Secret Base has revealed a fascinating piece of Battletoads history, showing off a playable Rash prototype that was created as part of a pitch for Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons.
The footage gives fans a glimpse at what a crossover between the two classic beat ’em up franchises could have looked like, with Rash running through a stripped-down version of the Double Dragon Gaiden engine and taking on enemies using his trademark moves. His tongue can be used to pull enemies toward him, while his exaggerated attacks are also recreated for the prototype. The footage even gives Rash access to his iconic Turbo Bike.
While the footage may look like something that was pulled from an early version of the game, it was actually created as a pitch for potential Battletoads content. Secret Base says the concept was shown to Microsoft, which initially appeared interested in the idea before communication between the two sides eventually stopped. The developer has speculated that problems with its email servers may have also played a role, potentially preventing follow-up messages from reaching Microsoft.
Rash was not simply a concept character placed into a few test environments, either. Secret Base confirmed that he was fully playable and animated when the pitch was completed, with animator David Zhang credited for bringing the character to life. The audio heard in the footage was only placeholder material added to help demonstrate the concept, rather than finished game audio.
It is an especially appropriate crossover considering that Battletoads and Double Dragon have already shared the spotlight. The two franchises previously came together in Battletoads & Double Dragon, which was released for systems including the NES, Game Boy and Mega Drive.
Unfortunately, this particular collaboration never progressed beyond the pitch, meaning Double Dragon Gaiden players never got the opportunity to take Rash into battle alongside the game’s roster. However, the story may not necessarily end there for Secret Base and Battletoads.
With development on Double Dragon Gaiden now complete, Secret Base has indicated that the idea of making a Battletoads brawler could still be worth revisiting. That does not mean a new Battletoads game from the studio has been announced, but it does suggest that the developer’s interest in the franchise has not disappeared after the original crossover concept failed to move forward.
For now, this prototype remains a glimpse at a Battletoads crossover that never happened, but Secret Base’s comments make the footage considerably more interesting. After building a modern Double Dragon game, the studio may have another classic beat ’em up franchise it would like to tackle if the opportunity ever comes around.