Battletoads

Overall, Battletoads succeeds far more than I ever could have imagined going in. It’s a great time for beat ‘em up revivals with both Streets of Rage 4 and now Battletoads bringing the goods. Battletoads is packed with even more variety than the original series and features smoother action, with a couple of small caveats that hurt the gameplay slightly. Still, it’s a gorgeous-looking and sounding game with top-shelf voice work and a surprisingly successful turn to a comedy-heavy story that works far better than prior, more serious tales. The revival of the Battletoads is a huge success when it comes to offering up a high-quality experience, and it’s a fitting entry in a beloved series that winds up being one of the best brawlers ever.

In their attempt to create a game that evokes the spirit of the classic originals, Dlala Studios has made a stupendous hit for the Xbox One library. Not only does Battletoads pay homage to the series entries that came before, it surpasses them.

Battletoads' local co-op is very much appreciated and works great, but the lack of online co-op is a sticking point that's likely to disappoint a lot of people, especially with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic keeping people stuck in their homes.

Battletoads is the reboot you never knew you wanted. It's fun to play and makes you laugh, two perfect ingredients for making a game well worth playing.

The 1991 Battletoads fell in love with a generation of gamers. Now, almost 30 years later, the new Battletoads will once again win the hearts of all those and, at the same time, will make a new generation of players fall in love. As beat 'em up it is very remarkable, but the game is so varied that we can hardly say that this is the real basis of the proposal. It's also a great platformer, a great action game, a great party game ... In conclusion, a game as fun as it is sympathetic and a great must-have for Xbox Game Pass subscribers this summer. It's very short, but you're going to play it at least as many times as there are frogs in the game.

It's been over 20 years since the last Battletoads game—and it was worth the wait. Battletoads is an enjoyable game that brings back the fun beat-em-up aspects of the originals, as well as humorous cutscenes, and minigame stages that show just what happens after the Toads realize their glory days are over.

Battletoads is a highly entertaining beat ‘em up. It’s a throwback to the series’ roots while still managing to reinvent that series. The action is fast and flows smoothly, and the whole thing is just filled with slick style. This is a revival done right.

Battletoads is a game that shouldn’t work in 2020. The originals were brutal tests of patience and I mean come on, it has been nearly three decades. Who under 30 actually remembers these characters? Still, for someone like me it is a real treat to see Microsoft once again return a former beloved Rare property back to its glory. I like where this is going and if we can bring the rest of the crew back, I will once again relive my youth. Banjo, Conker, and Joanna are next on the docket, let’s hope they see the same love and care as these toads have.

Toads might not be for everyone, but if you can stomach even half of popular culture and gaming as it stands, like, being a space knight fighting against alien races, a ‘Spartan’ fighting against alien races, an agent of an old house with a gun that transforms while suspended humans are ‘Hissed’, a paper plumber still saving a tripped-out world with red, green and purple mushies, a covert operative infiltrating an ex-Soviet base entirely on kayak, or a growing shark that subsists on a steady diet of humies… a couple of wise-cracking toads is the least of your woes. Just, you know, go with the flow… dude.

Battletoads is a fresh reboot of one of Rare's most beloved IPs. It combines different genres, without forgetting 90s hardcore fans. Despite its content lacking and short length, the characters, story and gameplay make Battletoads worth the play. Rash, Pimple and Zitz are back and hopefully this time they'll stick around a bit longer.

Battletoads is a victory for Microsoft, Dlala Studios and Rare. It successfully takes a brand that’s been dormant for over two decades, breathing new life into it and updating it for the modern generation ardently. While it’s a huge shame that Battletoads isn’t playable online, and makes some missteps in it’s third act, it’s hard to deny that this is the most charming rendition of our favourite videogame amphibians. But most of all it's funny, and that's refreshing.

We’ve waited 25 years for a proper Battletoads sequel, and Rare finally delivered. It’s art style may put off some players in the long run, but the overall solid game play can hook you quickly. If you can overlook the slightly strange control combos, you will have fun playing through this alone or with friends with local co-op. It definitely won’t appeal to everyone, but I can recommend giving this one a try, even if it’s through Xbox Game Pass. Once you play it for yourself, you are likely to see it’s charm.

