I think that rule only applies on the first level. There, if you do not die, at the end a pig and 3 leader mice will appear. If they don't kill you, another group of 3 leader mice appears. Then you fight the boss.

After the first level, I think same enemies always appear. If you die enemies will become slightly slower and less agressive for a while, then the difficulty goes back up to maximum. During all my attempts to beat level 2 I had a lot of different death timing scenarios, I think all of the enemy spawns were the same. Maybe the crusher rat spawn numbers where different, it is hard to count them when they are stacked like crazy.

For me, what works is that the strategies are very situation specific. It really makes a difference to know what's coming ahead so I can use or save the resources - aka weapons. But one thing that is generally a safer idea is to jump and kick instead of comboing. Also, finishing an enemy as fast as possible before more enemies arrive is good.

About the scoring, I thought that the least lives you lose, the more enemies appear (so you get more points). You proved that wrong then.

I don't know how I got the score either. The score counting in Battletoads AC is either totally wierd, or just plain glitched and broken. I just was playing now and I got to level 3 without dying, and I had less of a score than the current hi score where I lost both my lives before the snake boss.

Level 3 will be hard, it seems very long. Still, this game is oddly really fun, and the music is great. You just have to figure out the battle system so you avoid getting attacked after you finish combos. Maybe you and I should write a guide for it =P.

Haha congrats on Battle Toads! I don't know what you guys do to get more points on each level, but my goal is going to be beating lvl 3. I don't think I'll ever do it though!

Ok that is a nice tetris score

What? I don't know how you did that in Battle toads. It doesn't matter, my plan is to pass level 2.