Double Dragon on GBA with an enriched adventure mode and secret characters. The best portable Double Dragon port, faithful and well-made. Beat'em up fans will be satisfied.
Your verdict
Category
Beat-'Em-Up2 players12+
Co-op
Description
Double Dragon series beat-em-up on GBA, developed and published by Atlus in the United States in June 2003. Billy and Jimmy Lee battle street gangs in a reworking of the arcade classics enriched with new levels, enemies and characters from across the Double Dragon series. Over 30 combat techniques to master, weapons to pick up from the ground, two-player cooperative mode via link cable and an extended storyline with iconic franchise confrontations.
GBA reworking of the Double Dragon arcade, made by Million and published by Atlus in Japan, regarded among enthusiasts as the best modern iteration of the saga, with balancing and a move palette significantly enriched compared with the original. Atlus rigid case with a dedicated Japanese obi, distinct from the slightly more widely distributed Atlus USA version. Japan run was short, and a copy with clean obi stays the target piece for those who place this title in the canon of reference beat'em ups.
An underrated gem
Regarded by many as the definitive take on this cult beat'em up, this remake beefs up the arcade classics with new stages, enemies, and moves. A late, low-key release onto a console flooded with hits left it in the shadows. Fans of old-school brawling will find one of the genre's finest representatives on the machine.
Better with friends
Old-school street brawling that regains all its flavor with two, as you cross the levels side by side dealing kicks and sweeps. Mutual aid comes first: picking a downed partner back up or juggling enemies in turn builds real camaraderie. A few friendly hits and shoves spice the adventure with teasing rivalry, and clearing a stage together instantly makes you want to tackle the next.
Is Double Dragon Advance still worth playing in 2026?
Far from a simple port, Double Dragon Advance is an ambitious rework by Million Co. that restores and expands the original arcade experience. New characters, new moves, fresh staging and reworked AI make this cartridge most likely the definitive version of the Technos beat them up. The pacing stays fast, the difficulty keeps the player on edge and the pixel art has aged beautifully. Recommended to fans of classic 2D brawling who want a dense, well crafted cart instead of a quick compilation entry.
