The Legacy of Double Dragon

Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, the first game in Technōs long-running Kunio-kun series hit arcades in 1986.

It was localised in the West as Renegade and spawned a home computer spin-off series, with sequels Target Renegade (1988) and Renegade III: The Final Chapter (1989). 

Shit laid the foundation for Double Dragon, and although side-scrolling martial arts action was predated by Irem's Kung-Fu Master (1984), Yoshihisa Kishimoto's game established the general template and even made Capcom change Final Fight (originally intended to be a sequel to Street Fighter) into a beat 'em up.

While all that's very interesting, let's begin.

Arcade flyer

Billy and Jimmy were initially nicknamed Hammer and Spike respectively.

Others presumably took note.

Resident Evil 3

Super C - promo poster

Red Heat

Stakeout (2020)

Dead Heat

Turning shit up.

Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja

Hamburger anybody?

Joe Blade II

Cover art vs Abobo

Loading screen in C64 version seals the deal.

Vest breaks through wall

Wow!

One more.

Violent Storm (1993)
Dabel (revealed to be a mutant pig humanoid) makes his mutant presence known. 

As far as piss takes go, there is none more blatant than Sunsoft/Sega collaboration Tough Turf.

HA HA HA!

It's like something you'd expect from a fucking Korean bootleg.

Miscellany

Vendetta (1991) has characters pick up crate instead of box.

Knee's up

Crime Fighters

Final Fight

Streets of Rage

Marian

NAM-1975

Zero Team

Mad City¹ (1988) - Famicom

¹Revised North American/PAL version The Adventures of Bayou Billy exposed more of Annabelle.

Double Dragon Neon (2012)

Stage screen uses the same sprite as the NES port of Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

Love this.

Mistranslated mutants Bimmy 'n' Jammy

Boss is a direct nod to the NES version of Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones.

Bimmy and Jimmy

Double Impact (1991)

While penning screenplay with Van Damme, director Sheldon Lettich took inspiration from Alexandre Dumas 1844 novella The Corsican Brothers, about twins separated at birth who find each other in adulthood.

Fair enough.

But I see something else.

Poster vs flyer

Just like the Lee brothers, Chad and Alex Wagner face an army of bad guys.

Villains ring suspicious bells of regular enemies and bosses.

Kara vs Linda

Bodyguard with Spurs vs Jeff

Moon vs Abobo

Although Abobo can't throw oil drums, Roper isn't so hampered, a tactic Bolo employs against Chad.

Doom (1993)

Yeah, grab that Big Fucking Gun and get ready to pull the trigger.

Status bar face reacts to the environment in various ways.

Common knowledge I know.

But few would make this comparison. 

Target Renegade (1988)
Status bar eyes does the same thing and unique to C64 version.

Surely coincidence?

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons (2023)

Modelling itself on River City Ransom, spin-off is set before the first game and features roguelike elements, tag team action and an unlockable roster of up to 13 characters.

This is going against the grain, but what the hell, right?

New York City is ruled by four major gangs.
L-R: Killers, Royals, Triangle and Okada.

In Renegade, unnamed street brawler also must defeat four different gangs to rescue his girlfriend from a mob boss.

Intro vs Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone - arcade ending

And.

Double Dragon III: The Rosetta Stone - Famicom

Ending vs Double Dragon II: The Revenge - arcade ending

Well they're both photographs.

The Royals' hideout contains a section inside a train, displaying real shit.

Battletoads - NES

Akira (left) and The Warriors (right)

Devs sure had great taste.