Battletoads

Arcade Video game published 30 years ago:

Battletoads (c) 1994 Electronic Arts

Battletoads is a (mostly) horizontally-scrolling beat-em-up in which up to three players take on the roles of Rash, Pimple, or Zitz and must punch and kick their way through six enemy-infested stages to save their alternate universe from the Dark Queen.

The Toads each vary in fighting style: Rash is nimble, Pimple is burly and strong, and Zitz is a balance of the two. Each Toad also has its own signature exaggerated power and attack, in which their limbs turn into objects such as axes and drills.

In a visually unique twist, the Toads can knock the game's enemies 'off-screen' so that they appear to fly towards the players, breaking the fourth wall. Enemies include aliens, mutant rodents and snowmen.

The game's stages, in addition to having their own unique visual theme, often differ in gameplay style. Some levels are Double Dragon-style 2.5D brawlers, while others are strictly two-dimensional, platform-like stages. In one level, the Toads wear jet-packs and descend a tunnel and in the final level, the Toads shoot enemies from a vehicle.

- TECHNICAL -

Main CPU : TMS34020 (@ 10 Mhz), Zilog Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)
Sound Chips : BSMT2000 (@ 24 Mhz)

Players : 3
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Released in December 1994.

Licensed from Rare Coin-it Games.

The last game of the critically-acclaimed series that was originally released for the Nintendo NES in 1991. This is a unique game which was never ported to consoles.

- SERIES -

1. Battletoads (1991, Nintendo NES)
2. Battletoads and Double Dragon (1993, Nintendo NES)
3. Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (1993, Nintendo Super NES)
4. Battletoads in Ragnarok's World (1993, Nintendo Game Boy)
5. Battletoads (1994)

- STAFF -

Main program : Chris Sutherland
Additional programming : Mark Wilson
Game design : Gregg Mayles
Additional design : Kevin Bayliss, Chris Sutherland
Main character artist : Kevin Bayliss
Additional character artists : Keri Gunn, Gregg Mayles, Steve Mayles, Chris Peil
Main background artist : Kevin Bayliss
Additional background artists : Gregg Mayles, Steve Mayles, Chris Peil, Dean Smith
3-D Computer models : Kevin Bayliss
Hardware concept : Chris Stamper
Hardware design and construction : Pete Cox, Chris Stamper
Audio software : Chris Sutherland
Music and sound effects : Dave Wise
Additional sound effects : Gregg Mayles, Chris Sutherland
Sound effect sampling : Dave Wise
Vocal effects : Kevin Bayliss, Mark Betteridge, Simon Farmer, Chris Peil, John Stamper, Louise Stamper, Chris Sutherland
Quality assurance : Simon Farmer, Gary Richards, Huw Ward
Original battletoads concept : Tim Stamper
Original battletoads design : Kevin Bayliss, Mark Betteridge, Tim Stamper