Battletoads is a game with a very small attention span. One moment it's a brawler, the next it's a bullet hell shooter. When you finally get a handle on it, the thing becomes a rhythmic runner game.
Those hoping for a brawler will be disappointed. There's plenty of combat, but Battletoads is never in a hurry to get to it. It's too busy hurrying toward a dozen other shiny objects.
It's fun though! A bloody mess, but weirdly fun.