Arcade Video game published 32 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.

- STAFF -

Player layout in our catalog: 3P sim.

If you are exploring by feel rather than by title, jump from the tags above into the matching genre rooms, or return to the Arcade hall for the full wall.

Open Play on this page to start Battletoads. Keyboard, USB/Bluetooth pads, and the on-screen touch gamepad all work inside the emulator bar. Save states and fullscreen live on that same bar so you can pause mid-session and resume later.

Battletoads is filed in our catalog as a 1994 release.

Player layout on this cabinet: 3P sim.

Genre tags on Classic Arcade Games: Fighter.

Credit line lists Rare / Electronic Arts as developer.