When Double Dragon IV Nintendo Switch first hit the eShop, the internet basically lost its mind. People expected a flashy, modern reinvention like Double Dragon Neon or a high-budget reboot. Instead, Arc System Works handed us something that looked like it fell straight out of a 1988 time capsule. It’s gritty. It's pixelated. Honestly, it’s kind of a mess if you don't know what you're looking at. But for the purists? This wasn't a mistake. It was a choice.
The NES Aesthetic That Divides Everyone
Most modern "retro" games use 16-bit or 32-bit styles because they’re prettier. Think Shovel Knight or Stardew Valley. But Double Dragon IV on the Nintendo Switch doubles down on the 8-bit NES aesthetic, specifically the style of Double Dragon II: The Revenge. It’s got that flickery, limited-palette charm that reminds you of blowing into plastic cartridges.
You’ve got Billy and Jimmy Lee back in action, looking exactly like they did thirty years ago. Some people call it lazy. I call it commitment. Arc System Works brought back the original staff from the Technōs Japan days, including director Yoshihisa Kishimoto, designer Koji Ogata, and composer Kazunaka Yamane. This wasn't some young team trying to mimic the past; it was the original creators reclaiming their throne. They didn't want to make a game that looked like 2017 or 2026. They wanted to make the sequel they would have made in 1990 if the hardware hadn't changed.
The gameplay is stiff. Let’s just be real about that. If you’re used to the fluid combos of Streets of Rage 4, you’re going to struggle here. Your jumps feel heavy. Your punches have a specific, deliberate delay. It’s a game of spacing and timing rather than button-mashing. You can't just run in swinging. If you do, the AI—which is surprisingly aggressive for a "retro" game—will absolutely wreck you.
What Actually Happens in the Game
The story picks up right after the events of Double Dragon II. The Black Warriors are gone, but a new group called the Renegades (G-Magee) is causing trouble. Look, nobody plays these for the plot. You’re here to elbow people in the face.
One of the coolest things about the Nintendo Switch version is how it handles the "Tower" mode. As you play through the main story, you unlock characters. And I don’t just mean different colored sprites of Billy. I mean you can play as the enemies. Abobo? Playable. Burnov? Playable. Even the weird mechanical enemies. Each one has a different move set, which adds a layer of replayability that the original NES games never had.
👉 See also: Painting in Red Dragon: Why Your Minis Look Like Lobsters (and How to Fix It)
The Switch hardware is perfect for this because of the Joy-Cons. You just slide them off, hand one to a friend, and you’ve got instant local co-op. It feels right. It feels like sitting on a shag carpet in front of a CRT TV, except now you’re on a train or sitting in a coffee shop.
Why Most Reviews Missed the Point
When you look at the Metacritic scores for Double Dragon IV Nintendo Switch, they’re... not great. Most critics complained about the lack of innovation. They hated the screen tearing (which was actually patched, by the way) and the simple backgrounds.
But they missed the "Meta" of the game.
This game is a love letter to a very specific era of arcade gaming. It’s about the limitation of the hardware. The developers intentionally included "jank" because that jank is part of the Double Dragon DNA. For example, the platforming sections are notoriously difficult and slightly unfair. Is that "bad design" by modern standards? Probably. Is it authentic to the 1980s beat-em-up experience? Absolutely.
There's a specific nuance to the combat that doesn't get enough credit. The "Extra" moves—like the headbutt or the jumping back-kick—require precise directional inputs that feel rewarding when you finally nail them. It’s not a game you beat in twenty minutes and delete. It’s a game you master.
Breaking Down the Features
Instead of a boring list, let's talk about what you actually get when you buy this thing for ten bucks.
First, there’s the Story Mode. It’s 12 stages. It starts easy and becomes a nightmare by the end. Then there’s the 2P Duel Mode. This is basically a mini-fighting game where you can pick any unlocked character and square off. It’s surprisingly deep because the hitboxes are so specific. If you’re playing as a giant like Abobo, you have a massive reach advantage, but the smaller characters can get inside your guard and punish you.
