The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) have made quiet the resurgence in the past few years, from the so-so Netflix series and movie to Seth Rogan’s upcoming reimagined movie, and the remarkable 6 player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Anyone could easily argue that the green shelled machine is not slowing up, but while we have had many recent options for our TMNT fix, it was the early 90s where every child was glued to the TV, constantly listening to Vanilla Ice’s Ninja Rap, and growing up playing many of the Konami TMNT games that flooded arcades and the console market. Forward on 30 plus years, Digital Eclipse’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection (TMNT: TCC) brings 13 games that launched across multiple platforms from 1989 to 1993.
TMNT: TCC is a nostalgic trip that is not just a bunch of old games slapped together to make a quick buck. Each game has been faithfully ported, with several options that either gives the player a faithful experience, or a smoother one such as removing screen flicker and slow down, or even making the games easier with enhancements such as infinite lives or changing the difficulty level. Being able to make some of the games easier is a godsend, especially introducing my 7-year-old to these games for the first time. The added rewind feature included in all titles will also be a must for most players either new to or returning to some of these titles, especially the tough TMNT on the NES. Now to the games.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Year: 1989
Players: 1
Online capability: No
Players of old have a love hate relationship with this NES title, not because it is a terrible game but it is highly difficult and that under water bomb defusal mission at the dam will still test the best players patience. This action side scroller has the player take control of any of the four turtles to rescue April and retrieve a weapon from Shredder that will transform Splinter back to his human form. Each turtle uses their distinctive weapons, each having different reach, power, and speed. Donatello is seriously overpowered with his reach. Players can change to any of the four turtles at any time, although the game forces the player to manage their turtle’s health and swap them in and out as required. To get through this one, players may find themselves using the rewind feature more than any other titles on this collection.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
System: Arcade
Year: 1989
Players: 1-4
Online capability: Yes
This is the title NES players wish they got straight away. TMNT the arcade was a monster arcade hit and still one of the best beat’em ups around. Choose any of the four turtles and battle left to right, or ride hover boards doing the same thing, as the turtles take down an endless amount of Foot soldiers and fight some of the series best rogues in boss fights. If you have never played this as a turtle’s fan, you are missing out.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game
System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Year: 1990
Players: 1-2
Online capability: No
Konami and Nintendo listened to fans after the release of the NES’s original TMNT title and brought home a port of the arcade hit. While the graphics have taken a massive hit, it is the arcade beat’em up gameplay that holds up. This was the first time I have played the NES version, and I was impressed with what the NES could handle. Some levels with the original release extended or included brand new ones altogether, including two news bosses. Worth the time for old school beat’em up fans.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan
System: Nintendo Gameboy
Year: 1990
Players: 1
Online capability: No
TMNT: Fall of the Foot Clan is the first of three Gameboy games in the collection. Another side scrolling action game, the players choose any four of the turtles to complete five stages using their signature weapons and ninja stars. If a turtle loses all their life, they are captured and the player must choose a different turtle. When all are captured, the game is over. At the end of each level the player battles with traditional enemies, Bebop, Rocksteady, Baxter Stockman, Krang and Shredder. Overall, it’s nothing special, hasn’t stood the test of time and the weakest title on the collection.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
System: Arcade
Year: 1991
Players: 1-4
Online capability: Yes
Turtles in Time in the arcades was a sequel to original TMNT arcade game. It had the turtles chase Shredder through time after the Statue of Liberty has been stolen. Turtles in Time continues the beat’em up formula with new additions such as throwing enemies off the front if the screen towards the player and slamming enemies into the ground. The visuals and sound are also upgraded compared to the 1989 original. Both this and the original arcade versions being able to be played up to 4 players online are a neat touch.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back in the Sewers
System: Nintendo Gameboy
Year: 1991
Players: 1
Online capability: No
TMNT: Back in the Sewers follows very closely to the Gameboy’s first title TMNT: Fall of the Foot Clan. The main differences being that there are few sections where the player can move into the background, more like a traditional beat’em up. There is now some sub bosses’ mid-level and a skate boarding section. Like Fall of the Foot Clan, repetition and learning where enemies come from or using the rewind feature is needed to make completing Back in the Sewers easier. Better than Fall of the Foot Clan but not near the collections or Gameboy’s best.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project
System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Year: 1991
Players: 1-2
Online capability: No
