Returning 26 years after the prior entry in the series, Dlala Studio's new take on Battletoads arrives on Xbox One and PC today, finally resurrecting Rare's iconic franchise for modern audiences. Not only does the game have a brand new visual style, looking to replicate retro 90s cartoons, but it also features a series of retooled mini-games that take inspiration from the original series of games.
However, there are likely many fans - both new and returning - who are interested to know how the franchise holds up after so many years lying dormant. After all, times have changed since the first Battletoads release back in the early 90s, with the beat 'em up genre sadly fading into the background.
Luckily, the release of the game means critics now have their hands on the newest iteration of the Battletoads franchise, which, in turn, means reviews from some of the industry's biggest publications have made their way online. So, how does the new release stack up in the eyes of critics? Is it a worthy addition to Battletoad's storied legacy?
GameZXC (Dalton Cooper)
"The lack of online co-op in the new Battletoads is definitely the game's biggest flaw, so if fans can overlook that, they will find what is otherwise a great beat 'em up throwback with hilarious scenes, fun combat, and plenty of variety. And with it being on Xbox Game Pass, subscribers have no reason not to check it out. Overall, this Battletoads comeback is a major success and is sure to leave a smile on players' faces, and so hopefully fans don't have to wait 26 years for the next entry in the series."
Score 4.5 / 5
God is a Geek (Chris White)
"Battletoads is an excellent side-scrolling beat-em-up that has reinvigorated a dormant franchise better than I ever could’ve imagined. The combat is varied and exciting, the cutscenes are hilarious, and the art style is absolutely gorgeous. You can play couch co-op throughout the game, but I do feel it needs online support to play with other friends. Regardless of this minor flaw, Battletoads is the biggest surprise of the year, and it is definitely a game everyone needs to play."
Score: 9 / 10
IGN (Terence Wiggins)
"After more than a quarter of a century in limbo, this new iteration of the legendarily difficult Battletoads takes everything that made the NES original memorable and reworks it into a friendlier, funnier beat ‘em up. Entertaining characters with a great visual style, simple but rewarding combat and minigames, and a rad soundtrack coalesce into a respectably enjoyable revival, with its most notable shortcomings being that enemy variety is a little slim and the story is over too quickly."
Score: 8 / 10
Dualshockers (Sam Wood)
"In a year when brawlers like this and Streets of Rage 4 are making a comeback, Battletoads tries a lot of different things. While it does many of them well, some fall short of the mark or just feel shoehorned in, to the point where it confused me. That shouldn’t put you off though as the game is still charming, stylish and a bundle of fun to play. It’s a great example of what an Xbox Game Pass game should be and a very strong first major outing from Dlala."
Score: 8 / 10
Pure Xbox (Chris Scullion)
"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."
Score: 8 / 10
Twinfinite (Andrew McMahon)
"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. None the less, I’d recommend jumping into Battletoads with friends if you have Game Pass, especially since it only requires you to have one copy and three controllers. Even if you don’t, maybe give Gamestop a call and see if they have it in stock."
Score: 3.5 / 5
Destructoid (Chris Carter)
"Battletoads is another one of 2020's infamous oddities. 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. I also can safely assume that I'm going to be on the higher-end of the spectrum of liking it: but if we never see these dudes again because this game was an absolute cacophony, I'll be a bit bummed."
Score: 7 / 10
Game Informer (Joe Juba)
"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."
Score: 5 / 10
Overall, it seems as though Battletoads is an exceptional next entry in the franchise that mostly sticks the landing surprisingly well. It seems many are impressed by how fun and varied its gameplay can be, shifting between fast-paced beat 'em up combat and entertaining mini-games on the fly. It also seems its more welcoming than its predecessor, with Dlala stripping back the title's storied difficulty and replacing it with a more approachable experience than its predecessor. That being said, it seems the lack of online co-op and enemy variety as well as the game's brief runtime leave it with some notable drawbacks to consider.
Of course, the game will also be making its debut on Game Pass today as well, meaning players can jump into the new Xbox exclusive for a small entry fee. Several critics noted that its an excellent addition to the service, especially as players are looking for more games to play as the coronavirus pandemic rages on and Battletoads is a fun-focused, family-friendly, couch co-op experience. It'll be joined by more new games in the next few months, with Wasteland 3 hitting the service next week and Resident Evil 7 coming in September.
Battletoads is out now on Xbox One and PC.