"For a Gameboy platformer, actually not bad."

Game Review: Battletoads

Overview:
This is just one of those games that I sort of know in my mind isn't fantastic, but I can't put it down anyway. Back when we only had simple sidescrolling platformers and we were not so picky about them, this game was normal, and may have blended in. And while it is no ingenious title, I still like it. It's too bad we have been weened off of games like this, and into the 3D era where if a game doesn't have good enough graphics and is just too hard, we give up and let it rot in our closets.

Storyline: 7/10
Really, how many gameboy games have good storylines? This may be begging the question, but I feel like a gameboy game doesn't have any duty to have a good story. You are pretty much thrown into the game, like any other game, as a, well, toad. And not your average toad either. He's got ginormous pecs and some pretty rockin knee guards. You are out to rescue your fellow toad comrades from the dark queen and her minions. Pretty much the general plot of any given 2D platformer ever.

Some of the text is actually kind of funny. Between levels, you get a few words from different characters. I'll find myself laughing at how awesomely bad a lot of the lines are. And they are bad. But if someone can't laugh for whatever reason at the phrase "Rap With the Rat Rocket," you may not be the kind of person who should be playing classic platformers like this anyway.

Gameplay: 8/10
Very simplistic, but also varied. There are a grand total of nine levels in the game, and the majority of them will be spent on foot as a simple sidescrolling beat 'em up game. But interestingly enough, this does not get routine as easily as you would think. The game shifts gears very quickly, and things start to get interesting just when you were getting bored with what you were just doing.

On foot, the controls are simple. You can run, jump, edge up or down on the screen in the 2 1/2 dimentional environments, and attack your enemies. This can be done in a variety of ways, and depending on what enemy you are fighting, you can perform different actions. But other varieties of gameplay include traveling in different vehicles which can move in different ways. There are bosses at the end of each level, and everything else you would expect from an older platform game. It holds some kind of charm that is not explainable, and if you are patient enough, this may actually yield some rewards. Fans of old platformers will enjoy this the most, however.

Graphics: 8/10
Another meh category, really. But once again, graphics can only get so good when you have a 16 bit processer to work with. That said, the graphics in Battletoads are above average. There are a lot of graphics in the game for a gameboy game. Not too many graphics are reused from level to level, and you will never be confused as to what something is. And if you are, you aren't supposed to know what it is. The character portraits look decent enough, and for what it is, the graphics are at least acceptable.

Sound: 8/10
Not really mediocre. This game actually has a lot of memorable little tunes. You may even find yourself humming a groovy little track now and then. And there is also new music for almost every level. This helps keep you a little less bored in some of the tedious parts of the game. The vibe can range from primitive funk and hip-hop to run of the mill game tunes, but these generally have good twists and hooks to keep them going. The sound effects are good too.

Controls: 9/10
The B button will pretty much always attack, but in different, places, it can do different things. Tapping the button initiates a special chain of attacks depending on who you are fighting. And the special attacks at the end of such a chain, your fist, foot, whatever, grows bigger, telling you that that did some damage. You can pick up weapons, attack in the air, and even pick some enemies up. It is all very simple and shouldn't be enjoyable, but it is in a vague simplistic sense.

Difficulty/Replayability: 8/10
This is one of the hardest games I have ever played. But it is not frustratingly hard, like many others are.

There is no reason at all that you should not be able to beat this game in one sitting. And yet, you can't. Sometimes there are parts where timing is tough and necessary, but this brings some charm too. You will come to master each level over time, and from there, you can progress slowly but surely towards the end of the game. This gives a great sense of accomplishment once you finally do finish the game, because no normal third grader could beat this game. You have to have skill and be very deticated and crazy to beat this. Yes, there are some points that are too hard, but once again, this kicks you into gear.

As far as replayability, if you are deticated, you will play this until you beat it. And after that, you will no doubt pick it up later and wonder if you are still good enough to conquer it. There are no unlockables or anything. But beating the game is a prize enough as it is.

You get three lives per continue, and three continues (I think, unless it is based on score) until you are sent back to the title screen. There is also a score system too, if you are into that, but getting through this game is tough enough without concentrating on your score. In the end, this is ridiculously hard, but in a good way. If that makes sense.

Overall: 8/10
I can't really say why I like this game. There is no reason whatsoever why I should. I know that it isn't very good. But I can't nail down why. I flat out enjoy it, and a lot too. The difficulty actually makes me like it more, even though I still scream at it from time to time. If you can find this for a cheap price, I would suggest buying it just so that you can see if you really have what it takes to beat it. It is by no means unbelievable or a masterpiece of it's time, but it is memorable for sure, and a great classic platformer.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/09/06, Updated 03/20/06