This is an improvement over the NES game, because it's actually a beat 'em up for most of its runtime this time! Your move set is still rather limited with no defensive options outside attempting iframe abuse but hey, the bulk of the game isn't instant death traps now! The sprites are very expressive and the Toads are filled with personality. I will say that the extreme violence like blood spurting out and decapitation don't fit with the vibe I got from the NES game, but it's definitely a remnant of the style at the time. Extreme Violence and cartoon physics don't work at their best here. Grabbing a giant rat man by the dick and repeatedly punching them in the balls is definitely...a decision. I also like the shmup level, but I don't think it should have been the final level, as placing that right at the end betrays all the skills the player has been using up to this point. I'd add one more level with the Dark Queen since you don't face her here.

Just because it isn't the NES game doesn't mean Battletoads Arcade isn't relentlessly hard. Too hard in some spots I'd say, getting hit will wombo combo you and the finale of the game doesn't use the skills you learned and requires a completely different skillset. I imagine it gets easier with multiple players though.

Better than the NES game still.