Now is the time for the Battletoads' cult to rise up and demand a game for the new generation. I know that there are billions of us Battlemaniacs quietly biding our time for the right moment to strike. Well, the time is now! Bring back Rash, Zit, and Pimple. Speak up my Battletoads brethren because we need a new game!
Battletoads & Double Dragon was one of the best multiplayer experiences I had in the early 90s. It was so easy to pick up and play and it was so much fun walking around smashing people. It was difficult when it needed be, but not so difficult that it was irritating. Just when you got bored bashing people with fists, weapons, and debri, you would suddenly be thrown into a motorcycle/racing/platforming level. At the time, it was the perfect game to play with a buddy. Now that all of our consoles are connected through the internet and we’ve got the ‘infinite power of the cloud’, why have we not gotten a new Battletoads game?
For those that don’t know, Battletoads was a side scrolling beat-em-up from the NES/SNES eras. Rare developed the original games, and to the best of my knowledge, they still own the IP. Although I have fond memories about this game, I have no idea what a new Battletoads would/should look like. Quite frankly, it doesn’t really matter. As long as it can create the same fun feeling, any way they go with it works. Ofcourse its fun to imagine what a new Battletoads could look like? Also, why hasn’t Rare made one yet? Here are some ways they could go:
1. The ‘Traditional’ Option
Rare could keep the formula the exact same. 2D gameplay updated for HD with 3D models. A perfect example of this is a game like Shoot Many Robots. The benefits of this is that it should be easy to make, and wouldn’t require too many resources. Additionally, this would be the 'truest' to the source material and would be the least controversial with the most hardcore Battletoad fanbase. In order to maintain value and replay ability, Rare could include unlock mechanics, upgrades, etc (again, similar to Shoot Many Robots). Imagine how awesome this game would be running on the XB1 looking similar to Killer Instinct.
I can’t imagine that this would be too resource heavy or taxing for Rare to make, since indie studios do the same thing all the time with a handful of people. It could be a short game with replay ability and be a much more affordable, digital only game. If marketed correctly, I could see a game like this doing well!
2. Half & Half
Think Super Mario 3D world. Side-scrolling action in the same spirit as the original Battletoads games but periodically opening up into full 3D areas. Again, purest would be largely unshaken by this shift as the mechanic would remain mostly the same.
3. Full 3D
Although many Battletoads aficionados would balk at the idea of a full 3D game, I genuinely think it could work. With an Arkham-style combat scheme along with three-player online coop, this could be the perfect way to create a 21st century Battletoads experience. The biggest barrier here is the fact that this type of game would require a lot more of Rare’s resources (well, for it to be good), and I highly doubt that they’d be willing to invest that heavily into this IP.
The game I want is #3, but I think the best option for Rare is #1. It has the smallest risk and it would help gauge the popularity of the franchise. But now the big question: Is there a Battletoads on the horizon? I really wish I knew. The last time Battletoads was mentioned out of Microsoft was here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=676149&highlight=battletoads
Is that a one off comment? Or is it a hint of what’s to come? Let’s not sit around and wait for it. Twitter, Emails, Messagesboards: #BringBackBattletoads. Let’s make it happen Battlemaniacs.
Battletoads & Double Dragon was one of the best multiplayer experiences I had in the early 90s. It was so easy to pick up and play and it was so much fun walking around smashing people. It was difficult when it needed be, but not so difficult that it was irritating. Just when you got bored bashing people with fists, weapons, and debri, you would suddenly be thrown into a motorcycle/racing/platforming level. At the time, it was the perfect game to play with a buddy. Now that all of our consoles are connected through the internet and we’ve got the ‘infinite power of the cloud’, why have we not gotten a new Battletoads game?
For those that don’t know, Battletoads was a side scrolling beat-em-up from the NES/SNES eras. Rare developed the original games, and to the best of my knowledge, they still own the IP. Although I have fond memories about this game, I have no idea what a new Battletoads would/should look like. Quite frankly, it doesn’t really matter. As long as it can create the same fun feeling, any way they go with it works. Ofcourse its fun to imagine what a new Battletoads could look like? Also, why hasn’t Rare made one yet? Here are some ways they could go:
1. The ‘Traditional’ Option
Rare could keep the formula the exact same. 2D gameplay updated for HD with 3D models. A perfect example of this is a game like Shoot Many Robots. The benefits of this is that it should be easy to make, and wouldn’t require too many resources. Additionally, this would be the 'truest' to the source material and would be the least controversial with the most hardcore Battletoad fanbase. In order to maintain value and replay ability, Rare could include unlock mechanics, upgrades, etc (again, similar to Shoot Many Robots). Imagine how awesome this game would be running on the XB1 looking similar to Killer Instinct.
I can’t imagine that this would be too resource heavy or taxing for Rare to make, since indie studios do the same thing all the time with a handful of people. It could be a short game with replay ability and be a much more affordable, digital only game. If marketed correctly, I could see a game like this doing well!
2. Half & Half
Think Super Mario 3D world. Side-scrolling action in the same spirit as the original Battletoads games but periodically opening up into full 3D areas. Again, purest would be largely unshaken by this shift as the mechanic would remain mostly the same.
3. Full 3D
Although many Battletoads aficionados would balk at the idea of a full 3D game, I genuinely think it could work. With an Arkham-style combat scheme along with three-player online coop, this could be the perfect way to create a 21st century Battletoads experience. The biggest barrier here is the fact that this type of game would require a lot more of Rare’s resources (well, for it to be good), and I highly doubt that they’d be willing to invest that heavily into this IP.
The game I want is #3, but I think the best option for Rare is #1. It has the smallest risk and it would help gauge the popularity of the franchise. But now the big question: Is there a Battletoads on the horizon? I really wish I knew. The last time Battletoads was mentioned out of Microsoft was here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=676149&highlight=battletoads
Is that a one off comment? Or is it a hint of what’s to come? Let’s not sit around and wait for it. Twitter, Emails, Messagesboards: #BringBackBattletoads. Let’s make it happen Battlemaniacs.
