power's November/December 1988 issue it headed the players' picks. double-dragon-history/charts
MagazineComputer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 4 (July 1988) · p. 1, Top Fifteen Videogames4. Double Dragon (TW/NES)Computer Entertainer, vol. 7, no. 5 (August 1988) · p. 1, Top Fifteen Videogames — at no. 1, above Punch-Out (the OCR drops the numeral)Double Dragon (TW/NES)Nintendo Power, issue 3 (1988-11) · p. 104 (PDF p. 105), Players' Picks — first of the left-hand list, headed Players' Picks, with 2,999 points (read on the page image); the text layer runs the three lists (players', pros' and dealers' picks) together, and the pros' list puts it 10th1 DOUBLE DRAGONRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Nintendo Power's players' picks, not the pros', checked on the page image.Computer Entertainer's page doesn't say what its chart counts.
Cited by: Double Dragon