Double Dragon (Neo Geo) character designs
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:03 am
A while ago, I sent an email to the mailbag, about the character design of a couple of Rage of the Dragons characters, who I believe are inside references to earlier DD characters (anyone is welcome to disagree with me, but I think the similarities are too constant to be coincidental).
I figured I’d go a little more interactive, and share my thoughts about the DD Neo Geo character designs. You can see them all, at http://www.fenixware.net/fab/fab_gameCostume.asp?id=126 . You’re still welcome to disagree, or post your own opinions, or even agree!
SO, I can’t not start with the Double Dragons themselves.
In short, I don’t like these designs, much. They don’t look like the Kenshiro-based Double Dragons we know. They don’t resemble or dress like the Scott Wolf and Mark Dacascos movie incarnations, which the game is supposed to tie in to. Even the cartoon (and DDV) look was more faithful to the original design. Heck, even in the comic, at least Jimmy’s suit was red. Whereas here, none of his palette variations are his trademark colour, or even the white / silver alternate, from arcade DD II.
The exception, of course, is when you power them up into Dragon mode, when they wear the Dragon Medallion Kung Fu suits, from the movie (of which Jimmy’s is Red), but this does not help newcomers.
The one positive thing I have to say about the DD NG look is that as with the original, Billy is blonde and Jimmy is brown-haired. It took me a while to accept that change.
So the question is, where does this new look come from? Elbow pads? Hoodies? Ankle-high sneakers that look like roller-skates? And what happened to the old, Kenshiro look?
Well, at least that last part has an easy answer: It went to Dulton.
Dulton is clearly based on the Kenshiro-Double Dragon idea; He dresses exactly like Ken, and his character, a travelling vagabond who is searching for someone, has “Ken” written all over it. He even has Billy’s original blonde mullet. The only thing that’s out of place is his red baseball cap.
Not convinced? You don’t have to be. But look what happens when I replace the baseball cap with Billy / Jimmy’s scalp, and apply some re-paletting, courtesy of Amon.
Which side resembles the Double Dragons you know?
(Original sprites and portraits found at fight-a-base, background image taken from the Dojo.)
But this still does not explain where they pulled they new look from. It could simply be a random, new idea. On the other hand, Billy’s primary (‘A’) sprite does kinda ring familiar with some other sidescroller heroes. Compare it with Max, the boxer from Metamorphic Force (second from the left, at http://www.klov.com/images/10/1051007960.jpg ). Or with the Marquee of DJ Boy (top of http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7480 ). The big difference with that one, of course, is again the red baseball cap.
Coincidence? Or did they take away DJ Boy’s cap and rename him Billy, then plonk it on Billy, and rename him Dulton (Dulton J Boy?). If so, this may be the reason that Marian’s fighting style is based on skating.
Thoughts?
I figured I’d go a little more interactive, and share my thoughts about the DD Neo Geo character designs. You can see them all, at http://www.fenixware.net/fab/fab_gameCostume.asp?id=126 . You’re still welcome to disagree, or post your own opinions, or even agree!
SO, I can’t not start with the Double Dragons themselves.
In short, I don’t like these designs, much. They don’t look like the Kenshiro-based Double Dragons we know. They don’t resemble or dress like the Scott Wolf and Mark Dacascos movie incarnations, which the game is supposed to tie in to. Even the cartoon (and DDV) look was more faithful to the original design. Heck, even in the comic, at least Jimmy’s suit was red. Whereas here, none of his palette variations are his trademark colour, or even the white / silver alternate, from arcade DD II.
The exception, of course, is when you power them up into Dragon mode, when they wear the Dragon Medallion Kung Fu suits, from the movie (of which Jimmy’s is Red), but this does not help newcomers.
The one positive thing I have to say about the DD NG look is that as with the original, Billy is blonde and Jimmy is brown-haired. It took me a while to accept that change.
So the question is, where does this new look come from? Elbow pads? Hoodies? Ankle-high sneakers that look like roller-skates? And what happened to the old, Kenshiro look?
Well, at least that last part has an easy answer: It went to Dulton.
Dulton is clearly based on the Kenshiro-Double Dragon idea; He dresses exactly like Ken, and his character, a travelling vagabond who is searching for someone, has “Ken” written all over it. He even has Billy’s original blonde mullet. The only thing that’s out of place is his red baseball cap.
Not convinced? You don’t have to be. But look what happens when I replace the baseball cap with Billy / Jimmy’s scalp, and apply some re-paletting, courtesy of Amon.
Which side resembles the Double Dragons you know?
(Original sprites and portraits found at fight-a-base, background image taken from the Dojo.)
But this still does not explain where they pulled they new look from. It could simply be a random, new idea. On the other hand, Billy’s primary (‘A’) sprite does kinda ring familiar with some other sidescroller heroes. Compare it with Max, the boxer from Metamorphic Force (second from the left, at http://www.klov.com/images/10/1051007960.jpg ). Or with the Marquee of DJ Boy (top of http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7480 ). The big difference with that one, of course, is again the red baseball cap.
Coincidence? Or did they take away DJ Boy’s cap and rename him Billy, then plonk it on Billy, and rename him Dulton (Dulton J Boy?). If so, this may be the reason that Marian’s fighting style is based on skating.
Thoughts?