The unknown Englishmen of Dlala Studios have managed to give a whole new soul to a franchise that has remained obscure to most and abandoned for over twenty-five years, presenting themselves with a boisterous and hilarious playable cartoon that is hard to remain indifferent to.

It is a game designed to be played multiplayer, but not all levels work equally well with company.

Aside from the lack of online co-op, Battletoads is put together beautifully, with tremendous hand animated graphics, well written and witty storyline, and tight controls which made me very happy as I was fighting my way through the enemies.

The offshoot is that there are likely to be one or two sections that might rub players the wrong way. But it is exactly that manic energy that makes the return of Battletoads such a welcome treat.

Battletoads in general is just a fun, silly and all around interesting game, even if you don’t know what's going on or are up for a challenge. If you ask me, anyone and everyone should jump at the opportunity to give this classic reborn a go.

Battletoads isn’t perfect, but it sure is a lot of fun. Despite some of its shortcomings, notably in its excessive use of mini-games and short overall length, the story is entertaining and combat is surprisingly deep. Some of the artistic design choices may not be for everyone, but those who are able to look past that will find developer Dlala Studios has done a solid job in reviving this dormant franchise.

As a game and entertainment product, Battletoads is a safe bet, easy to consume and accessible to all audiences, so it is definitely a title that you can give a try to on your Xbox One.

The Battletoads are back from the dead. With an all-new graphics scheme and cool new features the brawler lets you take the role of Zitz, Pimple, and Rash once again. The game offers over the top chaotic fights for up to three players. Next to that Battletoads honors, it's rooted by bringing in elements from other genres, like platformers and shmups. The humor is hilarious, but unfortunately, there are also a few weaker elements in the game that cramp its style.

The work of Dlala Studios is good and entertaining, especially to play with family and friends, but its limited content can take its toll because after so long we have been wanting more, much more. The best part is that the Battletoads are back and we hope it is to stay for many years.

Battletoads (2020) keeps the soul of the notorious original game intact while revitalizing it with interesting minigames, hilarious writing, and couch co-op that makes this a worthy reason to revisit Zitz, Pimple, and Rash. While the absence of online co-op is pretty disappointing and the beat ‘em up gameplay can become dull by the end of the campaign, this short ride is one I can full-throatedly recommend.

The Battletoads reboot has a little something for everyone. It's accessible, well-executed, and largely rewarding. It captures the energy and spirit of the franchise for diehard fans while also providing the best possible entry point for new fans. Sure, it might be a little simpler compared to some of the more expansive titles available today, but it does a stellar job of bringing Battletoads into the modern era while also harkening back to the days of playing the game on NES. It's the kind of game you'll want to spend hours in... even if you want to rage quit here and there.

Battletoads is a love poem to the games of a dramatically distant past and an almost completely successful attempt to refresh a brand, to make the nostalgic happy and intrigue the youngest: a game, in short, full of heart and desire to entertain ... and torment the more casual gamers.

It’s hard to play Battletoads and not be mightily impressed with what it achieves. It mixes so many genres and does it so, so well. Then there’s the humour, which is a hard thing to get right, especially in the world of video games. Dlala Studios and Rare have a done a grand job of bringing the Battletoads into the 21st century, and I really hope we get to see more of them. There’s been a lot of great games released this year, but Battletoads will surely prove to be one of the most memorable.

With its tens of games inside the game and humor, Battletoads is a pleasant surprise, witnessing the sheer amount of Xbox portfolio's diversity. It could be a little deeper here and there, and co-op could be online too, but Dlala's take on the franchise is a fresh and fun, recommendable experience.

Battletoads is a retro comeback that not only revives the much-loved series for fans, but one that elevates it to new heights! Truly, the development team has worked some magic to make this the best it can be, truly knocking it out of the park. There is very little wrong here that can stop from this being a star recommendation. The small amounts of missteps it does have don't hurt the experience in a meaningful way, leaving this to be an absolutely fantastic retro revival. It's great to see Rare credited on a game that is genuinely great.

