Double Dragon (1993-)

• Developer: Technos Japan

• Publisher: Telegames

• Genre: Beat 'Em Up

Double Dragon for the Atari Lynx was developed by Technos Japan and released on the handheld in 1993, with Telegames handling publishing duties. Originally an arcade hit in 1987, Double Dragon had already seen numerous ports across home consoles and computers before arriving on Atari’s system. The Lynx version attempted to bring the iconic side-scrolling brawler to a portable audience, condensing the arcade experience into a smaller format while maintaining the core gameplay and style that made the series a classic.

The game follows twin martial artists Billy and Jimmy Lee as they battle across a crime-ridden city to rescue Billy’s kidnapped girlfriend, Marian. Drawing inspiration from martial arts cinema and urban action films of the 1980s, the story was simple but provided a clear motivation for the brawling action. As in other versions, the Lynx release cast players against waves of gang members armed with fists, bats, knives, and other makeshift weapons. The adaptation retained the arcade’s gritty aesthetic while scaling visuals for the handheld’s hardware, resulting in a recognizable but slightly pared-back take on the original.

Gameplay centered on side-scrolling combat across multiple stages, with players using punches, kicks, and combos to overcome enemies. The Lynx version preserved the cooperative element through its system link cable, allowing two players to team up, which was a standout feature on the handheld. The game included familiar mechanics such as picking up and wielding dropped weapons and facing off against larger boss enemies at the end of levels. Audio featured looping background themes and sharp sound effects for attacks and impacts, which, while limited by the Lynx’s sound chip, provided enough energy to keep the action engaging.

Double Dragon’s popularity in arcades led to several sequels, including Double Dragon II: The Revenge and Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone, though these did not appear on the Lynx. Promotion for the Lynx version was modest, with Telegames primarily advertising it through catalogues and magazines rather than a large-scale campaign. Reception was mixed to positive: while many praised the attempt to bring a true arcade experience to the handheld, some felt the visuals and performance could not match console or arcade counterparts. Nonetheless, Double Dragon on the Lynx is remembered as a significant release, giving owners of Atari’s portable system access to one of the most influential beat ’em up franchises of its era.

Images from MobyGames