Review: Battletoads

• Platforms: PC, Xbox One (Reviewed)
• Developer: Dlala Studios
• Publisher: Xbox Games Studios, Rare Ltd.
• Release Date: August 20th, 2020

If you were to assemble a Mount Rushmore of the kingpin franchises in the Beat em’ Up genre there’s no doubt that Rare’s Battletoads would rank highly on the list of contenders to be etched in stone. Although the series never saw a true sequel and consisted of some crossovers and an arcade port outside of the main NES title, the series built up a large fanbase for its innovative gameplay and edgy character design, as well as notoriety among players for its gruelling difficulty. 26 years later the toads have finally returned with a revamped look, but just how exactly do the Battletoads fare in 2020?

After being discovered in a bunker by a construction crew, the Battletoads emerge after a 26-year absence and quickly realize their legacy as superheroes has long been forgotten. Attempting to live normal domesticated lives, it becomes clear the toads are not cut out for the everyday man’s lifestyle and decide to revert to the only way of life they’ve ever known – being heroes. To do so they seek to destroy a familiar foe yet again, the Dark Queen.

The Battletoads campaign is spread out into four acts, each with a handful of short and sweet levels. The game hits that sweet spot in length for a Beat em’ up at about 4-5 hours, and there are collectibles to chase for the completionists looking to scour every nook and cranny. The entire campaign is playable with up to three players cooperatively, with the only caveat being that there is only local couch co-op supported. Not having online cooperative play certainly hurts the experience in this day and age where getting together for game sessions getting increasingly tougher, but the local co-op option is there if you have the means to do so.

Choosing between which toad to control is no longer just a simple palette swap, as each toad fights and plays differently. Pimple is a tankish brute of a fighter with slow, yet powerful strikes. Rash is lightning quick with high volume combinations, and Zitz is a more balanced, well rounded fighter. Each toad’s arsenal includes a punch, a volleying uppercut, a chargeable bash, and a unique morph attack. These morph attacks are somewhat reminiscent of some attacks from the original games where the toads’ fists or feet would blimp out to ridiculous proportions at the end of a combo. Some examples of these morph attacks include Pimple’s fist morphing into a brickwall, rash briefly morphing into a sunglasses-wearing shark for a powerful AOE attack, and Zitz jack-hammering his foes from above. The toads’ tongues are also used plenty in combat, and aren’t just used for grabbing flies to gain some health. The tongues can be used to grab an enemy and pull them into attack range, swing into the foreground and background of certain levels, and also grab the collectible shards hidden throughout the game.

Battletoads mixes up its gameplay well, balancing the beat em’ up sections with smatterings of other genres and mini games. Some of the mini game sections, especially the ones when you’re racing against the clock, tend to overstay their welcome at points, but the overall experience is a nice mixture. Some levels are definitely designed as callbacks to the original NES game, with turbo bikes making a return as well as Intruder Excluder-esque escape sequences.

The decision to change up the art style has been a point of contention ever since its initial reveal, and likely still will be to some of the hardcore fans who were hoping for a pixelated version closer to its predecessors, or something radically different like Rash’s design in Killer Instinct. Dlala Studios has dived headfirst into the Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic, and while some may not think it’s their cup of tea there is no denying that the animation for both the cutscenes and gameplay is masterfully done. All of the attack combinations and character movement are seamless, looking and feeling like you’re playing a living, breathing cartoon.

One of the standouts of the game is the writing, which is absolutely hilarious. The cutscenes are chalked full of self-deprecating humour, jokes that break the fourth wall, and references to the age-old Battletoads question: are they Brothers? Rash, Zitz, and Pimple are given their own unique personalities that fit them well, with Rash being the cool one who strives for fame, Pimple being the gentle giant with a volcanic temper, and Zitz as the leader of the trio that is totally winging it as he goes.

Overall Battletoads is a solid return for the franchise, despite some minor issues with some of the mini game sections. If you’re a fan of the series and are thinking of writing this one off based on the art style, do your self a favour and give it a chance, especially if you’re a Game Pass subscriber. The writing is excellent, the combat feels tight and enjoyable, and it just feels so damn good to have Battletoads back again.

An Xbox One review code for Battletoads was provided by the Publisher