Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone

Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone
Download Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone and experience the thrilling conclusion to the iconic beat-'em-up trilogy! Fight your way through global enemies, collect powerful artifacts, and save the world. The final showdown awaits – play now!
a game by Tecnos Japan, Accolade, and Acclaim
Genres: Arcade Classics, Fighting Games
Platforms: Sega GenesisGenesis, NESNES
Editor Rating: 7.6/10, based on 8 reviews
User Rating: 7.1/10 - 9 votes
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See also: Beat 'em-Up, Double Dragon Games

Those rock 'em sock 'em Lee brothers, Billy and Jimmy, are back! They've put down the Black Shadow Warriors. Their Double Dragon Dojo is packing them in. But are the Bra's ready to settle down? No way.

Guess what happens in Double Dragon III? All together now, Double D fans -- Marion disappears! This poor girl's already been beat up, kidnapped, killed, and brought back from the dead. Now what?

There's only one thing to do. Follow the basic philosophy of the Double Dragon Dojo: Fight first and ask questions later.

Find the Stones

The Lee boys have made their reputation by pulling Marion out of hot water. This time they must find the three Sacred Stones and trade them for Marion. Their slugfest goes international as they tackle five levels around the world from the USA to China, Japan, Italy, and finally Egypt.

Who's behind this mystery? You'll have to beat off Ninpou masters, Ninja warriors, and hordes of other way out martial arts dudes to find out. Even though the Abobos, the Lindas, and the other gangs are history, all your new enemies including the bosses fight with just about the same dirty moves as their punchy counterparts in the other games.

ProTip: When goons charge you, they're getting ready to jump kick. Just step aside and you can move in on them.

Familiar Fighting

If you've been through the other Double Dragon games, your experience will serve you well. The controls are almost exactly the same. You have your Punch, Side Kick, and Flying Jump Kick. Get close enough and you can throw your elbows, grab hair, knee jerk, and make an over the shoulder throw, too. Pick up the punks' weapons such as Knives, Broken Bottles, and Sais and you can use them.

Your specialty moves this time around are the Cyclone Spin Kick and a gravity-defying Mid-Air Somer-Assault.

  • If you're in between two adversaries, use the Cyclone Spin Kick and you can get two at once.

  • A controller with turbo fire makes the Cyclone Spin Kick devastating.

Billy and Jimmy must have learned something from the last two games. This time they don't hit the streets empty handed, they've got nunchakus. When you want to arm your boy, you display a special weapons screen, but choose the time wisely, weapons only have limited hits in them.

Save your weapons for the stage bosses, you'll need them.

You've Got a Friend

The Lee's will tell you this adventure's a "mu-tha," so you need every edge you can get. You can try to fight through the game alone, however, teaming up with a partner is really the way to play. That way you can protect each other and gang up on the bosses. Of course, in keeping with Double Dragon tradition, you can also pick a two player mode where brother can beat on brother.

  • You can jump over knives or other thrown weapons. They may hit an enemy standing behind you.

  • The quick way to get rid of foes in high places: knock 'em over a ledge.

This time you also make new friends by beating your enemies. Beat China's Iron Claw master, Chin Seimei, and the Japanese Ninja sensei, Yagyu Ranzou, and they join your team. When one character bites the dust, you automatically continue as another character. You can also switch characters anytime to make use of their special fighting skills.

Chin has an especially nasty weapon called the Iron Claw, but his Upper Punch, Leaping Double Kick, and Diving Head Butt aren't too shabby either. Yagyu's Sword Attack is awesome but his Shurikens are deadly if you can hone your accuracy. His Tumble High-Jump Kick and Lunging Knee Drop are effective and good-looking, too.

  • Even if you make it through China without recruiting Chin, it's highly unlikely you'll survive the rest of the way alone.

  • Chin can beat the Japan boss consistently.

Average Looks

And speaking of looks, DD III looks about the same as the other games in this trilogy, which is to say just slightly above average. There's nothing here that you've haven't seen several times before. You'll also find the sounds solidly average.

One Life to Live

No NES fist fighter has any business talking "stuff" unless they've mastered at least one Double Dragon game. However, if you can beat your way through Double Dragon III, you've really got your stuff together. This is the toughest DD yet -- you only get one life to make it through the game. The trick is to get other characters to join your quest so their life lines can keep you going. But even then you'll find your adversaries, particularly the bosses, are real hard cases.

You get one continue if you fail during Level 4 or 5.

Black and Blue Belt Recommended

Double Dragon strikes again. DD III is one of the toughest street fighting games around. The graphics won't knock you out, but the fighting definitely will. If you've mastered the first two Double Dragon games then you must tackle this one, too, but be forewarned: the knuckle-busting gets pretty dirty. It's the law of the video jungle: Beat or be beaten.

