Few heroes kick as a lot ass or spout as many memorable one-liners as the enduring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Yow will discover these heroes in nearly any leisure medium you may consider, and that features video video games. As soon as upon a time, the present was a staple of children’ morning TV, and there was no higher strategy to observe that up than enjoying with motion figures or slapping on a recreation.
The one situation is that even essentially the most ardent TMNT fan would agree that most of the video games are mediocre at greatest. Others are inexcusably dangerous, even when seen with rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. Sadly, many TV or film variations endure the identical destiny, and it is taken a long time for these crossovers to not instantly be seen as low-effort tie-ins.
Luckily, they don’t seem to be all dangerous, and there are some diamonds within the tough if the place to look. With this in thoughts, here is an inventory of TMNT video games that do the Heroes in Half-shells justice. As a brand new TMNT would not enter the market day-after-day, there are many retro video games on the record as a few of them merely can’t be crushed!
10
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan
Enjoyable However Restricted
We’re kicking our record off with a more moderen TMNT recreation, which is enjoyable however undoubtedly has limitations.
Mutants in Manhattan is a busy 3D brawler with a slick cel-shaded artwork model. I dig the inventive alternative, because it goes with the comedian guide vibe, though fight can get a bit of messy. On the plus facet, the villains look implausible, and it is an actual deal with to see Krang and Bebop with a PS4 lick of paint.
Mutants in Manhattan is nice for bite-size gaming periods as the phases are brief and snappy. My main gripe with the sport is its compelled co-op, and if you happen to’re not enjoying with pals, you should play with AI teammates.
Regardless of its flaws, followers will get pleasure from Mutants in Manhattan, and there is an addictive gameplay loop as you improve your heroes.
9
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Do not Underestimate the GBA
Nintendo’s plucky Recreation Boy Advance has a number of Turtles video games in its library, and the authentic from 2003 is an effective way to introduce them.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 2D scrolling beat ’em up. In contrast to one thing like Streets of Rage, you are restricted to a single airplane, which can sound awkward, however it works fairly properly.
Levels typically have a number of ranges, just like the sidewalk and a ledge, which you’ll be able to soar between. The Turtles are satisfyingly nimble, too, with shoulder costs and slides doubling as motion tech.
Truthfully, I actually dig this entry, even when TMNT on the identical console inches it out. We’ll cowl that one later!
8
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
The Platform Issues
I’ve learn some alternative phrases about Battle Nexus on the GBA, and whereas I agree considerably, I additionally respect the title for making an attempt one thing new. It is also higher than the PS2, GC, and Xbox variations, in my view, as they really feel like dated 3D platformers.
Battle Nexus is a 2D facet scroller at its core however with a stronger emphasis on technique. For instance, you do not even begin with a katana and should sneak previous opponents till you discover one and may flip the tables.
A few of the motion feels a bit of stiff, however there’s a welcome sprinkle of puzzle-solving and platforming, which is lacking in lots of Turtles video games. In case you’re fortunate sufficient to personal the Recreation Dice recreation, it is a worthwhile collector’s merchandise and instructions outrageous sums on the pre-owned market.
7
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
An Previous College Ass Kicker
I did not personal an NES once I was rising up, so I did not expertise TMNT on the platform till a lot later. It made no distinction and the sport thrashed me all the identical.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the NES is a brutal 2D sidescroller, though there are just a few transient ‘overworld’ sections performed from a special perspective. One good contact with the NES recreation is that every Turtle has subtly completely different strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Raphael is lethal up shut however loses out towards opponents within the distance.
The sport boasts a beneficiant serving of old-school problem, and a few areas, just like the underwater part, are borderline unfair. That mentioned, powerful video games are a part of the territory on the NES, and it is an pleasurable recreation if you happen to can deal with the strain.
6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Event Fighters (SNES)
Now It is Private
The wealthy forged of TMNT is simply screaming for a combating recreation, and in 1993, we acquired it.
