Rage of the Dragons NEO review

Rage of the Dragons NEO review

As a longtime connoisseur of the 2D fighting game realm, I must confess that Rage of the Dragons has truly captured my heart. Having spent countless hours mastering the art of virtual combat on the Neo Geo back in its heyday, I can attest to the fact that this gem from Noise Factory and Evoga harks back to those golden days with an authenticity that is nothing short of mesmerizing.


Although Noise Factory might not be as recognized as other giants in the 2D fighting game industry, they have a solid background, having been formed by ex-members of Atlus and contributing to unique niche one-on-ones such as Power Instinct/Matrimelee, which were somewhat underrated. Their initial foray into this genre was Rage of the Dragons, a spiritual successor to the overlooked 1995 Neo Geo Double Dragon spin-off that debuted in 2002, towards the end of the 16-bit arcade era. This game was a collaboration between Noise Factory and Mexican developer Evoga, released as their second title before they disbanded in 2004.

Rage of the Dragons showcases fresh perspectives on Billy and Jimmy Lee from the revered Technos fighter, reminiscent of the scrolling series. This action-packed game boasts an array of captivating original and recurring characters, while maintaining a visual style consistent with modern entries in the Neo/SNK Playmore collection. It offers a seamless tag team system that enables you to effortlessly switch between characters during gameplay. True to form for any Neo Geo title, it’s as tough as old boots and presents a genuine test even for intermediate fighting enthusiasts.

Rage of the Dragons NEO review

This revamped contemporary port offers numerous lifestyle enhancements that were impossible on the Neo Geo, plus playable bosses. This perfectly validates my recent assessment of the fresh fighter Blazing Strike. Releasing a mediocre fighter in 2024 only serves to highlight even more how great things were during the golden era – as Rage of the Dragons (Neo version) is a refined and wholesome interpretation of a high-quality fighting game genre, despite being launched over two decades ago.

In Rage, the developers skillfully recreated the mechanics of programming fighter games for the Neo Geo, drawing inspiration from other well-known franchises. For instance, moves like rolls and hops seen in KOF are replicated, as well as multiple jump variations, super-moves, counters, and dashing. Despite its straightforward four-button control scheme based on the original hardware, Rage offers a depth of complexity and subtleties that make it engaging, innovative, and competitive, whether played online or offline once you’ve mastered it.

As a gamer, I love how seamlessly I can switch between characters during gameplay, making strategic decisions on the fly to keep the action intense. Pairing up specific characters unlocks special dual tag team attacks, adding depth to each character’s unique story and role within the game. The First Impact attack is an amazing feature that challenges me to quickly match a series of commands as they flash up, pulling off an epic combo if executed correctly. If I nail it, I can even extend the combo by passing the control to my teammate. It’s a thrilling mechanic that keeps me engaged and excited!

Rage of the Dragons NEO review

The game offers exceptional training options, move lists that can be accessed during gameplay, numerous intriguing achievements, and the dependable reliability of rollback netcode for seamless online play. Additionally, QUByte has added a fresh multiplayer tag mode, allowing you to team up with as many as five players.

Previously, their compilation for Visco’s Breakers titles seemed rather slim on content, despite the original games being expertly updated for modern players. However, Rage of the Dragons Neo not only surpasses its predecessors in overall quality but also offers numerous additional features that make it a must-have for fighting game enthusiasts, especially given the impressive lineup of games in the genre this year.

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2024-11-15 18:46