Download Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone

Genesis

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • Game modes: Single game mode

Player controls:

  • Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
  • Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
  • "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
  • "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
  • "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)

Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.

NES

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • P-200, 32 MB RAM

Game Reviews

One year after defeating the Shadow Warriors and their master, Marion has been kidnapped again! Brett, the best student of the Double Dragon Dojo, witnesses the crime, but he didn't last long enough to warn Billy and Jimmy of the dangers ahead. A wandering gypsy, Hiruko, tells them of the three Sacred Stones. To get Marion back, the brothers must find the stones!

Luckily, Billy and Jimmy have learned some new moves, but these new goons are stronger, faster, and more skilled than the former Shadow Warriors. It will take all of their skills, techniques, and agility to overpower this threat. Also, they must pick up allies to help them in their quest across the globe. The Double Dragons are Marion's only hope!!

  • Machine: Nintendo

The brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee have fought countless battles defending their beautiful friend Marion against various enemies. The hapless Marion has been hunted down by huge mutant killers, nunchuck-toting ninjas, and even helicopter gunships. For the Lees, protecting Marion has become a full-time job.

In the original Double Dragon, the Lee brothers freed Marion after she was kidnapped by the Black Shadow Warriors. Obviously, the Warriors weren't counting on the two-fisted cavalry that came to her rescue.

In the much-awaited sequel, Double Dragon II, Marion was the target of the Supreme Black Shadow Sensei's ninja assassins. The Lee brothers interceded again and completely humiliated the maniacal Shadow empire. The Lees' savage vengeance ended the attacks on Marion and the Shadow Boss's deranged plot to conquer the world.

But just when Marion thinks it's safe to go back outside, trouble strikes. In Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones, Billy and Jimmy grab their nunchucks one more time for yet another rescue of their trouble-prone friend.

Join the Lee brothers in bruising tests of strength as they pursue a quest for five sacred stones that lead to Marion. Five levels of action begin in the back-stabbing alleyways of America and conclude in a final showdown among the sand-blown pyramids of Egypt.

As in Double Dragon II, you can either play the game alone or with a friend. The two-player mode is much easier, because you can defend each other against the swarms of enemies that attack you.

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Available: 1992
  • No. of Levels: 5
  • Theme: Action

It's time to fight...

Jimmy and Billy Lee are on a new quest that will take them across the world. It has been two years since the last fight, and they have been working on their martial arts techniques. The two brothers were approached by an old gypsy fortune teller, who spoke of the ultimate fighter. To get to him, they will have to retrieve the three sacred Rosetta stones. Thus, their journey for the stones began.

Double Dragon III for GameBoy retains all the action found in the NES version. Powerful moves abound, such as the awesome cyclone kick. You can even find shops to increase your powerful arsenal! You'll need all the help you can get, because the enemy attacks are relentless. Can you become the greatest fighter in the world?

The latest and greatest charter in the double dragon series!

In the third installment ol the popular Double Dragon trilogy for your NES, Billy and Jimmy Lee must travel the world in search of not only Marion, but the mysterious and powerful Sacred Stones as well! Complete with great new graphics, moves, and action, Double Dragon III sends our martial arts heroes around the globe, featuring some of the most deadly opponents yet! Warriors Chin and Ranzou, however, join your quest when bested and add to the selection of moves you can use against the enemy! All the mystery and excitement of the first two games multiplied times three!

Master tip #462

With two players, you and a friend can perform the ultimate martial arts maneuvers! To do the double lump kick, jump into your partners arms! To do a double cyclone kick, just do a normal one together!

  • Type:Action
  • Available: April 1991
  • Levels: 5
  • Difficulty:Avg.

A year has passed since Billy and Jimmy Lee defeated the evil Shadow Warriors. Everything has been peaceful until just recently. A Double Dragon student, Brett, witnessed the kidnapping of Marion by a mysterious new gang of warriors, but didn't last long enough to warn Billy and Jimmy of the dangers ahead. The Double Dragons must use their new moves and find the three Sacred Stones to save Marion!

People say:

8

Ever since Double Dragon surfaced in arcades years ago, no fighting game has come close other than the incredible sequels. This sequel is no exception, sporting new radical moves, boggling Techniques, powerful bosses, and two player simultaneous play. A winner!

8

A truly exceptional game. One would think that the programmers would run out of new moves and techniques by now, but each game just keeps on getting better than the previous version. Being able to play as different people is a great idea and adds variety.

7

Dragon 3 is another good fighting game that resembles part 2 in most aspects. Lots of technique to master before you'll beat this one. I like the other characters that you change into. Cool graphics and awesome moves kept my interest.

9

As a true fan of the Double Dragon series, I was blown away by this excellent sequel of sequels. The new moves, cast, and storyline add a whole new dimension to intense fighting action. The graphics, music, and play mechanics are very good. I'm waiting for Double Dragon 4!

