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Battletoads

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.
69%Game Brain Score
gameplay, humor
grinding, character development
66% User Score Based on 1,308 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 39 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassCloudXbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXboxWindows

About

"Battletoads" is an action-packed game featuring outstanding mechanics, good graphics, and spectacular music. Up to three players can team up for a humor-filled, chaotic experience across diverse stages, with hand-animated cartoon style and unpredictable moments. The game offers drop-in/drop-out co-op gameplay that is enjoyable for all, but mastered only by true 'Toads'.

Battletoads screenshot
Battletoads screenshot
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66%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,308 reviews
gameplay122 positive mentions
grinding25 negative mentions

  • The game features a fun and varied range of gameplay types, including beat-em-up sections, platforming, and mini-games.
  • The art style is vibrant and colorful, with smooth animations that enhance the overall experience.
  • The humor and writing are entertaining, providing a lighthearted and self-aware narrative that appeals to both new and returning fans.
  • Many players found the mini-games tedious and frustrating, detracting from the core beat-em-up experience.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and replayability.
  • The redesign of characters, particularly the Dark Queen, disappointed long-time fans who preferred the original aesthetic.
  • gameplay
    497 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Battletoads (2020) is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of classic beat 'em up mechanics and a variety of mini-games that some players find entertaining while others deem repetitive and poorly executed. While the game offers nostalgic callbacks and visually appealing graphics, many reviewers criticize its lack of depth in combat mechanics and the inconsistency in gameplay styles, leading to a frustrating experience for fans of the original series. Overall, the game is seen as fun in short bursts, particularly in co-op mode, but it struggles to maintain engagement over its runtime due to its erratic gameplay design.

    • “While the main gameplay is classic arcade beat'em up action, there is a gameplay roulette that constantly changes throughout the game.”
    • “The gameplay itself had a variety of challenging levels that were everything but repetitive, keeping you playing level after level.”
    • “Battletoads manages to stay true to the source material, all whilst offering an array of varied and fun gameplay mechanics that really spice up the experience.”
    • “I thought the game would suffer mainly in its art style, but it turned out that the gameplay itself is just terrible.”
    • “The gameplay seems alright for the first 30 minutes, but gets so repetitive it's actually a good sleeping aid.”
    • “The gameplay mimics old hardcore but in an absolutely unplayable way.”
  • humor
    357 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Battletoads" (2020) is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and nostalgic, while others criticize it as cringeworthy and inconsistent. Many reviews highlight the self-aware and absurdist nature of the jokes, which can appeal to a specific audience but may alienate others due to its reliance on juvenile and meta humor. Overall, while the game features charming characters and entertaining cutscenes, the effectiveness of its humor varies widely among players, leading to a polarized reception.

    • “The cartoon and humor were the best parts of the game.”
    • “It's short and sweet, very well drawn and animated, and fun to play, with hilarious writing and voice acting.”
    • “But it’s the game’s sense of humor that shines through in its over-the-top animations, cutscenes, and meta jokes that’ll make you fall in love with battletoads all over again.”
    • “It is painfully unfunny and cringe, with some of the worst 'jokes' I've ever heard in a video game.”
    • “The dialogue and voice acting are horrifically bad and unfunny.”
    • “The story was notoriously bad and weird; it was nonsensical, unfunny, and awkward to watch. The jokes didn't always land, which makes a big contrast with the awesome gameplay.”
  • story
    301 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Battletoads" is a polarizing aspect, with many players finding it either amusingly absurd or frustratingly juvenile. While some appreciate its cartoonish humor and self-aware narrative, others criticize it for being nonsensical, poorly written, and lacking depth, often feeling like a series of disjointed mini-games rather than a cohesive plot. Overall, the reception suggests that while the story may entertain some, it fails to resonate with long-time fans of the franchise who expected a more serious or engaging narrative.

    • “The story is good, the writing is hilarious and overall, I think it's a really fun time.”
    • “Awesome game with a hilarious story line and great characters!”
    • “Battletoads is a surprisingly amusing and lighthearted title with a charming story and fun combat and serves as a great new start for the franchise.”
    • “The plot is just plain moronic.”
    • “The story is an absolute crock of shit.”
    • “The story was bizarre, childish, and I've got to think insulting to long-time fans of Battletoads.”
  • graphics
    271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the Battletoads reboot have garnered mixed reactions, with many praising the vibrant, hand-drawn art style that evokes a modern cartoon aesthetic reminiscent of the 90s. While some players appreciate the colorful visuals and smooth animations, others criticize the design choices as a departure from the franchise's original identity, labeling them as overly cartoonish or appealing to a younger demographic. Overall, the graphics are technically impressive, but opinions on their artistic direction vary widely among fans.

    • “The animation and the art style is just a visual pleasure for the eyes and you can tell this game was made with a lot of love, I can only wish for a sequel because I've had a lot of fun playing this game!”
    • “The game's striking visuals, wildly varied level design, and satisfying sense of challenge easily make up for the occasional frustrating moment or groan-worthy joke.”
    • “The hand-drawn art style of this game is terrific, making the characters drown in charm.”
    • “At first, I was horrified by the visuals.”
    • “The biggest blemish is the art style; it's shamefully hideous and appeals to no one.”
    • “The art style is terrible.”
  • music
    178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Battletoads has received widespread praise for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, featuring a mix of remixed classic tracks and original compositions that enhance the gameplay experience. Many players noted the heavy electric guitar and drum work, with some tracks being particularly memorable and motivating. However, there were also criticisms regarding the inconsistency of music presence during gameplay, with some areas feeling too quiet or lacking the dynamic shifts that could have better complemented the action. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight of the game, contributing significantly to its nostalgic and vibrant atmosphere.

