Toads are choking
According to the game’s plot, the fighting brotherhood of toads, like the series itself, spent twenty-six years in a bunker, where they happily existed in a virtual simulation of former heroic exploits. Once out in the world, Zitz, Pimple and Rush discover, to their great disappointment, that no one wants them anymore and they are hardly known. In an attempt to recapture their former glory, they decide to seek out their main adversary, the Dark Queen. Their encounter with her and further adventures are the subject of one big and unexpectedly enjoyable spoiler.
In spite of the fans’ grumbling that scolded the new Battletoads at the first previews, the story and style are among its undoubted merits. The self-ironic and postmodern scenario, with its dialogue and beautifully drawn Rick and Morty animations, can only be criticized from the point of view of taste. The new tone, colorful and cartoonish, although it goes against the darker and more concise style of the original, but it perfectly suits the modern reinterpretation, which will be understandable to both former fans of fighting toads and new players.
Like the previous Battletoads, the 2020 game tries to fit in as many mechanics and genres as possible. For about a third of the episodes it pretends to be an old-school beat’em up, and it has to be said, it does it very well. All three toads know how to throw enemies in the air, hit them with their huge fists and charging blows, comically transforming into a shark, a sarcophagus with a mummy, and a train. Useful in battle and a long tongue – with its help you can attract small enemies, move around the level and spit immobilizing slime. In single-player mode, switching between heroes is allowed (and even encouraged), which increases the combo score and final score.
There are relatively few types of enemies, but you have to find a different approach to each one: some enemies open up for a short hit, others attack from a distance, and still others need to break a block first. When several groups of assorted foes enter the arena at once, you have to act quickly and decisively, actively using the bundles of punches and jerk. Fighting here is a real pleasure thanks to the smooth animations, colorful arenas and cheerful dynamics. Not as upbeat as in the recent Streets of Rage 4, but still pretty cool.
What a pity.
Unfortunately, the rest of the game wasn’t as good. Two-dimensional levels with platforming turned out to be simply boring – there are no original puzzles, no interesting mechanics, no challenge. There’s also not much to like about the spaceship episodes, when Battletoads turns into a mediocre but fairly complex shoot’em up. The only truly perky ones were the nostalgic rides on turbo bikes and chases in the spirit of the last parts of Rayman, but they were given a criminally small amount.
The numerous mini-games also leave a mixed feeling. Some of them, such as fixing the systems of our starship or the toad analogue of the “rock-paper-scissors” game, turned out to be both funny and fascinating, but most of them simply fill up the playing time, and even repeat themselves regularly. With a relatively short duration – four or five hours – closer to the finale Battletoads is definitely boring, and the desire to replay it almost does not arise.
True, there’s not much to do: apart from collecting hidden collectibles and improving your own scores, there is nothing to do on the second playthrough. No additional characters, no hidden missions, no cool music museum or art, unfortunately, did not deliver. There is no online co-op – you can pass the game with friends only locally, which in 2020 seems a little wild.
In summary: the new Battletoads was definitely a success, and the return of beloved heroes was a success. But the authors lacked a sense of proportion, talent and, perhaps, budget to come one hundred percent hit, which could be put on par with the legendary predecessor and recommended to all and sundry. So buy it only if you don’t feel bad about it.