Genesis fistfighters often get stuck with the short end of the stick when it comes to kick-A martial arts games, e.g. witness the SNES arrivals of Street Fighter II and Super Double Dragon. Flying Edge wanted to turn the tide with Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stones, which was directly converted from the coin-op. In the ocean of beat-em-ups, the Stones make a decent splash, but they're no tidal wave.

Stoned Again

When a gang of would-be, world-dominating warriors steals the precious Rosetta Stones, the soothsayer Hiruko predicts that Billy and Jimmy Lee will be called upon to mop up the streets with someone's face (gee, that was a tough one to call). Their latest one- or two-player mission is to recover the Stones and dismantle the mysterious crime syndicate responsible for the rocknapping. In order to win back the Stones in question and gain clues from your companion, Hiruko, you must conquer entire countries in a moderate-length, five-level brawl. No Maid Marion at the end of this road, but plenty of precious jewels.

DD's graphics take a beating as you take it to the streets, the swamps, and the forests. Surprisingly, the background graphics and foreground pix are sharp as razors, but the characters themselves move like stiff marionettes -- no fluid animation here. Music's confined to one catchy, but repetitious, theme song per level. This game spans the U.S. of A., China, Japan, ancient Rome, and Egypt. Samurais, ninjas, archers, and bosses a- plenty are your opponents. These guys play to win, but they don't play fair. Often they stand over your fallen body and nail you as you stand up -- quite annoying.

ProTips:

  • Japan's crafty Ninjas will attempt to trap you in a comer and skewer you with throwing stars. Use a running head butt to escape.
  • Weave diagonally through Egypt's trap room to avoid the hand's shocking grasp.
  • Stand still and use rapid kicks to dispose of Rome's boss as he dismounts.

Sticks and Stones Don't Break Any Bones

Unlike its amply-armed NES and coin-op forefathers, this son-of-a-Dragon is devoid of weapons. Those nunchakus, bo staves, and whips are sorely missed. However, your hand-to-hand and foot- to-face arsenal gets the job done, and you get a few fancy moves to boot. The game also features an unusual addition -- backup brawlers for both Billy and Jimmy. These extras step into the fray with a few new moves when the main martial artists lose their lives. However, murky control for all the fighters knocks the action down a peg.

Double tap the controller in either direction to get a running start on a super move. This is not in the manual!

Most Game Boy DD 3 players probably have sore memories of the handheld version's ridiculous no-continue challenge level. The Genesis version hits the opposite end of the spectrum. Overall, it's too short, and you can purchase 20 or more continues with coins you earn during 'game play.

When you reach Egypt, remember R-o-s-e-t-t-a.

Action on the Rocks

Technology moves fast and Double Dragon 3 doesn't quite keep up with the pace. It's a fun tide-me-over with familiar characters and foes, but its graphic animation, sounds, control, and character moves get run into the ground when compared to Streets of Rage II, the current king of the Genesis beat-em-up hill. The Rosetta Stones will make you sweat for a few hours, but they won't rock your world.

Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone is a video game released as a spin-off to the second Double Dragon game. The third game of the series was released in 1991, four years after the original release and three after the second game. Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone was developed by Technos Japan Corp. and was originally released for arcade, but versions for other platforms came few years after, including Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Game Boy among others.

The third game follows the story of the same twin brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee, who return home from a training trip. On the way home they cross paths with a fortune teller called Hiruko. She tells the two brothers they have to collect three “Rosetta Stones”, which are scattered around the world. Finding all the three stones will bring them in front of a mysterious rival in Egypt, whom they will have to fight against.

Up to three players can play the game simultaneously. The first two players take control of the brothers, while the third one takes the control of Sonny, a yellow-clad palette swap of Lee Brothers.

The gameengine uses three main buttons, but discards the directional-based attack buttons from the second game and goes back to the same configuration from the first game, with two buttons, a punch and a kick one. There are few weapons featured in the third game that fans used in the first two releases, but new ones were added, including a belly-to-back throw and a running head-butt. Now the player can also jump over enemies and avoid them.

The players can gain additional power-ups and weapons from weapon shops in the game, which is a new feature to the Double Dragon series. When their characters are killed, the players can buy from the featured shops other playable characters that will replace them. They will obviously be able to control them during the next levels.

The first two games had four levels each, while the third one has five setups, each one in a different country: America, China, Japan, Italy and Egypt. There are different types of characters in each level.

In 1991 Pony Canyon released in Japan a soundtrack CD with 21 songs. Twelve of them were from the third game of series, while the other nine were from the first two versions.

Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone was as popular as the first two games of the series. GameSpot users rated it with 8.4 out of 10. No less than 144 users voted the game.

Snapshots and Media

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots

NES/Famicom/Dendy Screenshots

See Also

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