Coming later in the NES lifecycle was a surprise TMNT game, The Manhattan Project, which continued with the beat’em genre and added a few new features. Players can now perform a powerful special move but at the cost of a life bar and an enemy toss attack is included. The biggest change is that new players will notice is that this is much more difficult game compared to TMNT2: The Arcade game. Players also have limited lives, making the use of the special attack a risk. Fortunately, players can now use enhancement options for infinite lives and even make the game easier such as one hit kills. Great too is that Konami included some of the turtles lesser-known enemies, like the movies Tokka and Rahzar. Definitely worth it for the players that missed this when it originally released.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IIII: Turtles in Time
System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Year: 1992
Players: 1-2
Online capability: No
Arguably the best game in the collection and better than its arcade cousin. While the graphics and sound cannot match the arcade, TMNT 4: Turtles in Time is more than a simple port and it is lengthened significantly. New and extended levels with ‘Neon-Night Riders’ using the SNES Mode 7 function, four news bosses including fan favourite the Rat King, and even Shredder becomes the Super Shredder in the final battle. TMNT 4: Turtles in Time is still one of the best beat’em ups ever and arguably the best one Konami produced.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist
System: Sega Megadrive
Year: 1992
Players: 1-2
Online capability: No
I struggle to say anything bad about TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist as it holds a lot of nostalgia and today it is still a great beat’em up. Being based loosely on TMNT: Turtles in Time, Hyperstone Heist shares many similarities but has some easy to pick differences. There are only half the levels of the SNES Turtles in Time, but each level is longer, with some being drastically longer. The gameplay is also faster, and a dash button is now included. This is also the only game that includes Tatsu from the 90s movies as a boss. Does it match the SNES Turtles in Time? Probably not, but unlike any of the console beat’em ups in this collection, it can be played online.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue
System: Nintendo Gameboy
Year: 1993
Players:1
Online capability: No
If players are turned off by the two Gameboy slower side scrolling action games in the collection, well they are in for a surprise. Radical Rescue is a Metroidvania style of game where the player must begin as Michelangelo, rescue, and use his three brother’s to also rescue April and Splinter. Each turtle has a special move that allows the player to get to unattainable areas until the specific turtle is unlocked. Radical Rescue also includes new bosses not yet in other games. Radical Rescue is a diamond in the rough within the collection.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Year: 1993
Players: 1-2
Online capability: Yes
The first of three 2D Fighters and the best out of the lot. This 4-button fighter was one of many fighters in the 16-bit generation, which includes special moves and super special moves once the player fills their special meter bar. While the game includes 10 characters (plus 2 unlockable bosses) the four turtles and Shredder are represented, the other 5 characters are a bit of a letdown for fans. They include B-grade characters from the comics and TV series and a brand-new character Aska, whose only appearance in the franchise was this game. I love the large characters and bright levels, with many series characters in the background. To top it off, Digital Eclipse knew that this is the best of the fighters in the collection and players can play this version of TMNT: Tournament Fighters online.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
System: Sega Megadrive
Year: 1993
Players: 1-2
Online capability: No
Compared to the SNES version, TMNT: Tournament Fighters on the Megadrive is a letdown. It’s ugly with is darker art style and the gameplay is best somewhat sluggish. While it still includes special moves and an interesting ‘Killer’ attack when the player is near death, it does not make up for it just being a bad 3-button 2D fighter. It’s nice see Casey Jones and April included, but the low amount of 8 base characters available (3 more with enhancements on) is just more salt in the wound. Just go back and play more of the SNES version.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Year: 1993
Players: 1-2
Online capability: No
To be honest I never knew TMNT: Tournament Fighters existed on the NES until the Cowabunga Collection was announced and I was pleasantly surprised for an 8-bit 2D fighter. It still includes special moves and a part in fights where a red power up ball is dropped into the fight which players will be able to collect and use. While it does not touch the 16-bit versions in graphics and sound, it still competes with the Sega Megadrive version.
Like many recent collections, TMNT: TCC includes a lot of extras. Players can use the Watch mode, which has player watch a no hit playthrough of each game and players can even continue the game from any point. Each game has the US and Japanese version, with each one having some slight differences. Each game has a strategy guide, and some games even show video footage from these guides to help the player. Each game also has different enhancements that vary depending on the title and genre.
Options can also be changed, such as screen size, what type of screens you use, like a monitor with scan lines and borders around the screen. Games can be saved at any time. Hardcore fans will love the museum and search the turtle’s lair looking at copious amount of art, advertisements and still screens, as well as being able to listen to soundtracks and flip through old school style game guides.
TMNT: TCC is very family friendly, and I loved sharing some of my favourite gaming memories with my children.
Adam Potts