Double Dragon: Neon

Already showing some chops in the old-school department with their work on Shantae and Contra 4, developer Wayforward Technologies revealed that they are working with Majesco to bring an updated take on the classic side-scroller Double Dragon to Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network. Double Dragon: Neon is an aptly-named 80s style reboot of the beloved franchise and is scheduled to release this July.

Double Dragon: Neon pits players as the familiar Lee brothers, Billy and Jimmy, as they fight to save Marian from a villain named Skullmageddon (Best. Name. Ever.) The gameplay is the same brand of 2D side-scrolling popularized by the original game several decades ago, albeit with even more of a wild, 80s flair.

As in previous Double Dragon games, the gameplay is a blend of martial arts and weapon-based combat. You'll perform combos and use weapons like baseball bats, whips, and hand grenades to take on your enemies. While the fighting system and combos aren't quite as advanced as many fighters on the market these days, the attacks were responsive. The spinning kick move, flying knee, and throws will also be in your fighting move repertoire.

As the name would imply, Double Dragon: Neon is all about neon lights and bright colors (imagine if GTA Vice City threw up on Big Trouble in Little China and you get the idea). The game definitely gets some serious props in the looks department for this, and while the build we checked out lacked in detail, the design was definitely evocative of tacky 80s excess. Ditto for the music, which included a sizable helping of blaring buttrock guitar solos, synth drums, and all the keyboards you could hope for. Songs can be found or bought to add to your in-game mix tape, and can even be leveled up as you play for even more 80's awesomeness (EDIT: We've gotten clarification from Majesco that mix-tapes refer a grid-like system of earning and upgrading power-ups, not music).

Double Dragon: Neon's tongue-in-cheek take on the original game will definitely earn it some fresh fans and the 80s flair should help it stand out in the fighting game genre. Expect more information on Double Dragon: Neon before it launches this summer.