Video Game Classics: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Turtles In Time
TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Turtles IV, Turtles 4, Turtles in Time, Classic Video Games, Classics, Retrospective, Retro, Arcade, Shredder, SNES, Super Nintendo, Re-Shelled, The Hyperstone Heist, Technodrome, Gameplay, Plot, Review,
Video Game Classics: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Turtles In Time
Some games will live forever as classics. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at the famous arcade and home console beat ‘em up “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.”
Based on the 80s cartoon series, the game begins with April O’Neil conducting her Sunday Evening newscast from Liberty Island. There, she witnesses Krang steal the Statue of Liberty in his giant exo-suit. Moments later, Shredder hijacks the airwaves to taunt the turtles through their TV. Shredder lures them into a trap, and uses a time portal to banish the Turtles to the distant past in the hopes that they never return.
Shredder was not content with simply sending the heroes in a half shell back to another time. So he dispatched legions of soldiers and other minions through the Time Warp to ensure the destruction of the turtles.
As a result, the game featured the turtles fighting to reach time portals. Each of these led the turtles a little closer to the present, and in some cases it causes them to skip over it entirely.
This four-player romp was an instant success. It quickly became the most beloved entry in the series and dominated the arcades. Largely similar to their previous coin-operated outing “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game,” “Turtles in Time” improved on that amazing classic in every way. It also managed to stay true to the source material, and retained the iconic look of the animated series from the late 80s.
Among these improvements were better graphics, music and gameplay. This meant several new combat combinations and attacks. These included the ability to dash, perform a turtle-specific special move, fling enemies into the screen or slam them into the ground.
A year after its 1991 release, the game was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It dropped four-player support, and adopted the numerical title “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles in Time.” However, it made up for lesser graphics and a 2-Player co-op limit with additional stages.
These included changing the levels “Sewer Surfing” and “Neon-Night Riders” to bonus levels, and the addition of an all-new full length Technodrome stage. This level took place long before the turtles could make their way back for the final fight, and had them fighting Shredder as he operated a battle tank. This climactic battle was also altered, and the villain was transformed into a hulking Super Shredder.
The console similarly changed a slew of stage bosses to keep the experience fresh, and also added new enemies such as Roadkill Rodneys and Mousers. It also included a time-trial mode and a two-player versus fight mode.
The game became insanely popular, so it was quickly retooled to generate the Sega Genesis exclusive “The Hyperstone Heist,” and it was completely remade in 2009. This 3D version altered many popular elements, such as the iconic soundtrack and voice acting. Released as a download exclusive, “Turtles in Time: Re-shelled” revived the nostalgic feelings of fans, but couldn’t improve upon the original.
“Turtles in Time” is not only a beloved classic, it also remains the greatest entry in the franchise and the best beat ‘em up ever created.
Some games will live forever as classics. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at the famous arcade and home console beat ‘em up “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.”
Based on the 80s cartoon series, the game begins with April O’Neil conducting her Sunday Evening newscast from Liberty Island. There, she witnesses Krang steal the Statue of Liberty in his giant exo-suit. Moments later, Shredder hijacks the airwaves to taunt the turtles through their TV. Shredder lures them into a trap, and uses a time portal to banish the Turtles to the distant past in the hopes that they never return.
Shredder was not content with simply sending the heroes in a half shell back to another time. So he dispatched legions of soldiers and other minions through the Time Warp to ensure the destruction of the turtles.
As a result, the game featured the turtles fighting to reach time portals. Each of these led the turtles a little closer to the present, and in some cases it causes them to skip over it entirely.
This four-player romp was an instant success. It quickly became the most beloved entry in the series and dominated the arcades. Largely similar to their previous coin-operated outing “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game,” “Turtles in Time” improved on that amazing classic in every way. It also managed to stay true to the source material, and retained the iconic look of the animated series from the late 80s.
Among these improvements were better graphics, music and gameplay. This meant several new combat combinations and attacks. These included the ability to dash, perform a turtle-specific special move, fling enemies into the screen or slam them into the ground.
A year after its 1991 release, the game was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It dropped four-player support, and adopted the numerical title “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles in Time.” However, it made up for lesser graphics and a 2-Player co-op limit with additional stages.
These included changing the levels “Sewer Surfing” and “Neon-Night Riders” to bonus levels, and the addition of an all-new full length Technodrome stage. This level took place long before the turtles could make their way back for the final fight, and had them fighting Shredder as he operated a battle tank. This climactic battle was also altered, and the villain was transformed into a hulking Super Shredder.
The console similarly changed a slew of stage bosses to keep the experience fresh, and also added new enemies such as Roadkill Rodneys and Mousers. It also included a time-trial mode and a two-player versus fight mode.
The game became insanely popular, so it was quickly retooled to generate the Sega Genesis exclusive “The Hyperstone Heist,” and it was completely remade in 2009. This 3D version altered many popular elements, such as the iconic soundtrack and voice acting. Released as a download exclusive, “Turtles in Time: Re-shelled” revived the nostalgic feelings of fans, but couldn’t improve upon the original.
“Turtles in Time” is not only a beloved classic, it also remains the greatest entry in the franchise and the best beat ‘em up ever created.
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