Battletoads & Double Dragon
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| Battletoads & Double Dragon | |
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| Developer(s) | Rare, Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Tradewest |
| Release date(s) | June, 1993 NES 1993 GEN October, 1993 SNES |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single Player, multiplayer (except on Game Boy) |
| Rating(s) | VRC: General Audiences |
| Platform(s) | Mega Drive/Genesis, Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Super Nintendo |
Battletoads & Double Dragon is a 2D beat 'em up released for the NES, Game Boy, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and SNES. It was developed by Rare, which has produced such other hits as the first-person shooters Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark.
The game presents the characters from the famous series Double Dragon, Billy and Jimmy—two young martial arts experts. Also included are three humanoid toads from the Battletoads game. The characters, including enemies, are mostly from the Battletoads game.
In the beginning of the game, the player must choose between the five hero-characters: Billy, Jimmy (humans), Zitz, Pimple or Rash (toads). Then, the chosen character must walk through different scenarios, kicking and punching each enemy which comes onscreen. Like many such games, a boss is included at the end of each stage, which challenges the player before they can progress to a higher level of the game.
The Mega Drive/Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo versions of the game are quite similar, being the only difference the quality of graphics and sound— both are considered better in the Super Nintendo version, although the toad sprites have a better look in the Mega Drive.
The NES version of the game is remarkable in that it features 3D scrolling and other advanced special effects not commonly found on the console.
With two players, the continues are overlapping. If one player loses all of his lives, then both players have to continue at the beginning of the level. This is the opposite of games like Contra, where a strong player can tow a weak player along to advanced levels. In Battletoads & Double Dragon, a weak player will hold a strong player back.
[edit] Discrepancies
Although the game uses Double Dragon license (which Tradewest owned at the time), the original developers of the franchise (Technos Japan) were not directly involved with the development of the game. As a result, there are several inconsistancies between enemies from the Double Dragon series that were featured in this game. With the exception of Abobo and Linda (who is given the surname Lash), almost all the Double Dragon enemies are either misnamed or original creations passed off as Double Dragon characters.
- The Shadow Boss, who is presented as the archnemesis of the Lee brothers, is not an actual Double Dragon villain. However, his character bears a passing resemblance to Burnov, the first stage boss from Double Dragon II. Like Burnov, the Shadow Boss wears pants and suspenders, along with a mask that conceals his face. When defeated, the Shadow Boss leaves behind only his mask, just like Burnov. Unlike Burnov, the Shadow Boss is lean and muscled, whereas Burnov is merely obese.
- Roper, the boss of Stage 3, is actually a misnamed Willy, the main bad guy in the first Double Dragon.
- Ironically, a character resembling the real Roper appears as a common enemy in Stage 2 named Guido.
- A common enemy named Lopar (which itself, was an alternate romanization of Roper's name used in one of the manuals) appears in Stage 5. This character attacks by doing cartwheels and throwing knives, similar to Williams in Double Dragon II.
- The Shadow Marines, Doorman and Windowman of Doom and the Ryders are all original creations for this game. The only Double Dragon game to feature motorcycle-riding enemies was the arcade version of Double Dragon 3.
