Battletoads

aka: Battletoads in Ragnarok's World
Moby ID: 6134
NES Specs
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay or Amazon links (prices updated 3/27 11:57 PM )
See Also

Description official descriptions

The Dark Queen has attacked and kidnapped (toadnapped?) your best buddy. To make matters worse, she nabbed the best looking girl around! So, what will you do? Cry? Whimper? Hide? Call the Starcops? NO! Cause you're a Battletoad! Battletoads don't cry, hide or call for help! And they certainly don't whimper! They get MAD then they get EVEN! So grab your blaster, hop on the Toadster and go get 'em!

You will control a battletoad through 13 levels (five of which are missing from the Game Boy port). Some are side-scrolling beat-em-ups, other are vertical drops down a shaft, fighting as you go, others have you riding a rocket or surfboard, shooting or avoiding enemies. At the end of each area, there is a boss. In some areas, about half-way through, you may have a mini-boss.

Spellings

  • バトルトード - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (NES version)

10 People

Original Concept
Producer
Design
Additional Design
Art Director
Additional Graphics
Programming Director
Graphics Decoding
Programmer
Hardware
Music
Product Testing
Cover Artwork

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 69% (based on 46 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.6 out of 5 (based on 141 ratings with 7 reviews)

Perhaps the ultimate challenge for the NES

The Good
This game is a serious breakthrough in NES gaming and sets a new standard for excellence, as well as sheer challenge. The principle figures in this game are the three Battletoads, their vulture mentor, the princess, and the Dark Queen. The Dark Queen kidnaps one of the Battletoads and the princess and it's up to the other two toads to go after them. One person can play alone or 2 players can team up cooperatively to make it through 12 intense stages which include every type of action you can imagine: fly-through shooting, martial arts action, racing, surfing, as well as a bunch of types of action that you've never seen before, such as climbing on large, moving snakes, fighting through the eyes of your enemy, and a 360-degree castle at the very end.

The game also features true multiple-scrolling backgrounds in several places, rather than split screen scrolling as seen in many later NES games. The soundtrack never quits and each level gets its own theme song. One thing is certain about Battletoads: It NEVER gets boring! This is truly one of the best NES games ever.

I have fond memories of this game stressing me out - really, I was stressed over a video game - for a period of about 2 weeks. I often rented games during the summer and when this game hit the rental shelves, I had to rent it 3 times before I finally completed it, which was still cheaper than purchasing the game new.

The Bad
Bugs, lots of them. And not just the flies that you ate for power-ups (which were few and far between). This is a notoriously buggy game, probably a side effect of the tricky programming that went into the game. I once made it to the end of level 10 to face the boss. The boss accidently dropped off the bottom of the screen. Since I did not technically beat him, the level did not end. And I was stuck in a room where it was impossible to lose a life. I eventually had to reset the Nintendo and invest another 2 hours to get back to that point.

Another thing about the game: Level 6, a.k.a. the snake level. Incredibly unique but perhaps the toughest level I have ever played in any game.

The Bottom Line
Battletoads endures to this day as one of the best, most challenging, and most revolutionary action games every created, for the NES or any platform.

NES · by Multimedia Mike (20664) · 2005

A tough NES game

The Good
One of the great beat em-up games for the NES. The game is graphically advanced for the NES and the sound is pretty good for its time. You get to be inside vehicles, surf and fly in this game.

The Bad
The programming is nasty, i.e. in Volkamire's Inferno it's very hard right at the end of the flying part, and the Clinger Winger is also nasty if you are not perfectly following the direction of the bike. Huw Ward and Stephen Stamper must have been sleeping on the job when they playtested this game.

The Bottom Line
You should play this game, although the programming on a few levels makes it a bit tougher than it should be, its still worth your time.

NES · by Scott G (765) · 2005

So difficult!

The Good
The challenge. Some games are too easy and too hokey. As much as I hate to say it, take Super Mario Brothers 3. But this posed a genuine challenge, definitely a game way ahead of it's time.

The Bad
The snake level. So frustrating! Also, the speed at which some of the screens move, like in Level 3, the "Turbo Tunnels". I don't know if it's just me, but my eyes can't LOOK that fast let alone process what's going on! The music when you pause the game isn't exactly a toe tapping jam either.

The Bottom Line
If you like a good challenge, I'd pick up Battletoads, it's good exercise for your reflexes and it makes you think. I currently have the game on pause because I need a break from it! It's about 4:16AM and I've been playing since about 10:30PM- and I'm in the last level of the "snake pit". Most people have told me that this game is "unbeatable", even more so by a girl. I don't see what that has to do with anything, but I'm still going to try my hardest to at least come as close as I can!

NES · by ashley clifford (2) · 2006

[ View all 7 player reviews ]

Trivia

Music

On level 9 (Terra Tubes), you'll hear the same music as level 5 (Surf City) in the NES version, but you'll hear the same music as level 8 (Intruder Excluder) in the Genesis version. It's the only place where the musics doesn't match between the various versions.

Awards

  • EGM
    • 1992 Buyer's Guide - Best NES Game of the Year
    • 1992 Buyer's Guide - Most Challenging

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Battletoads in Battlemaniacs
Released 1993 on SNES, 1996 on SEGA Master System
Battletoads / Double Dragon
Released 1993 on Game Boy, SNES, 1994 on Genesis
World in Conflict: Soviet Assault
Released 2009 on Windows
Run
Released 2022 on Windows
In 80 Days Around the World
Released 1987 on Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64
World Championship Poker featuring Howard Lederer: All In
Released 2006 on PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360
Scoop!
Released 2019 on Wii U
Immercenary
Released 1995 on 3DO

Related Sites +

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 6134
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Kartanym.

Game Gear added by Rogee. Amiga CD32 added by Martin Smith. Genesis added by Roedie. Amiga added by Katakis | カタキス.

Additional contributors: Guy Chapman, chirinea, Alaka, Bregalad, LepricahnsGold, Patrick Bregger.

Game added April 7, 2002. Last modified March 3, 2024.