My brother and I were spellbound by this when we were kids, but I'm not convinced that we ever knew how to progress. As an adult, I'm even more fascinated with it, and I've finally seen multiple endings. Seriously, this game just drops you into its world and trusts you to figure it all out through trial and error. As a first-time player, you will get into fights that you never intended to, and you will die. In Way of the Samurai, death means restarting your playthrough. You can quicksave during time changes, but that's about all. Nearing death in the heat of combat? Well, you'd better make yourself an opening to pick up food from the ground, and you'd better clear your eating animation that feels just a bit too long. The question then becomes, are you hooked enough to keep banging your head on this thing? I was, and it was worth the frustration. This is a truly enrapturing game with many, many flaws, but it's an experience that I won't soon forget.

Interested in Battletoads but haven't played it yet?
Maybe you were the only kid on the block that could clear the Turbo Tunnel and you want to revisit the glory days?

Check out this Prep Kit! It's full of 1991 magazine coverage, Nintendo Power comics, advertising, art, and LOADS of merch all to help get you in that Launch Day mindset! There's even a TV Show pilot from 1992 in there, check it out:

https://goatedquest.blogspot.com/2024/04/069-battletoads-prep-kit.html

Let me help make every game you play feel brand new, no matter how old