Overview and Gameplay
Marion has vanished again, sending Billy and Jimmy Lee across the U.S.A., China, Japan, Italy, and Egypt in search of three Sacred Stones. This NES entry is a separate Technōs Japan production rather than a direct conversion of the arcade game. Its side-scrolling combat mixes punches, kicks, grapples, running attacks, weapons, and hazardous platform sections.
Defeating Chin Seimei and Yagyu Ranzou adds them to the roster. Each fighter has a distinct style, and losing one permanently removes him until the run ends. The game is remembered as an ambitious but unusually punishing sequel.
Controls And Mechanics
- Move in eight directions and double-tap left or right to run.
- Use A to punch or wield a weapon, B to kick, and A plus B to jump.
- Select opens the fighter and weapon screen; Start pauses play.
- Two players fight simultaneously. Play A disables friendly fire, while Play B allows partners to hit each other.
Version Notes
The Japanese release is titled Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone. The U.S. version rewrites the quest as a rescue story, changes several names, increases the difficulty, and uses a fixed group ending. Its two-player introduction also contains the famous “Bimmy” typo.
Release And Credits
- Year: 1991
- Developer: Technōs Japan Corp.
- U.S. publisher: Acclaim Entertainment
- Original platform: NES/Famicom
