Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (1991-)

• Developer: Technos Japan

• Publisher: Technos Japan | Acclaim

• Genre: Beat 'Em Up

• Composer: Akira Inoue, Takaro Nozaki, Michiya Hirasawa, Yoshihiro Kameoka

Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones for the Nintendo Entertainment System was developed by Technōs Japan and released in North America in 1991, with publishing handled by Acclaim under their Tradewest brand. While it shares a name with the arcade game Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone, the NES version is a completely different title with its own storyline, mechanics, and structure. The plot follows Billy and Jimmy Lee as they are approached by a mysterious fortune teller who warns them of a great evil and tasks them with finding three sacred stones scattered across the globe. This sets the stage for a journey spanning multiple countries, each with its own enemies and unique setting.

Building upon the gameplay foundation of Double Dragon II: The Revenge, The Sacred Stones introduced a new character-switching mechanic. In addition to Billy and Jimmy, players could recruit and control new characters by defeating them in battle, such as the agile Chin Seimei and the weapon-wielding Ranzou. Each fighter had their own moves, strengths, and weaknesses, giving the game a strategic layer absent in previous installments. Combat was faster and more precise, but it was also more unforgiving—extra lives were replaced by the health of each character, meaning losing all fighters ended the game. This change, along with a generally higher difficulty level, made the game one of the most challenging beat ’em ups on the NES.

The soundtrack, composed by Kazunaka Yamane, delivered intense and varied themes tailored to each location in the game. From the pounding urgency of early street battles to the exotic flair of stages set in Italy, China, and Egypt, the music enhanced the sense of a global adventure. Sound effects were sharp and impactful, complementing the game’s faster combat pace. The use of distinct audio motifs for different characters and locations helped reinforce the feeling of progress as players moved through the story’s increasingly perilous stages.

Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones was promoted as a fresh, more expansive take on the series, with advertisements focusing on its international settings, multiple playable characters, and higher skill requirement. While it received praise for its graphics, music, and ambitious changes, many players found its difficulty punishing, which divided opinions. There was no direct NES sequel, though the series continued with Super Double Dragon on the Super Nintendo in 1992, which offered a slower-paced but more methodical fighting system. Over time, The Sacred Stones has earned a reputation as a bold but divisive entry in the franchise—respected for its innovations, yet remembered as one of the toughest challenges in the NES beat ’em up library.

Images from MobyGames