Game:

Battletoads Arcade (1994)

Category:

Walkthrough

Duration: 1:08:27

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Battletoads Arcade, also known as Super Battletoads or just Battletoads, is a 1994 scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in the Battletoads series developed by Rare and published by Electronic Arts. Up to three players, as the Battletoads, brawl aliens and mutant rodents through six levels to save the universe from the Dark Queen. The game also includes vertical and bonus levels. Each Toad has its own signature attack, and as customary for the series, players can knock enemies towards the screen, breaking the fourth wall.

Rare took greater liberties with the violence in Battletoads Arcade since the product was not destined for home consoles. This included blood, weaponry, gore, and large breasts for the villainess (although blood could be turned off from the game's DIP switches). It was Rare's first game to use the 3D graphics technology later popularized in Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct. Although the game playtested well and appeared to be financially viable, the publisher hesitated to release it. The game proved unsuccessful in the arcades and its in-production Super NES and Game Boy ports were canceled despite the latter being reportedly completed.[2] They were going to be rebranded as Super Battletoads.[3] Retrospective reviews were more positive--Retro Gamer even declared it the best of the series. Battletoads Arcade received its console debut when it was emulated in the 2015 Rare Replay, a compilation of games from Rare's history for the Xbox One. Rare Replay reviewers were surprised by the quality of the arcade game and some considered it a highlight of the package.Battletoads Arcade is a coin-operated, scrolling beat 'em up arcade game.[4] Up to three players, as the Battletoads (Rash, Pimple, and Zitz), punch and kick oncoming enemies through six levels[5] to save their alternate universe from the Dark Queen.[6] Arcade was the first Battletoads game to feature three-player cooperative multiplayer.[5] Players control their characters with eight-directional joysticks and two buttons (attack and jump).[6] Characters can run if the player pushes the joystick twice in the same direction.[7] The Toads vary in fighting style: Rash is nimble, Pimple is burly, and Zitz is a balance of the two.[6] As customary for the series, the Toads can knock enemies off-screen such that they appear to fly towards the players, breaking the fourth wall.[8][5] The Toads can also eat flies to regenerate health.[6] Each Toad has its own signature exaggerated power and attack,[5] in which their limbs turn into objects such as axes and drills.[8] Enemies include aliens, mutant rodents, and snowmen.[9]

Each level has a unique theme, such as a "Christmas grotto",[5] and a boss fight finale.[9] Some bosses, such as General Slaughter, return from previous games.[5] Some levels differ in presentation and gameplay. Some levels are Double Dragon-style 2.5D brawlers, while others are strictly two-dimensional. In one level, the Toads wear jetpacks and descend a tunnel, and in the final level, the Toads shoot enemies from a vehicle.[6] Players can also destroy a spaceship in a Street Fighter II-style bonus stage.[5] Battletoads Arcade is displayed in standard definition raster graphics in horizontal orientation with either mono or stereo sound within an upright arcade cabinet.[6]

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