The plot was that three teenaged mutant toads named affectionately after skin disorders (Zitz, Pimple and Rash) had to save Princess Angelica from the evil Dark Queen, ruler of Planet Ragnarok, with the assistance of Professor T. Bird and his space ship, The Vulture.
Play consisted of different types of levels: there were various types of racing levels that half the battle was memorizing all the obstacles that were ahead of you, "snake" levels where you climbed twisting, twirling snakes to the exit, "climbing" or "falling" levels where it was a race to the top or bottom of the level through deadly, complicated obstacles, and a water level full of sharks, electric eels and other baddies.
The game was a balance of challenge and skill: it was very challenging but not impossible, and luck played almost no part in the game.
There were several games for Nintendo and Sega consoles.
Battletoads: the first game, released for the NES and Sega Genesis
Battletoads and Double Dragon: very similar to the first game,
the toads fight Dark Queen along with the Double Dragons. Released
in 1993 for the Nintendo, Gameboy, Sega Genesis, and Super Nintendo.
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs: game for Super Nintendo and Sega Master System.
The characters are bigger and the graphics effects are better.
Also starring Pimple, Zitz and Rash. Released in 1993
Super Battletoads: arcade version released in 1994
Battletoads in Ragnarok's world: gameboy version of the original game. Released in 1993.
Since Battletoads franchise is owned by Rare Ltd., which was acquired by Microsoft in 2002, future Battletoads games may only be developed for Xbox.
NES Title Screen
Sega Genesis Title Screen