The Battletoads make their comeback after a 26-year hiatus and, for the most part, offer a solid re-entry into the cult classic franchise.

Battletoads was a pleasant surprise for me, and it’s great to see it really lean into the variety angle with so many different kinds of gameplay crammed into such a relatively small package. Presentation is fantastically stylish, with chunky characters and lavish animations, especially for some of the toads’ signature attacks. Combat is fast-paced and responsive, bombastic enough to make the simple act of mashing buttons entertaining yet still just deep enough to keep it interesting in the longer term. Sadly, though, some cool co-op features will be lost on anyone unable to get a same-room gaming session on the go, and it’s that lack of online functionality that ends up hurting the game the most. If, as Battletoads loves to tease, we do indeed see a sequel, a simple improvement there could be all it takes to bump it up to being a truly outstanding game rather than a really good one with several glaring and frustrating issues.

Battletoads returns after 26 years, and it's a love letter to gaming past and present.

Battletoads not only revives the long-dormant beat 'em up franchise, it makes it fun to play for everyone instead of only ultra-hardcore masochists. And if they made a TV show about these hilarious characters, I'd watch it.

Battletoads is without a doubt one of the funniest games of this generation, and it's a pretty nifty beat 'em up to boot. It does have the occasional lull when things start to feel a little repetitive, but by and large it's a hugely entertaining experience and well worth your time.

The return of Battletoads is a game in many ways surprising and made with extreme care. But the desire to do too much makes him lose his lucidity and ends up watering down an adventure that is too short in itself.

First impressions are important, but they're definitely not everything. So give this adventure with Zitz, Rash and Pimple a chance, because it's one of the coolest beat-'em-up games released in 2020. And it sure as hell is one of the funniest.

The new Battletoads is a convincing return for the historic Rare brand, characterized by excellent art direction and writing. Some pacing issues ruin the overall enjoyment of the game, but it is still a very satisfying experience.

Battletoads has a fun story, great soundtrack, disgusting sound effects, beautiful visuals, and radical characters, but the gameplay does suffer mostly from questionable button mapping. Despite some of these concerns, Rare Studios has finally released a competent successor for fans to enjoy after nineteen years of waiting.

The game certainly lives up to the original iconic classic: unbridled action, multi-genre not to bore, and pointless difficulty peaks.

Battletoads retains the DNA of its hard as nails source material, reworking it into a chaotic brawler that’s fascinating to see in action, looks gorgeous, and never overstays its welcome.

This joyful 21st century reintroduction for the Battletoads might be a bit too beholden to the difficult brawling action of the past, but it's also stylish, creative and funny in ways that so few 2020 games can match.

Battletoads delivers a fun and challenging 2D action experience with a good variety between fighting, platforming and other game styles, and with a great soundtrack. It unluckily ended up being a bit too short, and lack of online co-op is a real letdown.

What hurts this 2020 take on a beloved franchise is an inability to stay to course for long enough to whet the appetites of long time fans. The brawling segments are too few and far between, and while the other game modes that pop up are very well designed and executed, you will find yourself longing for fewer of them, so that you can swing your fists for longer.

Battletoads pays homage to the classic 1991 Rare game with a great variety of gameplay mechanics. Beat´em up levels are well crafted, 2D platform levels and twin stick shooter sections are not so good, but still enjoyable, while turbobikes levels are frustrating.

Juggling genres is the series’ trademark and the latest game offers much larger variety in that aspect than any of its predecessor. Most of the genres were tackled well enough, but not all ideas are spot-on and almost every part of the game could be improved. It is the best Battletoads game to date though and it would’ve scored higher if it wasn’t for one frustrating and infuriating section towards the end of the campaign. [11/2020, p.55]

Battletoads is back with a fun but flawed game that makes the most of its coop and its sense of humor.

While it's undeniably wonderful to have Battletoads back after such a lengthy hiatus, not everything in here hits the mark. When it does work, however, Battletoads will tickle your funny bone and maybe even conjure warm, fuzzy memories of the '90s originals. You should toadally play it.

