The original Battletoads is a very impressive, and very creative game for the NES. It does, however, suffer from some major issues, such as INCREDIBLY wonky platforming/game physics. Any game where you can accidentally fall through the floor if you don't jump on the exact right pixels (Turbo Tunnel), is badly programmed. And the 2 player, while commendable, flat out doesn't work well, because it's next to impossible to actually get through this game co-op. The way the platforming/wonkiness and many of the level designs work out, it simply isn't MADE for good co-op play.
Don't get me wrong, Battletoads for all its warts (pun intended), IS a good game, and I was glad I randomly came to own it as a kid (my grandmother bought it for me on a lark, even though she disapproved of violent games/cartoons/etc, because she liked frogs). But its sequel, Battletoads/Double Dragon, while lacking some of the creativity and diversity in stage ideas, goes a long way to fix the first game's issues, and as such, it PLAYS a lot better, quite frankly. The first Battletoads deserves MAJOR kudos for their inventiveness, and pushing the NES hardware they way they did. But BT/DD, overall, I feel is a better game.
When this was coming out, it was a HUGE deal, because as far as I can tell, it was the first true "Crossover" game, between two different franchises. Double Dragon were very popular early beat 'em ups, and Battletoads had proven popular enough that it even got a television cartoon pilot (which I saw when it aired, and was disappointed by). But I clearly remember being stoked to play this game, like "OMG, you can play ALL the Battletoads AND the Double Dragons, in ONE game, AND it has baddies from both?" Like I said, to young gamers at the time, it was a big deal.
And again, while it's not AS creative with the various level ideas as the first BT was, it's a very good game, with much less wonky mechanics, and tighter/smoother gameplay. The one sad reality of being able to play all the various characters, is that ALL three Battletoads, and both Double Dragon brothers, play exactly the same to each other. BUT, at least you can play them, and the BT and DD dudes, at least, have distinct moves. It still adds a fair amount of replay value. The graphics and sound are still top notch, and while the entire game takes place on a spaceship, it still manages to throw some variety your way. I only rented this once, and as far as I can recall, I failed to get to the final boss. I wish I could have owned this as a kid, so I could have played it a lot more. I definitely would have beaten it eventually, hell, I beat Battletoads, and THAT took some doing. Major childhood achievement!
Don't get me wrong, Battletoads for all its warts (pun intended), IS a good game, and I was glad I randomly came to own it as a kid (my grandmother bought it for me on a lark, even though she disapproved of violent games/cartoons/etc, because she liked frogs). But its sequel, Battletoads/Double Dragon, while lacking some of the creativity and diversity in stage ideas, goes a long way to fix the first game's issues, and as such, it PLAYS a lot better, quite frankly. The first Battletoads deserves MAJOR kudos for their inventiveness, and pushing the NES hardware they way they did. But BT/DD, overall, I feel is a better game.
When this was coming out, it was a HUGE deal, because as far as I can tell, it was the first true "Crossover" game, between two different franchises. Double Dragon were very popular early beat 'em ups, and Battletoads had proven popular enough that it even got a television cartoon pilot (which I saw when it aired, and was disappointed by). But I clearly remember being stoked to play this game, like "OMG, you can play ALL the Battletoads AND the Double Dragons, in ONE game, AND it has baddies from both?" Like I said, to young gamers at the time, it was a big deal.
And again, while it's not AS creative with the various level ideas as the first BT was, it's a very good game, with much less wonky mechanics, and tighter/smoother gameplay. The one sad reality of being able to play all the various characters, is that ALL three Battletoads, and both Double Dragon brothers, play exactly the same to each other. BUT, at least you can play them, and the BT and DD dudes, at least, have distinct moves. It still adds a fair amount of replay value. The graphics and sound are still top notch, and while the entire game takes place on a spaceship, it still manages to throw some variety your way. I only rented this once, and as far as I can recall, I failed to get to the final boss. I wish I could have owned this as a kid, so I could have played it a lot more. I definitely would have beaten it eventually, hell, I beat Battletoads, and THAT took some doing. Major childhood achievement!