Event Fighters is a stable 1v1 combating recreation on the SNES that includes the Turtles and an honest collection of villains from the sequence. The ten-strong roster is compact however diverse sufficient, and the four-button management scheme is intuitive.
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The standard of combating video games on the SNES is in all places, however TMNT is likely one of the good ones. The controls are first rate, as is the soundtrack. The phases even have busy backgrounds, which makes them really feel extra alive.
The AI is a bit of annoying to combat as it by no means misses an anti-air, however the recreation stays an amazing addition to the franchise.
5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The HyperStone Heist
Sega Was Feeling Left Out
Again within the 90s, Sega and Nintendo have been in an intense battle for the house console market. Each had spectacular libraries in their very own methods, and one unique that solely Genesis customers may get pleasure from was HyperStone Heist.
HyperStone Heist is a stable scrolling beat-em-up. It is a brief however candy expertise, and the soundtrack is as thumpy as you need to count on from the system.
The Turtles are enjoyable to regulate with the shoulder cost assault, and there is even car sections to interrupt up the gameplay. The sport is not nearly as good because the SNES choices, however a stable recreation nonetheless.
4
TMNT
Three For Three For The GBA
I not often see TMNT on the GBA talked about, however it’s one other glorious side-scrolling beat ’em up, even with the system limitations. It is also nice to see every Turtles recreation on the system provide a distinctive gameplay model.
TMNT has a enjoyable story tying the phases collectively, and the fight is outstanding, contemplating there are solely two face buttons.
The Turtles use completely different strikes relying on the route you are holding on the time. And everybody will get their flip within the highlight. There are additionally soar assaults so you may assault your opponents from above.
The sport seems nice, feels nice, and is as shut as you may get to Turtles in Time on the go. The humorous half is the sport truly got here out on dwelling consoles, however it sucked on the Recreation Dice, PS2, Xbox.
3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Destiny
A Refreshing Take
You have most likely seen that the overwhelming majority of TMNT video games persist with a choose few genres. Whereas Splintered Destiny is not outlandish, it is a first rate and refreshing tackle the universe.
Splintered Destiny is a Roguelite at it is core and never dissimilar to Hades in its execution. You may sprint across the map to keep away from assaults, there’s a wide selection of expertise to play with, and bosses will humble you till you be taught their assault patterns.
The builders have leaned into the franchise in all the appropriate methods. The Turtles by no means miss a possibility to crack one-liners, and they’re way more nimble than they give the impression of being. Better of all, Splintered Destiny has a very good co-op mode, making it the most effective methods to get pleasure from TMNT with a buddy.
2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time
A SNES Basic
Many followers regard Turtles in Time as the perfect TMNT recreation in the marketplace. I might 100% agree with this if it wasn’t for a sure launch in 2022.
Turtles in Time is a shining instance of an Arcade port completed proper. The sport is an impressively fluid brawler with catchy tunes and attractive busy backdrops, whether or not you play within the arcade or on the SNES.
Technically, the Arcade model seems and performs higher, however the SNES model has additional ranges that spherical off the bundle properly for a house launch.
I will not reel off all of the model variations right here, however the arcade model may be performed four-player, whereas the house model is just for two. Nonetheless, it is not a deal-breaker by any means, and the title has really survived the take a look at of time.
1
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
You Noticed This Coming
Dotemu did an exceptional job with Streets of Rage 4 and delivered even with lofty fan expectations. The staff then proved it wasn’t only a fluke with Shredder’s Revenge.
With out making an attempt to sound like a rabid fanboy, Shredder’s Revenge is every part I ever wished from a Turtles recreation. The tone is a bit more goofy than SoR4, and the sport is a brilliantly responsive brawler.
So many iconic baddies make an look in Shredder’s Revenge, and the title affords flawless co-op, so you may battle with pals.
The locale variance is spectacular, and it is a recreation I occasionally return to for a run with my pals.
As the sport has a number of problem modes, it is accessible to everybody, in contrast to the basic video games, however the ‘Gnarly’ mode will nonetheless whip hardcore gamers into form.
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