Battletoads

From Sega Retro

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Battletoads
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Tradewest (US), Sega (EU/JP)
Developer:
Developer(s) of original games: Rare
Genre: Action

















Number of players:
Sega Mega Drive
1-2,
Sega Game Gear
1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥6,8006,800 G-4074
Sega Mega Drive
US 		T-97026
Sega Mega Drive
EU
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR 		043260
Sega Mega Drive
AS
Sega Game Gear
JP 		¥3,8003,800 G-3311
Sega Game Gear
US 		T-97018
Sega Game Gear
EU 		2436

Battletoads (バトルトード) is a beat 'em up game developed by Rare. It was originally developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System and released in 1991, but was subsequently ported to more systems, including the Sega Mega Drive and the Sega Game Gear in 1993. A Sega Master System version was also announced by Virgin Games but was never released.

This game is the first in a short-lived series which thrived through the 8-bit and 16-bit era. It is well known for it's difficulty and humorous reactions and attacks by the games characters.

Story

As seen in the games intro, the Battletoads along with Princess Angelica are venturing to the Princesses home planet when one or two battletoads (one on Mega Drive, two on Game Gear) go missing along with a princess and must be rescued from the Dark Queen. Professor Bird sends the remaining Battletoad(s) to rescue them.

Gameplay

Two buttons are used; an attack button and a jump button. Although there is only one attack button, the attack varies based on situation. Certain objects, such as large snakes can be grabbed onto and climbed up or down. Weapons can be found at various points in levels and used against opponents. Capsules that appear occasionally can also be broken and it's contents collected. If flies are seen they can be eaten for a health boost by pressing the attack button when close enough.

There are also rope repelling levels where the objective is to be lowered down a shaft that is filled with obstacles and enemies. The enemies can be attacked but the obstacles must be dodged. By moving to the extreme side of the screen the player can transform into a wrecking ball and swing across the screen by pressing the attack button, wiping out any opponents in the way.

Vehicle levels are considered the most difficult and require quick reflexes. Depending on the level you will be in a variety of transports, such as a speedbike, a jet, and surfboards. Levels are filled with obstacles and other riders which cannot be attacked. Most vehicle levels allow you to jump and some have intermission sections that allow classic action gameplay.

Levels

There are twelve levels available in the Mega Drive version, nine in the Game Gear version. Below they are listed in the order encountered:

Notavailable.svg Ragnarok's Canyon
Notavailable.svg Wookie Hole (Impact Crater)
Notavailable.svg Turbo Tunnel
Notavailable.svg Arctic Caverns
Notavailable.svg Surf City
Notavailable.svg Karanth's Lair
Notavailable.svg Volkmire's Inferno
Notavailable.svg Intruder Excluder
Mega Drive exclusive
Notavailable.svg Terra Tubes
Mega Drive exclusive
Notavailable.svg Rat Race
Mega Drive exclusive
Notavailable.svg Clinger Wingers
Notavailable.svg The Revolution

History

Legacy

A sequel to Battletoads, Battletoads in Battlemaniacs was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in June 1993, with a port to the Sega Master System eventually appearing in Brazil in 1995. A spin-off, incorporating characters from the beat-'em-up series Double Dragon was also released on the Mega Drive as Battletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team, also in 1993.

Versions

Battletoads was designed as a NES game, and no subsequent port has included all of the content of the original release. The Game Gear port of the game removes three stages; Stage 8 (Intruder Excluder), Stage 9 (Terra Tubes), and Stage 10 (Rat Race), though their respective music tracks are still present in the game code. The remaining levels were redesigned, likely to take into account of the Game Gear's small screen.

Taking a hit by an enemy in action levels causes the player to be stunned, and the recovery time is much longer in the Game Gear version. Collision detection is also not as accurate, with in turn can make action stages harder. In vehicle levels however, it is possible to take more than one hit before losing a life, however obstacles appear instantly in some vehicle levels rather than blinking on the side of the screen before appearing.

Despite being supported by more powerful hardware, the Sega Mega Drive version also makes some cutbacks, lacking much of the opening sequence and cutting sections of the ending for unknown reasons. More layers of parallax scrolling have been added to the backgrounds, though in general the upgrade is less noticeable as, for example, the jump between NES Battletoads and SNES Battlemaniacs.

Magazine articles

Main article: Battletoads/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Sega Visions (US) #11: "February/March 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in GamePro (US) #46: "May 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Game Gear print advert in Todo Sega (ES) #14: "Mayo 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
94 №21, p126-128[6]
86 №138, p47[3]
79 №1, p26[7]
83 №45, p40-41[8]
76 №17, p42
78 №5, p68-69[9]
79 №10, p42-43
75 №8, p54-55
87 №1, p43
90 №18, p92-93[10]
80 №17, p64-66
79 №8, p70-72[11]
88 №32, p86-87
87 №43, p38-40
39 №20, p53
90 №6, p20-22
58 №17, p96-98[12]
Sega Mega Drive
 79
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[13]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
70
[14]
Consoles + (FR)
94
[15]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
86
[3]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
75
[17]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)
40
[18]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
79
[7]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[19]
Game Power (IT)
76
[20]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[8]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
78
[9]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
75
[21]
Joypad (FR)
74
[22]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-U
79
[23]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
75
[24]
Mega Action (UK) NTSC-U
87
[25]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[10]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
75
[26]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
80
[27]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
79
[11]
Player One (FR)
88
[28]
Power Up! (UK)
82
[29]
Score (CZ)
35
[30]
Sega Magazin (DE)
76
[31]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
87
[32]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
39
[33]
Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U
90
[34]
Sega Force (UK) NTSC
58
[12]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
76
[35]
Sega Opisaniy i sekretov (RU)
44
[36]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
53
[37]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-U
83
[38]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
34
[39]
Tricks Gold (RU)
70
[40]
Sega Mega Drive
 71
Based on
35 reviews

