Battletoads Arcade

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.

Battletoads Arcade
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)	Rare
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Producer(s)	Chris Stamper Tim Stamper[1]
Designer(s)	Gregg Mayles[1]
Programmer(s)	Chris Sutherland[1]
Artist(s)	Steve Mayles[1] Kevin Bayliss[1]
Composer(s)	Dave Wise[1]
Series	Battletoads
Platform(s)	Arcade
Release	1994
Genre(s)	Beat 'em up
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Cabinet	Upright
CPU	TMS34010
Display	Raster, standard resolution, horizontal orientation

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.

Gameplay

A player decapitates three rat foes

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]

Development

The game was developed by Rare, published by Electronic Arts, and released in 1994[4] as the fifth game in the Battletoads series. Rare founders Tim and Chris Stamper created the series in response to interest in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Battletoads series—especially the 1991 original Battletoads for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)—became popular in its own right and led to a series of sequels.[5][9] Since this sequel was in development for arcades rather than consoles, Rare took greater liberties in its depiction of violence, unlike their obligations in the rest of the series. While the original NES Battletoads censored blood, Battletoads Arcade showed gore and decapitation (although this could be turned off in the game's DIP switches). The Dark Queen was also depicted in a more lascivious style.[4] Rare had begun to experiment with 3D graphics around this time, and went with PowerAnimator (later Autodesk Maya). Battletoads Arcade was the first Rare game to use PowerAnimator, well before it was implemented in Killer Instinct and Donkey Kong Country.[10] Rare's George Andreas had worked on the game and recalled it sitting around "for ages" despite being finished. Andreas could not discern why the game was unsuccessful, as it had playtested and sold well in their market tests.[11] A port for the Super NES was planned but canceled, likely due to the game's mediocre reception in arcades.[5] Rare's Brendan Gunn had worked on the port and said that the team had nearly finished the first level before the project was scrapped. He figured that the decision may have been linked to mediocre sales but was not sure.[11] Battletoads Arcade is also known as Super Battletoads.[12][13]

Battletoads Arcade received its first console release when it was emulated for the Xbox One as part of the 2015 Rare Replay compilation of 30 games from Rare's 30-year history.[14] In the Rare Replay version, additional features include a setting for unlimited continues, the ability to "rewind" time (and replay a section), and the opportunity to save game progress at any time.[15]

Reception

Reception
Review score Publication Score AllGame [16]

In a 2013 interview, Rare's Chris Tilson said that the company had low expectations for future arcade releases after Battletoads Arcade "bombed badly".[10] Sales were mediocre.[5] Christopher Michael Baker (AllGame) wrote that the arcade release rode the success of its console game predecessor when the order is usually reversed. He found the two games similar in brawling style with simple controls, but felt that the arcade game had better graphics. He noted how both included the effect of knocking enemies towards the players off-screen. Baker felt that the signature attacks were interesting and added replay value. Overall, he was somewhat let down by the arcade game, having expected something more, but rated Battletoads Arcade four of five stars.[8] AllGame compared Battletoads Arcade to Turtles in Time and The Simpsons Arcade Game.[9]

Retro Gamer retrospectively wrote that Battletoads Arcade was a "relatively obscure" game, but the best in the series. They described it as "unmistakeable" Rare: "bombastic, colorful, and well-designed". Retro Gamer put it on par with the arcade games of Konami and Sega and praised its humor, combat, and character. They added that Arcade was a swan song for the series, with numerous references to moments and levels from previous games. For example, the first stage atop the Dark Queen's ship was similar to the opening of Battletoads/Double Dragon and the jetpack level was reminiscent of the "Wookie Hole" level in the original Battletoads. The magazine added that the level of gore set it apart from previous series entries and that the game had a mediocre reception in arcades. They called its console cancellation "a tragedy".[5]

Chris Carter (Destructoid) wrote that the game was an unexpected favorite in his Rare Replay review.[14] Philip Kollar (Polygon) was also "surprised" by the game, which he found incredibly fun. Kollar ranked the game near the middle of the Rare Replay collection.[17] Timothy Seppala (Engadget) was grateful to be introduced to Battletoads Arcade on Rare Replay. He considered the game among Rare's "finest moments" and one of two retro titles worth playing.[15] Sam Machkovech (Ars Technica) described the game as one of the rarest in the compilation.[18]

Legacy

Battletoads Arcade was the last Battletoads game released for 26 years, until the release of the 2020 series reboot.[4][5] Rare had begun planning on a possible sequel in the mid-2000s but ultimately decided that there was no original direction for the game apart from its past. They did not want to repeat the failed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot.[11] Battletoads Arcade served as an inspiration for the cooperative play mode in the 2011 Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One.[19] Kotaku included Battletoads Arcade in its list of 16-bit era beat 'em ups with the best graphics.[20]

References

1. Rare (1994). Battletoads Arcade (Arcade). Electronic Arts. Scene: Credits.
2. http://www.rarefandabase.com/exclusive-an-interview-with-rares-paul-machacek/
3. https://twitter.com/Paul_Mach1/status/694515060778090496
4. Buchanan, Levi (January 13, 2009). "Battletoads retrospective". IGN. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
5. "The Unconverted: Arcade Games that Never Made It Home – Battletoads". Retro Gamer (86): 82. February 2011.
6. "Battletoads". Killer List of Videogames. Archived from the original on August 23, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
7. "Battletoads controls". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
8. Baker, Christopher Michael. "Battletoads Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
9. Baker, Christopher Michael. "Battletoads synopsis". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
10. Milne, Rory (December 2013). "Killer Instinct". Retro Gamer (123): 49, 50.
11. "A Rare Glimpse". Retro Gamer (84): 34. December 2010.
12. IGN Staff (March 1, 2001). "Gamecube developer profile: Rare". IGN. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
13. Sarkar, Samit (November 10, 2014). "Microsoft files for Battletoads trademark". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
14. Carter, Chris (August 3, 2015). "Review: Rare Replay". Destructoid. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
15. Seppala, Timothy (August 7, 2015). "'Rare Replay': gaming classics at their best-worst". Engadget. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
16. Baker, Christopher Michael. "Battletoads Arcade - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
17. Kollar, Philip (August 4, 2015). "Rare Replay countdown: 30 Rare classics ranked from worst to best". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
18. Machkovech, Sam (August 3, 2015). "Rare Replay review: Incomplete, but still plenty of timeless gaming smashes". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
19. Staff (June 29, 2011). "Interview: Insomniac's Dezern And The Local Co-Op Appeal". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
20. Vas, Gergo (March 12, 2013). "The Best Looking Beat 'em Up Games From The 16-Bit Era". Kotaku. Archived from the original on August 23, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.