    • “The music is also pretty top tier, there's a lot of tracks in this game that I really love and get pumped up for, especially that crunchy intro and battle music.”
    • “The soundtrack is surprisingly good, with all of the songs featuring heavy electric guitar and drum work.”
    • “The audio is excellent, the soundtrack is badass and is a great listen.”
    • “The constant terrible music is annoying.”
    • “A lot of the music falls flat as well.”
    • “They brought back some of the old music but it's used extremely briefly...”
  • grinding
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that the combat and mini-games drag on unnecessarily. While some enjoy the challenge, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding elements detract from the fun, making certain sequences feel more like a chore than an engaging experience. Playing with friends is recommended to alleviate some of the tedium, but many still wish for more skippable content.

    • “Though a tough and somewhat tedious beat-em up isn't a bad thing by itself... the rest of the game is... kind of annoying.”
    • “The rest of the game is fun, but that whole tedious sequence should be skippable.”
    • “This was not what I was expecting; you only play as the Battletoads during the beginning and the end... that's it... everything in between is a cluster of frustrating and tedious puzzle games, mixed with a space shooter.”
  • character development
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in Battletoads 2020 has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing dissatisfaction with the character designs, particularly for the heroes and villains, which some feel are derivative and poorly executed. While the animations and backgrounds are praised for their smoothness and detail, the overall character design, especially that of the Dark Queen, has been criticized as a significant drawback. Despite these issues, the game features unique bosses and engaging gameplay that contribute to a fun experience.

    • “The animations are incredibly smooth, the backgrounds are detailed and offer a good bit of depth, and the character designs are pretty cool too.”
    • “[amazing cartoon art style, fun beat 'em up gameplay, incredible animations and character design, bikes riding sequences are a good challenge].”
    • “[fun character development, level design is as diverse as ever, smoothly-animated in-game visuals, proper head-banging soundtrack, challenging, yet accessible, good value for $20, couch co-op].”
    • “The character design of the Dark Queen is horrendous; it needed an update, but boy oh boy... that one is a big no-no.”
    • “The developers made a bad choice in character design when it comes to enemies.”
    • “Character designs and the art style will probably need some getting used to, especially if you are coming here from the original Battletoads for the NES.”
  • optimization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its excellent graphics and smooth performance, with no significant bugs reported. Players have noted that it runs responsively, particularly on PC with an Xbox One controller, contributing to an enjoyable experience despite some minor complaints about content and features.

    • “Excellent graphics and performance.”
    • “The game plays like a charm, there are no bugs or anything that messes up the experience, and based on playing it on PC, so far I can say the game runs smoothly and responsively with my Xbox One controller.”
    • “Great writing and performances all around, interesting minigames, and the return of the turbo bikes is actually a lot of fun.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety in gameplay and the presence of collectibles that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find it lacking due to its short length and limited appeal for those only seeking a few runs. The potential for replaying with friends and pursuing achievements adds some value, but not all players feel it justifies the game's price.

    • “Despite my gripes, I think the gameplay variety will help with replayability in the long run.”
    • “The game is totally replayable, especially with friends.”
    • “Collectibles are scattered well in each of the levels, with a few exceptions that offer replay value and can be good challenges to find.”
    • “The game is short with pretty much no replayability.”
    • “There's still plenty of achievements and collectibles left to unlock for replayability, but those only interested in one or two playthroughs may feel a bit underwhelmed given the game's price tag.”
    • “And that's my main complaint with this game: it could have helped if it was a bit shorter and more replayable.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game appears to be inconsistent among players; while some report a smooth experience with no bugs or crashes, others encounter frequent issues that disrupt gameplay. Overall, opinions are divided, with some praising its performance and others highlighting significant bugs and technical problems.

    • “Extremely buggy, the game breaks all the time and kinda looks ugly.”
    • “I can get two controllers but the third won't work.. all my playtime shown was wasted troubleshooting.”
    • “Extremely buggy, the game breaks all the time and kinda looks ugly.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the 2020's Battletoads is described as a modern take on the original 1994 version, featuring improved graphics and a new art style while maintaining the nostalgic soundtracks and overall feel of the classic game. However, some users feel that it lacks the original's unique atmosphere, despite appreciating the updates. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of its predecessor while offering a fresh visual experience.

    • “I love the atmosphere that it has.”
    • “Having that in mind, I can safely say that the 2020's Battletoads is a modern version of the 1994 game with way better graphics, and a different art style that, given how much time was in-between the two games, is more than welcome. Yet, that didn't manage to change how the game felt or sounded; the soundtracks and music remained faithful to the 1994 version and previous games, capturing the whole atmosphere of that era.”
    • “And no, there's nothing from the original atmosphere here.”
    • “Having that in mind, I can safely say that the 2020's Battletoads is a modern version of the 1994 game with way better graphics and a different art style. However, that didn't manage to change how the game felt or sounded; the soundtracks and music remained faithful to the 1994 version and previous games, and that whole atmosphere of that era of time.”
    • “And no, there's nothing from the original atmosphere here.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express a strong emotional response, with one reviewer noting they cried after playing, indicating a deep connection to the game's narrative. However, there is disappointment in the lack of humor and heartfelt moments, as well as gameplay that failed to engage them fully.

    • “When I got home, I cried.”
    • “I wanted an experience akin to playing a cartoon (in a narrative way), but it was not as heartfelt or funny as I'd hoped, and the gameplay didn't grab me.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for being disappointing, as players expected a more engaging experience given the extensive advertising and nostalgia associated with the franchise. Many feel that the repetitive gameplay and lackluster story do not justify any potential in-game purchases or monetization strategies.

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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
3-3h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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