“Double Dragon 3: The Sacred Stones” is a beat ’em up video game developed and published by Technōs Japan Corp. It was released for various platforms, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1991. As the third installment in the “Double Dragon” series, it follows the adventures of martial artists Billy and Jimmy Lee as they embark on a quest to retrieve the Sacred Stones and defeat a new enemy threat.
The game’s plot revolves around the Sacred Stones, mystical artifacts scattered across the globe. When Billy and Jimmy’s martial arts master is fatally wounded by a mysterious assailant, he entrusts them with the task of collecting the Sacred Stones to save his life. The Lee brothers must travel to different countries, facing off against various adversaries, including ninjas, martial artists, and supernatural creatures, in their quest to obtain the stones.
“Double Dragon 3” retains the core gameplay mechanics of its predecessors, with players controlling Billy and Jimmy as they traverse side-scrolling levels, battling waves of enemies using a variety of martial arts moves and weapons. The game introduces several new features, including the ability to recruit additional fighters to assist the Lee brothers on their journey. Each recruited fighter possesses unique abilities and fighting styles, adding depth to the gameplay and allowing for strategic teamwork during combat.
Another notable addition is the inclusion of a currency system, where players collect coins dropped by defeated enemies and use them to purchase power-ups, weapons, and additional lives between levels. This adds an element of resource management to the game, as players must decide how to allocate their funds to best enhance their chances of success.
Despite its new features, “Double Dragon 3” received mixed reviews upon release, with criticism directed at its high difficulty level, repetitive gameplay, and departure from the established formula of the series. Some players found the game’s reliance on recruiting additional fighters to be a departure from the classic one-on-one combat of previous entries.
Nevertheless, “Double Dragon 3: The Sacred Stones” remains a notable entry in the “Double Dragon” series and a nostalgic favorite for fans of classic beat ’em up games. Its combination of martial arts action, cooperative gameplay, and memorable characters continues to resonate with players, preserving its place in gaming history.
