Battletoads (バトルトード) is a beat 'em up game developed by Rare Ltd. for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear (as well as a host of other platforms). This game is the first in a short-lived series which thrived through the 8-bit and 16-bit era. The game is well known for it's difficulty and humorous reactions and attacks by the games characters.
Story
As seen in the games intro, the Battletoads along with Princess Angelica are venturing to the Princesses home planet when one or two battletoads (one on Mega Drive, two on Game Gear) go missing along with a princess and must be rescued from the Dark Queen. Professor Bird sends the remaining Battletoad(s) to rescue them.
Gameplay
Two buttons are used; an attack button and a jump button. Although there is only one attack button, the attack varies based on situation. Certain objects, such as large snakes can be grabbed onto and climbed up or down. Weapons can be found at various points in levels and used against opponents. Capsules that appear occasionally can also be broken and it's contents collected. If flies are seen they can be eaten for a health boost by pressing the attack button when close enough.
There are also rope repelling levels where the objective is to be lowered down a shaft that is filled with obstacles and enemies. The enemies can be attacked but the obstacles must be dodged. By moving to the extreme side of the screen the player can transform into a wrecking ball and swing across the screen by pressing the attack button, wiping out any opponents in the way.
Vehicle levels are considered the most difficult and require quick reflexes. Depending on the level you will be in a variety of transports, such as a speedbike, a jet, and surfboards. Levels are filled with obstacles and other riders which cannot be attacked. Most vehicle levels allow you to jump and some have intermission sections that allow classic action gameplay.
Levels
There are twelve levels available in the Mega Drive version, nine in the Game Gear version. Below they are listed in the order encountered:
- Ragnarok's Canyon
- Wookie Hole (Impact Crater)
- Turbo Tunnel
- Arctic Caverns
- Surf City
- Karanth's Lair
- Volkmire's Inferno
- Intruder Excluder (Mega Drive exclusive)
- Terra Tubes (Mega Drive exclusive)
- Rat Race (Mega Drive exclusive)
- Clinger Wingers
- The Revolution
Mega Drive/Game Gear Differences
The graphics and music are different in the Game Gear port. Three stages in the are removed; Stage 8 (Intruder Excluder), Stage 9 (Terra Tubes), and Stage 10 (Rat Race). The remaining levels have layout differences and are redesigned. In action levels when taking a hit by an enemy it causes the player to be stunned, and the recover time is much longer than the Mega Drive port. Collision detection is not as accurate and can make action stages harder. In vehicle levels it is possible to take more than one hit before losing a life. The obstacles appear instantly in some vehicle levels rather than blinking on the side of the screen before appearing.
Physical Scans
Mega Drive Version
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74
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Sega Retro Average
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| Based on 5 reviews
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| Mega Drive, US
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| Mega Drive, BR
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Game Gear Version
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82
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Sega Retro Average
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| Based on 6 reviews
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| Game Gear, US
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| Game Gear, EU
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| Game Gear, JP
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