But if they’re kissed, will they turn into… Battle Princes?!
PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous
PUBLISHER: Tradewest
DEVELOPER: Rare
GENRE: Action platformer
RELEASE DATE: June 1991
Battletoads is a spectacularly difficult “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” rip-off that manages to transcend its radical Nineties atmosphere with varied gameplay and ridiculous humor. Rash, Zitz, and Pimple are the Toads that Battle against the evil Dark Queen and her squad of evil pigs. While most side-scrolling beat-em-ups employ monotonous punch-kick-punch throughout every stage, Battletoads adds in different styles of play for a more fully-rounded game. In stage two, you’re rappelling down a large hole, combating crows and mechanical obstacles along your descent. Stage three has some standard fighting, but it also has a racing section where you have to glide around and jump over obstacles. Unlike most beat-em-ups, playing with two players actually makes the game harder. In certain sections, in particular the racing segments, if one Toad dies, both Toads die. That’s pretty ludicrous, but to be fair, Battletoads isn’t like some NES games where the challenge stems from wandering around aimlessly, or from enemies that constantly bombard you. Each stage can be beaten with enough time and practice.
I don’t recommend Battletoads for everyone: if you’re a fan of leisurely strolls through the park and warm summer days, you’d be advised to stay away from the Toads’ quest. If, however, you like the feel of brass knuckles against your face or you like to sit outside in -20 degree weather and feel the frost grow on various body parts, indulge.
B+
Latest posts by Dylan Cornelius (see all)
- By Request – New Ghostbusters II - April 4, 2014
- The 86 Worst NES Games – Part 4 - April 1, 2014
- The 86 Worst NES Games – Part 3 - March 29, 2014
6 replies on “#074 – Battletoads”
Just played this one on the weekend, and level three got me as usual. I remember in Nintendo Power, they mentioned a warp, which I think as a kid is the only way I got to the next stage.
Man, level 3 ruined a title that could have stood up there with 2 player co-op classics like contra and double dragon II. Instead it will be remembered for the potential it showed in the first two levels.
This game is hardcore! Like most who played this game I could never get past Stage 3 as a kid. It wasn't until my teenage years, after devoting way too much time, that I was able to beat it. The final stage is like nothing I've ever seen on the NES. So frustrating, yet kept me coming back for more. The game is so well done, I was surprised the Toads never caught on. Maybe the difficulty kept people away, or it suffered from poor timing due to the success of those mutated turtles and their fantastic co-op adventures.
That final stage tower…I could never pass it. Even with game genie.
compared to later levels, Stage 3 is a cakewalk! I'm on a mission to beat this game. I have gotten pretty close to the end of Level 9, where you have to swim through a maze of spikes that is patrolled by sharks who try to knock you into the aforementioned spikes.
Awesome, difficult game. May the gaming gods grant us with more of the Toads.
Without save games.