SNES

Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls

This is a well-crafted take-a-break-from-the-SF II-action fighting game. If you dig the cartoon show, go for this game. If you already have a stack of hey-we-got-fireballs-SF II clones, Double Dragon V has the licks to muscle it's way into that gang. Still, veteran Game Pro's will miss Marion.

This is a nice little brawler that's better suited for younger players who haven't been "desensitized" by the blood in Mortal Kombat II. It's adapted from the TV cartoon instead of the earlier Double Dragon games, but that's a bonus after the last couple!

When I found out that Double Dragon V was a fighting game instead of a side-scrolling knuckle-buster, I was bumming. What could Tradewest do to make this game break out from the pack? The answer: Not that much, but just barely enough. I'd rather play Double Dragon V than most of the fighting games on the market and considering how many games that is, that's quite a compliment. It'll be very interesting to see where Tradewest takes the DD series next.

Here's another fighting game trying to break out of the cookie-cutter mold. Although it doesn't have a dark look to it, the game is still enjoyable for the younger player, for whom this game is aimed. The moves are quite easy to do and it's nice to see that throws don't inflict much damage. The characters are difficult to get into unless you've seen the cartoon because these guys are bizarre. This is an average fighting game.