Considering my entire knowledge of the series before this installment was all based around memes, I’d say Battletoads far exceeded expectations. That said, the shortcomings it does possess keep it from joining the ranks of brawlers, like Streets of Rage 4, as a genre-defining title.

I suspect it's going to be highly polarizing (not only due to the adherence to retro style difficulty but the newness of the art and humor), but it somewhat won me over due to sheer force of will.

A fun and solid beat ‘em up with some awesome speeder bike levels tossed in. Unfortunately, the game tries too hard to be funny and the character voices can get quite irritating.

The new version of Battletoads lacks character and seems that it's trying to escape its past. The game starts strong, but as you progress it loses its steam and becomes an average experience that can only excite the fans of the series at best.

Easily digestible beat ‘em up action with some areas lacking.

In spite of its funky art style, its cool cut-scenes and its very fun multiplayer mode, Battletoads isn't a very good game. The comeback of this IP feels dull, very repetitive, and it seems like the devs have just tried to blend all the gameplay features they could think of.

Quotation forthcoming.

A sadly poor revival of a beloved franchise from Rare. Enjoyable with other two friends, but far from the original Battletoads.

"It's a shame" is probably the phrase that will stay in your mind after finishing Battletoads. Because the title advances at the start all the arguments worthy of a varied, crazy and solid game (not to mention the animated cinematics with the writing and the very successful rhythm). But we get disillusioned when the most engaging phases (beat 'em up and shoot' em up) cease to be renewed, and Battletoads tries to save the ship with very small game sequences, sometimes good but sometimes totally failed.

Many of Battletoads' design sensibilities may seem archaic in 2020, but that was ultimately Dlala trying to build on the chaotic formula set by the original. Battletoads struggles as a single-player game but soars as a varied couch co-op experience party game for up to three friends. And hey, it's often laugh-out-loud funny too.

Sure, this new Battletoads exists - but did anyone stop to think that maybe it shouldn’t? As a Battletoads fan who wanted to return to a semblance of the original, I didn’t care for this game at all. However, to someone with no attachment to the source material, you’d probably have a decent time running through it as a few hour distraction with your kids. It’s passable at best, but honestly you’d be better off revisiting Castle Crashers Remastered.

The game clocks in at around 4-5 hours long total. It has a total of 4 acts with many stages in each act. The game can be played locally with up to 3 others players. I didn’t get a chance to try it with another player, but it definitely looks more fun with a partner. Sadly, there is no online co-op option. The game can rarely be fun, but overall I found it quite dull for the most part. The game is a mixture of dull and frustration. I really wanted to like this game, but at the end of the day, I just don’t.

Battletoads has a great look, and a lot of different gameplay sequences, but most of them are boring and too long.

If you are new to the series, this Dlala Studios project can be a entertaining and varied adventure with a fun co-op mode and a spicy sauce of hardcore. But for classics' fans, such a "return" may seem as a complete disappointment. In any case, sadly, campaign is terribly short.

Battletoads is a strange collection of levels with different gameplay mechanics, and almost none of them are worth playing. Like an episode of a kids TV show, it looks nice and you might get something out of it - but it's quickly forgotten.

Battletoads, with its vibrant animations, captures the spirit of the original, but also does so by bringing in all of the lousy gameplay elements that dragged the original game down.

Battletoads gets very experimental and it's often to its detriment, feeling like it's more focused on being a D-tier Cartoon Network show than a video game.

In the end we’ve come to believe that maybe the trolling theory is accurate and that this is all one big joke carried out by Microsoft, Rare, and Dlala Studios. Either way, we spent the entire time being frustrated, bewildered, and only very occasionally entertained. We don’t think our experience would’ve been improved if we did happen to be big Battletoads groupies though, as this doesn’t seem like something fans, or indeed anyone else, would enjoy.

The kindest thing I can say about Battletoads is this: It works. The controls are fine, I encountered no major technical issues, and an optional invincibility feature allows you to easily clear sections that are giving you too much trouble. Simply being playable from beginning to end is a tragically low bar to clear, but it’s the main thing Battletoads has going for it. Otherwise, this baffling experience digs through decades of gaming history to unearth the Battletoads name only to drag it through the mud.