I gave this a try the other day just for fun and beat the game with a score of 187,500 mostly just by headbutting everything in sight. I'm sure I could have done a lot better, but the rules regarding the caves threw me off. I assumed if exiting/reentering them was forbidden to rack up points, than so was looping them. If I would have looped the caves until the clock ran down I probably could have gotten in the mid/upper 200k range.

88660
2 is way better... I'm not really good at the 1st one (Actually, DD2 was the 3rd or 4th NES game I've ever bought)

Yeah, I kill those Williams as quickly as possible with hair grabs.  The Abobos are worth almost 10k each, since one at a time, you can guarantee all headbutts.

Entering/exiting was forbidden because it resets the timer and refills your life. (i.e. it would be possible to max out the score just grinding away your time)

Looping them, you are running up against the clock and worrying about life preservation. (so there is a maximum possible benefit)

Score updated.

Damn those Turbo-Williams... I should have played it safe, but I thought "what the heck, I have plenty of life"... wrong... in the drink! (and the asshole killed himself to do it, too)

195,700

I finally started to get the hang of headbutting but wasn't quite able to put it all together as I think I'm capable of.  Definitely way better than I started with so I'm not too upset with my score.

222,690 (Game Completed)

I couldn't resist giving this one a try. I played it safe since this was my only real attempt and I don't really have time for another one, but it didn't turn out too bad.

Gave it another go. May try once more before it's all said and done.

207,850

Nice comeback Doug! Nice score for a one-time attempt, I'm sure you could have break the highscore roof based on how much you rock at this game.

Thanks! The rules say to play as far into your last life as possible, but they also say highest score wins, so I wanted to make sure that I beat the game in case progress outweighs the score. I left a bunch of points on the table making sure that I had one life left when I got to Jimmy so I could get as many headbutts in before having to fight him for real on my last life. I was going to sit out and stay retired, but when I saw there weren't very many scores posted I figured I'd give it a go and see how I could do if I gave myself just one shot.

309,910

Broke 300k, hurray!

52,160
I must also be a "Wizard" to be able to beat 50,000 on Double Dragon.

30240

129,910

I absolutley love this game, really disappointed I couldn't make more of an effort this week. 

I updated, but it's still participation point territory for me. I wasn't able to fully use the headbutt attack without absorbing hits, especially against the Chintais. I guess I still need practice with that. I don't care either way, I finally got to Mission 4, so that's a personal victory. Great scores everyone.

30,370

Whenever I play this game Jimmy has to call Kenny Loggins 'cause he's in the danger zone: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/...

Hahaha!

35,120
I had a whole 10mins to play this week

Gave this one more try. Although I did brake my previous mark,I only reached 210k. And since it didn't change my ranking I didn't bother taking a picture. I should have scored a lot higher but I royally screwed up the area in mission 4 with the knife wielding Chintais. Eh whatever. Still a decent score nonethelesss.

31820

I'm still thrown off by the rules. They say to play as far into your last life as possible, but then say highest score wins. If it's progress + score like it usually is, I finished first, but if it's just high score then I'm 4th.

I'm pretty sure it is a highest score wins. The 'play as far into your last life as possible' call is about not getting a game over before taking our picture. We usually take progression in account when we're doing a low score contest.

I made sure to beat the game since I figured beating the game with the highest score would take precedent. I guess I can't complain with a 4th place finish for only giving it one try, but I thought I won since using my last life to make sure I beat the game with the highest score was a bit tougher than using it for racking points instead. Saying to play as far as you can and get the highest score makes it sound like furthest progress with he highest score wins to me. If it was meant to be strictly high score, saying something like "highest score wins and pause the game before you lose your last life unless you beat the game" would have been more clear.