Battletoads and Double Dragon
Retro-Bit's new re-release of Battletoads and Double Dragon won't feature any significant changes to its original release outside of it licensing screen. Every detail you remember from the original SNES release will be exactly as you remember with full single player and 2 player co-op being present. For NTSC and PAL regions, the game will come in the correct cartridge format to be playable by those regions systems. The game itself is region free and a quick double press of the reset button on your console will set it. Regional differences should be expected with PAL playing at 50Hz and NTSC at 60Hz. Retro-Bit's re-release is going for $54.99/€69.99 and pre-orders are open until December 27.
I have been looking forward to this release of Battletoads and Double Dragon after Retro-Bit's NES version. The improved graphics and sound offered by the SNES version are quite the step up over the NES and Nintendo's 16-Bit system has always been more my go to. This is also just such a fun beat-em-up and combining the Battletoads with the Double Dragons had no right to work as well as it did! At $55 the game is also more approachable then trying to snag a complete version of the original release which ranges anywhere from $90-$150 depending on condition. Cartridge only falls into that same $50 territory but then you miss out on a nice box and manual.
Gley Lancer
Gley Lancer is the more interesting release of this pair based on original availability and work being done on it. The game never saw an official North American release on the Sega Genesis making this the first officially licensed way to do so! As such, the game features an entirely new translation making it accessible to English speaking audiences. The manual likewise features newly translated pages and restored artwork which chronicle a number of important details about the game. Like Battletoads, Gley Lancer will run for $54.99/€69.99 making it far more accessible than trying to score an original Japanese cartridge which run for an insane $400-$600 depending on condition. And unless you can read Japanese you would have no idea what is even going on in the story either. A portion of each Gley Lancer sell will also be donated to the Video Game History Foundation!
Having never played Gley Lancer, I am eyeing this release with utmost interest. Like previous Genesis releases from Retro-Bit, this is a game that I will now be able to access far easier than trying to score an original copy. I also get a nice box and manual to go with it instead of some beat up cartridge or box. There is also that whole translation thing going on making it so I can actually enjoy the release on the hardware it was originally intended for! Gley Lancer also looks like another solid Genesis Shmup and there is always room in my life for those.
Both titles are again open for pre-order starting today and running until December 27. This is a one and done deal so once the pre-order window closes there won't be any more copies available. If you are in North America, you can pre-order both games through Castlemania Games and Limited Run Games. For those of you in Europe, pre-orders are available through Dragon Box Shop, Spel & Sant, Xtralife, and Nedgame. Just as an additional heads up, Retro-Bit's Valis Collection is still up for pre-order until November 27 for even more retro goodness!