Battletoads

Mega Drive, US
Battletoads MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Battletoads MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Battletoads MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Battletoads MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Battletoads MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Battletoads MD JP CartTop.jpg
Battletoads MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Battletoads MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Battletoads MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Battletoads md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, Asia
Battletoads MD AS Box.jpg
Cover
Battletoads MD AS Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, FR

Battletoads MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 №150, p85[5]
73 №53, p54[41]
85 №55, p148[4]
80 №29, p130[42]
90 №19, p136-137[43]
89 №19, p78-79[44]
87 №40, p110[45]
76 №53, p42-43
73 №33, p40-41
85 №11, p18
Sega Game Gear
 80
Based on
10 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
33
[46]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[47]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
60
[5]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
73
[41]
Freak (IL)
91
[48]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
85
[4]
Gamers (DE)
33
[49]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
40
[50]
Joypad (FR)
80
[42]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[43]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
92
[51]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
89
[44]
Player One (FR)
87
[45]
Play Time (DE)
81
[52]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
81
[53]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
76
[54]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
73
[55]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
68
[56]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
85
[57]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
85
[58]
Video Games (DE) PAL
80
[59]
Sega Game Gear
 73
Based on
21 reviews

Battletoads

Game Gear, US
Battletoads GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngBattletoads GG US Box Front Alt.jpg
Cover
Battletoads GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Battletoads GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
Battletoads GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Battletoads GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, JP
Battletoads GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngBattletoads GG JP Box.jpg
Cover
Battletoads GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 d10e103a
MD5 f1e299d6eb40e3ecec6460d96e1e4dc9
SHA-1 5ef3c29b6bdd04d24552ab200d0530f647afdb08
512kB 1992-12 Cartridge (US/EU/JP)

References

  1. ↑ File:GamePro US 045.pdf, page 45
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:SegaMagazine DE 01.pdf, page 53
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:CVG UK 138.pdf, page 47 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 138.pdf_p47" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 File:GamePro US 055.pdf, page 150 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 055.pdf_p150" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 File:CVG UK 150.pdf, page 85 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 150.pdf_p85" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ File:ConsolesPlus FR 021.pdf, page 114
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:GamePro US 045.pdf, page 44 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 045.pdf_p44" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 File:GamesMaster UK 005.pdf, page 68 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamesMaster UK 005.pdf_p68" defined multiple times with different content
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:MegaForce FR 18.pdf, page 92 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaForce FR 18.pdf_p92" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:MeanMachinesSega08UK.pdf, page 70 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega08UK.pdf_p70" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 File:SegaForce UK 17.pdf, page 96 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 17.pdf_p96" defined multiple times with different content
  13. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 30
  14. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1993" (JP; 1993-04-08), page 23
  15. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 126
  16. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 29
  17. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 28
  18. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 38
  19. ↑ Famitsu, "1993-04-16" (JP; 1993-04-02), page 38
  20. ↑ Game Power, "Maggio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 45
  21. ↑ Hippon Super, "June 1993" (JP; 1993-05-01), page 39
  22. ↑ Joypad, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 142
  23. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 42
  24. ↑ Mega, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-15), page 54
  25. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 43
  26. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/93" (DE; 1993-05-19), page 32
  27. ↑ MegaTech, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-23), page 64
  28. ↑ Player One, "Juin/Juillet 1993" (FR; 1993-06-10), page 86
  29. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, July 10, 1993" (UK; 1993-07-10), page 1
  30. ↑ Score, "Květen 1994" (CZ; 1994-05-01), page 59
  31. ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 53
  32. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 38
  33. ↑ Sega Pro, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-13), page 53
  34. ↑ Sega Zone, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 20
  35. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 21
  36. ↑ Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 22
  37. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  38. ↑ Supergame, "Maio 1993" (BR; 1993-05-xx), page 10
  39. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 30
  40. ↑ Tricks Gold, "Sega dlya fantazerov" (RU; 2002-08-23), page 9
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 File:EGM US 053.pdf, page 55 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 053.pdf_p55" defined multiple times with different content
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 File:Joypad FR 029.pdf, page 130 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 029.pdf_p130" defined multiple times with different content
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 File:MegaForce FR 19.pdf, page 136 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaForce FR 19.pdf_p136" defined multiple times with different content
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 File:MeanMachinesSega19UK.pdf, page 79 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega19UK.pdf_p79" defined multiple times with different content
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 File:PlayerOne FR 040.pdf, page 110 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 040.pdf_p110" defined multiple times with different content
  46. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-04), page 115
  47. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-08), page 22
  48. ↑ Freak, "3/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
  49. ↑ Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 50
  50. ↑ Hippon Super, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-06), page 42
  51. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Abril 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 40
  52. ↑ Play Time, "7/94" (DE; 1994-06-08), page 139
  53. ↑ Sega Magazin, "Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-11), page 70
  54. ↑ Sega Power, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-03), page 42
  55. ↑ Sega Pro, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-24), page 40
  56. ↑ Sega Zone, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-24), page 59
  57. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "October 16th 1993" (UK; 1993-10-16), page 18
  58. ↑ Todo Sega, "Abril 1993" (ES; 1993-03-15), page 40
  59. ↑ Video Games, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-25), page 113



Battletoads games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
 Battletoads (1993) | Battletoads/Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team (1993)
Sega Game Gear
 Battletoads (1993) | Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (Cancelled)
Sega Master System
 Battletoads (Cancelled) | Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (1996)
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