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.

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. 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  . They were going to be rebranded as Super Battletoads [https://twitter.com/Paul_Mach1/status/694515060778090496]. 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. Battletoads Arcade currently remains the last released entry in the Battletoads series.

Gameplay

Each level has a unique theme, such as a "Christmas grotto",^[8] and a boss fight finale.^[19] Some bosses, such as General Slaughter, return from previous games.^[8] 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.^[9] Players can also destroy a spaceship in a Street Fighter II-style bonus stage.^[8] Battletoads Arcade is displayed in standard definition raster graphics in horizontal orientation with either mono or stereo sound within an upright arcade cabinet.^[9]

Development

The game was developed by Rare, published by Electronic Arts, and released in 1994^[7] 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.^[8][19] 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. The Dark Queen was also depicted in a more lascivious style.^[7] 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.^[30] 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.^[31] A port for the Super NES was planned but canceled, likely due to the game's mediocre reception in arcades.^[8] 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.^[31] Battletoads Arcade is also known as Super Battletoads.^[34][35]

Reception

In a 2013 interview, Rare's Chris Tilson said that the company had low expectations for future arcade releases after Battletoads Arcade "bombed badly".^[30] Sales were mediocre.^[8] 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.^[14] AllGame compared Battletoads Arcade to Turtles in Time and The Simpsons Arcade Game.^[19]

Chris Carter (Destructoid) wrote that the game was an unexpected favorite in his Rare Replay review.^[36] 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.^[45] 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.^[37] Sam Machkovech (Ars Technica) described the game as one of the rarest in the compilation.^[47]

Legacy

As of 2017, Battletoads Arcade remains the last Battletoads game released.^[7][8] 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.^[31] Battletoads Arcade served as an inspiration for the cooperative play mode in the 2011 All 4 One.^[51] Kotaku included Battletoads Arcade in its list of 16-bit era beat 'em ups with the best graphics.^[52]

References