| “ | Still fancy your chances? Come to me now, if you dare! Hahahahaha! | „ |
| ~ Dark Queen |
The Dark Queen, also known by her real name Evelyn Volkmire, is the main antagonist in the Battletoads series. She is usually fought at the end of the games. In the cutscenes of every game, she will taunt the Battletoads, telling them that they will never reach her lair alive. Most of her taunts are sophomoric in nature, calling them names like "Cattle Loads" or using surfer slang. Her appearances in-between stages helped her gain exposure, as the extreme difficulty of the games otherwise would have limited her exposure. The Dark Queen has received considerable attention due to her sex appeal among fans as well as for being one of the earliest female video game villains.
Biography[]
The archenemy of the Battletoads, the Dark Queen is a galactic conqueror and commander of the Mutant Ratpack. Driven only by an unquenchable lust for power, the Queen believes it is her rightful place to rule not only the galaxy, but the entire universe as well, and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, the only things standing in her way being the Terran Corporate's army and the Battletoads. She is as equally evil and powerful as she is beautiful, and many a man has fallen victim to their combined effects.
The Dark Queen is almost always depicted as a young woman with jet black hair, and a voluptuous body clad in a dominatrix-style skimpy and tight black bathing suit with high boots. In the 2020 reboot, she was completely redesigned, keeping the voluminous hair, large hips, gloves and boots but losing most of her sex appeal, now being clad in a purple jumpsuit.
Throughout the games, there have been several inconsistencies regarding her actual size. Even though her height is stated to be six feet tall on her profile screen in the arcade game (which would mean she is actually smaller than the Battletoads), she normally appears to be of a tremendous size in the classic games, usually roughly four times the height of the Battletoads.
Game Appearances[]
In Battletoads, the Dark Queen only has one special move: spinning until she turns into a tornado. How much damage is done to the player is based on how fast she is spinning; if she is about to turn into a tornado, minor damage is done, major damage will be done if she is completely spinning. If you happen to get close to her and don't use any moves, she will use her leg to kick you.
The Dark Queen usually appears between stages to mock and taunt the Battletoads, but she also possesses powerful magical abilities to fight back with. In the first game, her primary attack consists of turning into a tornado and attempting to hit the player. In Battletoads in Battlemaniacs, she instead teleports and attacks the players with her staff, and in Battletoads/Double Dragon: The Ultimate Team, she is capable of transforming into a flame and moving across the floor, remaining untouchable by doing so. She will also attack by emerging from the flame and throwing fireballs. Usually, fighting the Dark Queen isn't very challenging, especially compared to reaching her.
The Dark Queen does not appear as a boss in the Game Boy or arcade games. However, she appears in Stage 3 of the arcade, in which she watches the fight between the 'Toads and Scuzz's Robo Rat, mocking and laughing at the 'Toads whenever they get hit and panicking when the Robo-Rat gets damaged.
In the 2020 reboot the Dark Queen serves as a supporting character, having lost all of her powers and being locked away for 26 years inside of a vault on a abandoned carnival. During her confinement she created both Holidays and Bratty, having been planning on getting her revenge on the Topians for locking her and removing her powers. Upon being released by the Battletoads she suggests forming an alliance, helping the group during the game to fight their common enemy.
Other appearances[]
In the Battletoads TV Pilot, the Dark Queen is after Princess Angelica for possession of the magic amulet she wears. She fights (and easily overwhelms) Zitz and Pimple by turning into a black tornado. At one point her minions are referred to as the "Beast Police." She was voiced by actress Kathleen Barr.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Dark Queen (2020 Battletoads).jpg (266 KB)")
Trivia[]
- According to Kevin Bayliss, who designed her,[1] the Dark Queen's appearance was inspired by Cassandra Peterson's character "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark".[2]
- The Battletoads Media bible shows that the Dark Queen was originally intended to be the Gamescape persona of Evelyn Volkmire, the sister of Silas Volkmire.
- The Dark Queen was planned to be also featured in a planned Battletoads fighting game, but Rare ended up creating Killer Instinct instead.[3]
- Curiously, her cape apparently floats behind her, as it is not shown to be connected to her neck or leotard in any manner.
- The Nintendo Power comic had her not related to Silas Volkmire, instead being his creation for Psicone by sheer coincidence. When she appears before Volkmire, he considers it a hologram, until convinced she is real and the Battletoads are her nuisance as they were created by Psicone. It also has Professor T. Bird mentioning "There was a time I was in love with her", but makes no further mention. Rash remarks that "she actually is quite a babe", in a twisted sort of way.
References[]
- ↑ Retro Gamer 125, page 89.
- ↑ Kev Bayliss on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-06-12. "I think we wanted en evil Queen - but I'm sure we were inspired by the Elvira character - check her out, she was a Rock presenter / Film character."
- ↑ "Kev Bayliss on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-06-12. "No we didn't add her to the Arcade game - only in the background looking in as you fight the Robo-Rat, but only as some kind of entity type hologram! I wanted to do a VS fighting game next where I would have included her for sure - but did the original @KillerInstinct instead!"