A SNES exclusive Battletoads sequel, faithful to the wild formula but controller breakingly hard. Only for stubborn fans.
Your verdict
Category
Beat-'Em-Up1 player7+
Co-op
Description
Beat-'em-up featuring Rare's Battletoads in an alien underworld adventure. Published by Tradewest, released in Europe in 1993. Zitz, Rash and Pimple battling through dense levels, transformations into combat tools, two-player co-op and cartoon humor. Battletoads sequel on Super Nintendo.
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Punishing"
Reputedly unbeatable, this blend of brawling and platforming alternates beefy fights and ultra-high-speed racing sequences that forgive not the slightest hesitation. Everything hinges on memorizing the obstacles and split-second timing, up to a legendary breaking point. Brutal yet conquerable through sheer persistence, it forged its reputation as a nightmare adored by die-hards.
The European PAL SNES edition of the Rare beat'em up, an indirect sequel to NES Battletoads, with a short PAL print and a fragile cardboard box. The PAL cart is rarer than the US version and belongs to the sought-after Rare SNES PAL catalogue alongside Donkey Kong Country and Battletoads-Double Dragon. PAL boxed CIB in the original cardboard box climbs steadily, sustained by physical scarcity and by the legendary difficulty of the Battletoads line.
Is Battletoads in Battlemaniacs still worth playing in 2026?
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs remains a SNES exclusive platform brawler, faithful to the visual chaos and the cruelty of the Rare series. The 16 bit jump improves readability, but the difficulty stays legendary, especially during the airborne bike sections where pixel perfect timing returns to the front line. The co op mode is a patience trial more than a stroll. For fans of old school challenges and the Rare touch, a cartridge worth recommending with a clear warning about its roughness.
