Battletoads & Double Dragon
Encyclopedia
Battletoads & Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team is a 1993
beat 'em up
developed by Rare and published by Tradewest
. It was originally released for the NES
and later ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES
, and Game Boy
.
The Ultimate Team is a crossover of both Technos Japan's Double Dragon and Rare's own Battletoads
game franchises, although Technos had little or no credited involvement in the production of the game outside of the Double Dragon license. The game features the characters from the Double Dragon series, Billy and Jimmy Lee, two young martial arts experts; also included are the three humanoid toad protagonists from the Battletoads game. The game's engine and design are directly based upon the Battletoads series.
is included at the end of each stage, challenging the player before they can progress to a higher level of the game. With two players, the continues are overlapping: whenever one player continues, then both players have to start 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).
The later Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo versions of the game are quite similar, the only differences being the SNES version has better graphics and higher quality sound, while the Sega version runs smoother, features more music tracks, has sharper sprites for the 'toads, and more comical reactions from defeated enemies.
Nintendo Power
staff rated it as the second-best NES game of 1993. The NES version was also nominated for Nintendo Power Awards 1993 in the categories "Graphics & Sound", "Theme & Fun", "Play Control", "Villain" (The Dark Queen) and "The Best Overall Game". In 2008, the game was also featured on the list of "Top 11 Video Game Crossovers" by UGO Networks.
1993 in video gaming
-Events:*March — In Sweden, the Swedish video game magazine Super PLAY starts. The original name is Super Power.*Midway Games embroiled in controversy for its game Mortal Kombat from 1992 when the game is launched for video game consoles in 1993....
beat 'em up
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
developed by Rare and published by Tradewest
Tradewest
Tradewest is a now-defunct American video game company based in Corsicana, Texas that produced numerous games in the 1980s and early 1990s. The company is best known as the publisher of the Battletoads and Double Dragon series in North America and the PAL region.The Tradewest name was revived in...
. It was originally released for the NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and later ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, and Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
.
The Ultimate Team is a crossover of both Technos Japan's Double Dragon and Rare's own Battletoads
Battletoads
Battletoads is a platformer video game created by Tim and Chris Stamper and developed by Rare. Starring three anthropomorphic toads named after skin conditions , the game was created to rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games....
game franchises, although Technos had little or no credited involvement in the production of the game outside of the Double Dragon license. The game features the characters from the Double Dragon series, Billy and Jimmy Lee, two young martial arts experts; also included are the three humanoid toad protagonists from the Battletoads game. The game's engine and design are directly based upon the Battletoads series.
Story
After being defeated by the Battletoads, the evil Dark Queen flees to the outer reaches of the universe and the 'Toads and their mentor get on with their lives. However, one day the Earth's military is neutralized and a giant spaceship called Colossus emerges from the moon. Apparently, the Dark Queen is back in another plan to dominate the galaxy, and she has allied herself with the Shadow Warriors (from the Double Dragon series) to supplement her forces. Deciding to even the odds, the Battletoads get in contact with Billy and Jimmy Lee and ask them for their help. The brothers agree, and all five immediately take off for the Colossus in a mission to stop this two-pronged threat.Gameplay
The player has a choice of five playable characters: Billy and Jimmy Lee (from Double Dragon), and Zitz, Pimple and Rash from Battletoads. The player must then proceed through seven stages, kicking and punching each enemy that comes onscreen. A bossBoss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
is included at the end of each stage, challenging the player before they can progress to a higher level of the game. With two players, the continues are overlapping: whenever one player continues, then both players have to start at the beginning of the level (this is the opposite of games like Contra
Contra (arcade game)
, known as Gryzor in Europe and Oceania, is a run and gun action game developed and published by Konami originally released as a coin-operated arcade game on February 20, 1987. A home version was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in , along with ports for various computer formats,...
, 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).
Ports
The first-released NES version of the game features 3D scrolling and other advanced special effects not commonly found on the console. The Game Boy version is similar to the NES version, but it is only for one player. The sprites are the same size although the screen is smaller (leaving less room for movement) and the 3D effects were removed.The later Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo versions of the game are quite similar, the only differences being the SNES version has better graphics and higher quality sound, while the Sega version runs smoother, features more music tracks, has sharper sprites for the 'toads, and more comical reactions from defeated enemies.
Reception
The game was very-well received upon its release, receiving scores in range of 80-100% in most reviews.Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
staff rated it as the second-best NES game of 1993. The NES version was also nominated for Nintendo Power Awards 1993 in the categories "Graphics & Sound", "Theme & Fun", "Play Control", "Villain" (The Dark Queen) and "The Best Overall Game". In 2008, the game was also featured on the list of "Top 11 Video Game Crossovers" by UGO Networks.