attletoads is a 1991 beat 'em up platform video game developed by Rare and published by Tradewest for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The first installment of the Battletoads series, it was released in North America and Japan in 1991 and in Europe in 1993. Ports without Rare's involvement were released on the Mega Drive and Game Gear in 1993, and on the Amiga and Amiga CD32 in 1994 ; a port developed by Rare for the Game Boy was released in 1993 as Battletoads in Ragnarok's World. In the game, three space humanoid warrior toads form a group known as the Battletoads. Two of the Battletoads, Rash and Zitz, embark on a mission to defeat the evil Dark Queen on her planet and rescue their kidnapped friends: Pimple, the third member of the Battletoads, and Princess Angelica.
Battletoads is structurally one of the scarcest mainstream NES titles. Released late in the lifecycle when Nintendo's print runs were declining, Tradewest's distribution was uneven, and the title's reputation for difficulty suppressed casual sales. Sealed WATA 9.4 A+ trades $1,800–5,500; the 1991 Tradewest packaging is the only documented variant.
