Double Dragon SMS first time trying this game out

After a comment left on one of my Double Dragon NES videos    • Double Dragon NES failed playthrough   by @jamesk9321, talking about the Sega Master System version, I decided to take a little bit of time to check that one out.

First impression, title screen music, um, yeah, feels like it's missing some of the spunk the NES version has. Getting into the game, graphics are quite awful looking, not so much the details but color choices, like ugh, really ugly. Music in stages is decent, better than the title screen.

The really bad though, I struggled to get Billy to respond, not only did he move sluggishly, but response was slow and I had a heck of a time with the double pressing of the buttons to jump kick, that my hand is still sore from all that even 20 minutes later. The standing kick is pretty much useless, like, doesn't even make sense how a kick has less range than a punch, that I did the opposite from the NES version, which I mostly use kicks, this one I punched more often aside from the hand straining jump kicks. There is an odd jump kick in this version that allows for kicking enemies that are behind you, that would take getting used to and I started to as I progressed.

But ultimately I ran out of continues and game over'd, and was to be expected as it was my very first time at this game, also probably my last, I didn't enjoy it at all. Could have been if I had a Master System growing up instead of an NES and per chance had this game, then maybe, just maybe I would have enjoyed it more, but then I've never been heavy into the fighting games, only one I ever had brand new back in the day was River City Ransom, the rest I either rented or played over some other kid's place, so I most likely wouldn't have owned this one, just as I didn't the NES version, well until later when I started getting used games.

I do think where this one would shine though, much like Double Dragon 2 on the NES, is for the 2 player option, these kind of games are always more fun with another person kicking butt beside you, or both getting whomped together.

I remember years ago trying the Genesis version and thinking, this game sucks! Is a matter of taste I suppose, but I didn't play that one but for a few minutes.

But now after having played a bit of this game, maybe I should check out some more Master System games, see if there is something I may like in there.