Battletoads debuted on the NES in 1991, developed by Rare and published by Tradewest, becoming famous as one of the hardest games ever made. Its energetic soundtrack, composed by David Wise, became a staple of 8-bit music compilations. Clips of the theme spread through YouTube retrospectives, Angry Video Game Nerd-style reviews and speedrunning streams celebrating its brutal Turbo Tunnel level. Today retro creators still use it as shorthand for 90s difficulty, Rare nostalgia and cartoonish beat-em-up action.