Battletoads (2020 video game)

Battletoads is a beat 'em up video game developed by Dlala Studios with assistance from Rare and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is a reboot of the Battletoads series, and the first new entry in 26 years following 1994's Battletoads Arcade. The game was released on August 20, 2020, for Windows and Xbox One platforms.

Battletoads
Developer(s)Dlala Studios[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Xbox Game Studios
Director(s)AJ Grand-Scrutton
Producer(s)
  • Gemma Foster
  • Victoria Webb
  • Chris Jones
Designer(s)
  • AJ Grand-Scrutton
  • Grant Allen
  • Miljan Glenny
  • Daniel Gonzalez
Programmer(s)
  • Ben Waring
  • Chris Rickett
  • John-Evans Wagenaar
  • Luke Amer
Artist(s)
  • Loukia Kyriakidou
  • Rory Jobson
  • Yeonjae Lee
  • Mike Dietz
  • Ed Schofield
Writer(s)
  • Tom Kauffman
  • Kelsy Abbott
  • Wade Randolph
Composer(s)
  • David Housden
  • Paul Housden
SeriesBattletoads
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
ReleaseAugust 20, 2020[1]
Genre(s)Beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Like the original Battletoads, the game is a side-scrolling beat 'em up. Up to three players can play cooperatively as the Battletoads; Rash, Pimple and Zitz,[2] each with distinct playstyles.[3] The game's graphical style is hand-drawn[2] and has more of a cartoon-styled aesthetic than prior series games.[4]

The game has an obstacle course reminiscent of the original game's notoriously difficult Turbo Tunnel,[3] but instead of the original's side view, the one in the reboot has the camera behind the bikes.[4] The rebooted sequence retains its nostalgic difficulty, with its game over screen providing the player with messages of encouragement, but it also features a range of selectable difficulty settings.[3][5]

Plot

Trapped in a fantasy simulator bunker for 26 years, the Battletoads awaken to discover they are no longer intergalactic heroes and have fallen into modern-day obscurity. In a bid to reclaim their glory, they set out to once again defeat their old longtime nemesis, the Dark Queen. But when they confront the queen, they end up teaming up with her to take down an evil alien race called the Topians, who have not only stolen the queen's powers but also were the ones who trapped the toads in the bunker.

Development and release

The reboot[3] was developed by Dlala Studios with the assistance and supervision of series creator Rare.[6][7] Dlala Studios previously worked on Overruled, a platform brawler.[4] Prior to the game's announcement at E3 2018,[4] the Battletoads series had been dormant for decades and was last displayed in the 2015 retrospective compilation Rare Replay.[2] Rare's intention was to remake classic Battletoads gameplay without the limitations of 1980s hardware.[3] The game received its first gameplay trailer at the June 2019 E3[4] and was playable at Microsoft's November X019 trade show.[8] The game was originally anticipated for a 2019 release as an Xbox One exclusive,[4][6] but was later set for release on August 20, 2020, for Windows and Xbox One.[1]

Reception

In a preview of the game, IGN wrote that the game lacked the difficult platforming for which the original was known, though the game itself remained difficult.[3] GamesRadar praised Dlala's progress on the game at a mid-2019 demo.[9] Two months after its release, Rare reported that the game had reached over a million unique players.[10]

Critical response

Battletoads received mixed reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic gave the PC version 66/100[11] and the Xbox One version 72/100.[12] Chris Scullion of Pure Xbox gave the game 8 out of 10, praising the animation, dialogue, soundtrack and wide variety in difficulty, but was more critical of repetitive levels, limited moveset and puzzle sections.[20] Joe Juba of Game Informer rated the game 5/10 and described it as "a shallow swamp", criticizing the game for its "aggressively unfunny" writing, poor story and "average" combat as well as stating the game felt unfinished, though being appreciative of its controls and lack of technical issues.[15]

Notes
  1. Rare assisted on development.

References
  1. Romano, Sal (July 31, 2020). "Battletoads launches August 20". Gematsu. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  2. Good, Owen S. (June 10, 2018). "Battletoads is coming back to Xbox One". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  3. Winkie, Luke (November 14, 2019). "BattleToads Hands-On Preview: Adding Strategic Depth to Classic Couch Co-op". IGN. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  4. O'Connor, James (June 10, 2019). "Here's our first proper look at Battletoads on Xbox One". VG247. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  5. "Battletoads Incoming! Anarchic Amphibians Arrive August 20 with Xbox Game Pass". July 31, 2020. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  6. Desatoff, Sam (October 8, 2018). "Dlala is looking to add to its team as development on Battletoads continues". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  7. "Rare". www.rare.co.uk. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  8. Nunneley, Stephany (November 7, 2019). "X019 attendees can play Doom Eternal, Jedi: Fallen Order, Project Resistance, more at the show". VG247. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  9. Bryant, Adam (June 12, 2019). "The first proper trailer and gameplay details for the Battletoads Xbox One revival are here". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  10. "Rare". Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  11. "Battletoads 2020 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  12. "Battletoads 2020 for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  13. Couture, Joel (August 19, 2020). "Battletoads Review (Xbox One) Review". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  14. Carter, Chris (August 22, 2020). "Battletoads 2020 Review – Rash, Zitz and Pimple ride again...literally". Destruct. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  15. Joe Juba. "Battletoads 2020 Review – A Shallow Swamp". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  16. Epstein, Mike (August 20, 2020). "Battletoads Review – Middle-Aged Cartoon Alien Toads". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  17. Shive, Chris (August 19, 2020). "Review: Battletoads". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  18. Terence Wiggins. "Battletoads 2020 Review – This reboot of the legendarily unfair beat 'em up is toadally radical". IGN. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  19. Mejia, Ozzie (August 19, 2020). "Battletoads (2020) review: Toad-al bummer". Shacknews. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  20. Scullion, Chris (August 20, 2020). "Battletoads - A Hilarious And Hugely Entertaining Adventure". Pure Xbox. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.

Further reading
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