Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: Dlala Studios, Rare
Platform: PC, XB1
Genre: 2.5D Brawler
Ah yes, one of the legends of 2D brawler finally returns to the big screen and it's, ah, it's ok. Sort of ok. It is a full reincarnation of the older Battletoads game in terms of gameplay alone, presentation leaves something quite desired.
Developed by Dlala Studios in conjunction with Rare, Battletoads 2020 is a fun couch gaming romp into stomping enemies. At first reveal, it wasn't well-received mainly because of the redesign and the underwhelming aesthetics that sort of undermines the attitude era type deal the first few games had. It was obviously a big deviation and it doesn't seem to pay off well either.
While the game can seem underwhelming around initial playthrough, you do eventually warm up to it as the levels open up, you face more interesting enemies, kick their butts, engage in regular Saturday morning cartoon rhetorics. Yeah, that's about it. It doesn't change the flow, just breaks the mold. Then again, it does have some crazy hilarious moments.
Story
The anthropomorphic physically enhanced toads; Rash, Zitz and Pimple finally return to the game after being stuck in some weird virtual simulation for the past 26 years without a single game being released. Obviously a reference to the long hiatus of these guys from the gaming industry. Afterwards they get measly jobs, jobs they obviously don't like. So in order to return to fame, they must battle against a greater foe, so they team up temporarily with the Dark Queen only temporarily.
So the premise is set around this weird goofy nonsensical world of mysticism and technology where a bunch of toads go around wrecking havoc. You wouldn't care anyway because everybody you fight up against are just pestilence in your path.
But I didn't feel really motivated to keep going because a lot of things in this game feels shallow including the characters, their 4th wall jokes and their motivation for going back to the top isn't even worth the trip alone if it means beating a bunch of snails with hammers. The cartoonish charm least works in some regards. But, the world including the MCs, are watered down compared to the original, everything is a throwaway punchline for the shoddy humor in this game. Save though for the complete left field stuff that comes out to which I have to admit, I was really laughing my ass off at seldom times.
I get they made quite a few changes, especially with the Dark Queen being petite and full on potty mouth. But none of these elicit good reactions from the long-standing fans of the series who've waited for a sequel. Quite frankly it does work half the time but mostly within the last act. And speaking of acts.
Gameplay
Battletoads lets you play all three characters on single-player, you can switch between them, allowing you to use each of their special moves and different attacks. Not only that, but taking damage and dying means you have to wait till 20 seconds for them to respawn. Combat is hectic and requires you to dash and dodge attacks while pulling off combos against various enemy types. Some block, some are range, some are tanky and others for attacking. This adds a nice strategic element to the gameplay that requires good deal of concentration and discipline.
You have strike, morph and launch attacks, used together in combo for various attack moves. Morph is used to break shields while launch is used to beat enemies up towards the air. You can use their tongues to grab flies for restoring health and collectibles, grabbing enemies towards you or gravitating towards them, spitting gum, and platforming. Jumping and dashing is also there. So yeah, these are basic moves that you use beat enemies to a pulp, doing it in much faster increases your combo score in each battle.
Different enemy types in each battle are engaging enough thanks to how they each do their attacks as team and forcing you to strategize. Playing alone that is. In co-op, it's a bit of the same except more button smashing and tossing them around. This is a 2D style game so using each of the characters strength is essential, sometimes other characters work out against certain type of enemies in battles. This game can be pretty challenging hence why it's important to be tactical.
Collecting items require that you interact with the environment like finding birds and spitting at them so that they go back to their nests and you can collect your rewards for finding all of them or burning this furnace in a little mini-game. In fact, there are even puzzle games around here and there.
There are even platforming sections much like the older 90's games like the hover bike lap, jumping and dodging obstacles in a speed run. Some also involve you playing as Dark Queen minions, going across platforming levels. These are actually pretty interesting distractions from the overall combat, and they do add up to the fun factor. Though some parts of it can get tedious and overdrawn longer they should be. Then there's weird stuff like "Toad, Sham, Bo!"
Battletoads combat has more redeeming qualities than the games appeal itself, though that being said, it has noticeable drawbacks like combat can feel unfair or too easy. Making it seem like the battles don't have a sense of balancing and that it can be cheap on that aspect. Also, I get the feeling that they've somewhat failed to show a moves list for the combos because I have to keep fighting to figure them out on my own.
Least the boss fights are interesting, yeah apparently in 4 of the acts, you fight against all sorts of different bosses. Each throwing stuff at you like they have no patience for your shenanigans. It's great fun especially with co-op.
Co-op
So the cooperative gameplay experience is fun. Upto 3 players can play each of the unique toads in battle. Beating up foes, getting your combos up and pulling zany moves at the same time.
However, this game is offline couch co-op only. Sad considering in today's current predicament, online co-op could have alleviated the issue but alas it's not there. The only way possible to play this is by Parsec. Which kind of sucks because it's hard to manage a game lobby with trolls and fact that it can't tell which country the session is in. I managed to join one with seriously ridiculous lag.
Presentation
It has a colorful, yet zany 2D presentation. Characteristic flamboyant. That's it. At least the soundtrack is sick, but it also overstays its welcome as well.
Summation
I honestly don't know what to tell you, it's kind of underwhelming. This game seems like the type that could have so much going for but no, it fails on the key aspects of the Battletoads name.
If you've played games like Hollow Knight, Castle Crashers, Dead Cells, Cuphead, etc. This game is sort of a skip. It's not bad, but it is kind of disappointing.