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If you like the patch Bugfix v.1.0 by the same author, you'll find it regrettable that it's not compatible with the Dark Queen Rematch patch. Since there were not 2 versions of the patch, such as one for those playing the original game, and another one for people playing with the Bugfix patched version, that mean you have to choose between this patch and the bugfix patch. This is comprehensible as this patch came out way before the Bugfix patch was release. Maybe a future version will fix this issue, but for the version 1.3 it's not compatible.

If you read the ReadMe file, you'll notice this patch also contain bugfixes, but the problem is that not all the bugfixes are there, some are missing. Fortunately the well-known bug in 2 player mode of Clinger Winger is apparently fixed (I say apparently because I haven't verified).

Then, I tried the patch itself. At first, at the very beginning of the game, when the toads are coming out of the spaceship to bring you at the first level, during that specific cutscene, I wasn't sure if I succeed at doing the UP+START to play as the dragons. The reason was because during the cutscene, I was still the toads.

And now the first stage. Yeah, now it works, I'm playing the dragons. So I believe the cutscene aren't modified if you choose to play as the dragons. It seem the characters has been take from the game Battletoads & Double Dragon The Ultimate Team game on NES. They are looking the same and they handle a weapon the same way, they attack-kick the same way. It is a very good choice as it fit very well with the original Battletoads game.

According to the ReadMe file, you're playing Billy. But you have green pants like Jimmy from Battletoads Double Dragon, so I thought I was playing as Jimmy. And if you play 2 players mode, you play as 2 Billy, but the second player have yellow pants. While these details may not really matter, I thought it was something to mention in this review because I think it's a curious decision considering in Battletoads Double Dragon you have a green pants for Jimmy and blue pants for Billy.

Since Billy is not a frog, he can't eat the bugs to recover health, thanks to the healing block (identical to the one from Battletoads & double dragon game) that appear at the same places as where you can find the bugs.

And now, this patch also modify this game, adding enemies, and many other changes (look at the ReadME for the full list). While some player may enjoy these changes, it was for me a turn off, I would prefer to keep the game as much like the original but simply adding the possibility to play as 2 Billy (or as Jimmy and Billy).

Special note for Game Genie users: Something I noticed, probably due to all these changes in the game, my Game Genie code to start on Clinger Winger level was no longer working, so I guess most Game Genie codes you have for this game will no longer work if you patch your game, and you would have to create new ones if you have the knowledge to do so. As I'm playing alone, this is also why I hadn't the chance to verify by myself if the Clinger Winger bug in 2 players mode was really fixed, but it should be, as it's in the ReadMe file.

I haven't tried everything due to the fact I couldn't select my level with the Game Genie codes I have. So I don't know if Billy put the enemy inside the ground (from above) when he have a stick as a weapon. Just like he does in Battletoads & Double Dragon game.

Pro:

• The addition of the possibility to play as Billy
• The fact you can still play as the toads (you have to input UP+START to play with this new hidden character, and it's very nice idea)
• Some bugfix as been included in the patch
• The use of the same graphic than the one used in Battletoad & Double Dragon is a good choice.
• Good overall work

Cons:

• The fact the game was modified (adding enemies, etc..) it's a personal opinion though. Depending what you prefer
• The fact the player automatically start with 2 extra life, as it remove the possibility to start with 3 lifes with the cheat (read the last paragraph of my review for more info)
• The fact Billy is shown as a toads in the cutscene (would it have been possible to show a different character in the cutscene if you trigger this new character? I don't know)
• Game Genie codes seem to no longer work (probably due to the game modifications)
• The fact the current version 1.3 doesn't include all the bugfixes that are present in the current bugfixes patch version 1.0 from the same author.

Overall: I would not recommend this patch mostly because I think it is preferable to take the bugfix patch where more bug have been fixed. Also, as I prefer to play the game as much as the original, I would have prefer to only have the addition of the dragons character. Apart from these 2 things (which are important to me), if Billy was fully compatible (which include with the cutscenes), then I would have pick this nice addition of 1 extra playable secret character to the game. But due to these points, I can't really recommend this patch, as I would rather recommend the bugfix patch.

One last thing: Considering the fact you have to press UP+START to begin the game as Billy, you can't really use the cheat A+B+DOWN+START at the same time to start with 2 extra life, because you can't really press UP and DOwN at the same time. But the game was modified here, and you start already with the 2 extra life. If the game wasn't modified at all (other than adding the new character), it would have been possible to keep this option. For instance: playing as Billy with pressing SELECT+START instead. This way, the player would have all possibilities: play as Billy or not, and with the 2 extra life or not. A+B+DOWN+START would make you start as toads with extra life, add SELECT to this same cheat to start with these 2 extra life and as Billy, or simply press SELECT+START to begin as Billy without the extra life. Also note these things could also be added to the current patch even with the modified version of the game, so the player would still have the possibility to decide if he want to start with or without the 2 extra life.

This review contains minor spoilers.

This being the only considerable modification of the original game so far should be enough reason for praise, but what it does is impressive. It not only "adds" the dragons as playable characters, it does so on a high quality standard. Every stance where original sprites were required for the dragons actions have been well drawn.

Also, the game has been modified to make it easier. I'm not sure how much of that is the same as the Japanese version, but I know there is new stuff, including new warp zones.

All in all, I recommend this one for Battletoads masters as well as people looking for a way to experience the game in a new way.

This the only hack of Battletoads in existence; my favourite NES game, and possibly my favourite game of all time. Well... what to say...? The hack does what it's trying to do, but... what it's trying to do isn't what I want.

I want more than anything for there to be a level hack of Battletoads, but no such hack exists. It really makes me sad.

The biggest problem is that there isn't a Battletoads level editor, so you could argue that what this guy did is really impressive, but... what did this really accomplish?

Could someone PLEASE design a level editor for Battletoads?! I've wanted a level hack of it ever since I mastered the game!

But hey, if playing as Billy or Jimmy in Battletoads was your biggest dream... I guess this is the hack for you, but it's certainly far from what I want to see in a Battletoads hack.