In case you don't know who the Battletoads are, they're a direct attempt to take on a certain popular teenage group that are also mutants, ninjas, and turtles. The Battletoads game was released in 1991 for the NES and gained a certain kind of fame. It's notorious for its difficulty and legends have it, many have raged quit on the second level.
Now, there's a new Battletoads out on Steam right now. It's a classic beat 'em up with gorgeous and weird animations. It's like watching a Saturday morning cartoon with a massive animation budget.
At the start of the game you can choose one of the three toads as your starter. As solo, you can switch out to any one of the other two toads and link their combos together. If your current toad gets KO'd, the second one will switch in, while the other recovers. If all three toads get wiped out before anyone recovers, it's out for the game. For me, these simple mechanics really add value in playing solo.
The animations are wild and over-the-top, and I do not say that lightly. Your toad morphs as they chain combos, turning their feet and fists into jackhammers, bricked walls, supersonic shockwave blasters, and even a kitchen sink. The game is wildly entertaining with their visuals that way and more rolls out along the way.
The game introduces a lot of mechanics later on. It can get a little overwhelming, especially for a beat-'em up. But it's no hindrance to the fun factor.
It's weird and wacky. The game has some cutscenes, which are good breathers in-between series of bouts. The comedy in the game is a little crude and isn't for everyone, but it is a welcome addition to the game.
There are also mini-games placed around here and there. Personally, I hated these, and wish there was an option to skip them. If there is and I missed it, my bad. A small merit I can give the mini-games is that it shows what the toads are doing besides punching out their enemies, which is kind of entertaining on its own.
The second level of Battletoads is nefarious on its own. Though I found it pale in comparison to the 1991's Turbo Tunnel (the one that is said to have caused many rage quits). In this level, you are on a futuristuc bike, and you dodge obstacles. Usually the middle obstacle will block your view for a second too long, surprising you with the next obstacle right in your face. I think this was deliberately done and if you're paying close attention, you might still be able to dodge it. But it still feels a little cheap for me. What is great about this, is that the level itself was more fun than frustrating. Even if all my toads got wiped out and have to start again from a distance, it was bearable and exciting. The 1991 version would make you want to throw the controller.
My hope now with the release of the new Battletoads and the recent Streets of Rage 4, would mean beat-'em ups are making a slow crawl back into radars that would lead to a "proper" remaster/port/remake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.
Battletoads is available right now via Steam. Go check it out.