Then you have Tower Mode. This is an endless survival mode. You climb floors, fighting waves of enemies, and see how high you can go. This is where you unlock the bulk of the roster. It’s addictive in a "just one more try" sort of way.
The music is also a standout. You can toggle between "Modern" and "Retro" soundtracks. The modern tracks are high-quality arrangements of classic themes, but the retro tracks use that crunchy, 8-bit sound chip goodness that hits the nostalgia button perfectly. Kazunaka Yamane still knows how to write a hook.
The "Switch-Specific" Experience
Playing Double Dragon IV on the Nintendo Switch feels different than playing it on PS4 or PC. There’s something about the handheld form factor that masks the dated graphics and makes them look "crisp" rather than "old."
- Portability: The stages are short enough for a commute.
- Controls: The D-pad on the Pro Controller is okay, but the individual buttons on the Joy-Con actually help with the precision required for the directional moves.
- Price: It's frequently on sale. You can often find it for less than the price of a fancy latte.
Common Misconceptions and Troubleshooting
A lot of people think the game is broken because of the screen scrolling. In the original arcade and NES games, the screen would "lock" until you cleared all enemies. In IV, it’s a bit more fluid, which can lead to enemies sneaking up on you from the edge of the screen. You have to stay centered.
Another big complaint is the "Easy" mode. Some purists think it ruins the game. Honestly? Use it. The game is hard. The final levels are brutal, featuring traps and environmental hazards that will drain your lives in seconds. There’s no shame in learning the patterns on Easy before you try to tackle it on Normal.
Also, let's address the graphics one more time. People say it looks like a "fan game." If you compare it to Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, yeah, it looks primitive. But Gaiden is a roguelite. It’s a different beast entirely. Double Dragon IV is a direct chronological sequel. It’s meant to be a bridge between the 80s and now.
📖 Related: How Old Is SB737? The Surprising Career Longevity of Daniel Cockett
Final Practical Advice for Players
If you decide to pick this up, don't play it like a modern brawler. Don't try to dash and combo like it's Dead or Alive.
- Master the Elbow: In the old games, the elbow drop was the most "broken" move. In IV, it's still incredibly powerful but requires better positioning. Use it to control the space behind you.
- Learn the Hit-Stun: Every enemy has a specific amount of frames where they are "stunned" after a punch. Learn when to transition from a jab to a heavy kick.
- Unlock the Enemy Cast: Don't just stick with Billy and Jimmy. Playing as the boss characters changes the entire dynamic of the Tower mode. Some of them have projectiles or long-range grabs that completely break the game in fun ways.
- Check for Updates: If you’re playing on a physical cartridge (limited run editions exist), make sure you download the latest patches. They fixed several performance issues that were present at launch.
Double Dragon IV on the Nintendo Switch is a polarizing title, but it's an essential piece of history for anyone who grew up in the arcade era. It’s not trying to be the "future" of gaming. It’s a stubborn, pixelated middle finger to modern trends, and that’s exactly why it works.
How to get the most out of your purchase:
- Start with the Soundtrack: Go into the settings and flip it to "Retro" immediately for the authentic experience.
- Invite a Friend: This game is 50% better with a second player. The "friendly fire" is off by default, but you can turn it on if you really want to test your friendship.
- Focus on Tower Mode: Once you finish the story, the Tower is where the real longevity lies. It’s the best way to see everything the game has to offer without the frustration of the story mode’s platforming sections.
Stop comparing it to modern games and accept it for what it is: a lost NES masterpiece that just happened to be released decades late. It’s clunky, it’s hard, and it’s gloriously unrefined. It is, in every sense of the word, Double Dragon.
Next Steps for Retro Fans
To truly master the mechanics, spend your first hour in the "Duel Mode" practicing the timing of the Special Moves. Unlike the NES versions, where these were often semi-random, Double Dragon IV has a dedicated input system that rewards precision. Once you can trigger the "So-Setsu-Ken" moves consistently, the Story Mode becomes a much more manageable (and enjoyable) challenge. Check the eShop regularly, as the game often drops to $3.50 or $5.00 during seasonal sales, making it one of the best value-for-money retro titles on the platform.