TMNT is back - now in retro game collection form

[WildcatJF]

Quick synopsis:
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Arcade)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (Arcade)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game (NES)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project (NES)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (NES)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (Super Nintendo)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (Super Nintendo)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Sega Genesis)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (Sega Genesis)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of The Foot Clan (Game Boy)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back From The Sewers (Game Boy)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue (Game Boy)
*11 Japanese regional versions total -No Japanese versions released for TMNT (Arcade) and TMNT: Tournament Fighters (NES)
**Titles with online functionality -TMNT (Arcade), TMNT: Turtles in Time (Arcade), TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist, TMNT Tournament Fighters (Super Nintendo)
"In collaboration with Nickelodeon, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection will also include loads of extras using imagery from the original cartoons, comics and other historic TMNT media content in a compiled Museum connecting the franchise across the various mediums. Additionally, never-before-seen development art, sketches and game design material will also be included."

 

[Johnny Unusual]

There is only one favorite turtle

Howard Kaylan

 

[madhair60]

I couldn't be more hyped for this. What a DREAM compilation.

 

[ShakeWell]

**Titles with online functionality -TMNT (Arcade), TMNT: Turtles in Time (Arcade), TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist, TMNT Tournament Fighters (Super Nintendo)

I'm really gonna need someone to explain to me why Turtles in Time on SNES (a.k.a. the better version) and Tournament Fighters on Genesis (a.k.a. the worse version) don't have online play. That just seems weird. Or the NES Tournament Fighters. Or either NES brawler. I mean, whatever, everyone wants the Arcade Game with four-player online, but it's a weird decision, imo.

 

[Bulgakov]

Quick aside. I had TMNT for DOS PC and there was an impossible jump in the level 3 sewers. I wrote Konami when I was in elementary school and explained that the jump in level 3 was impossible.

You are much more resourceful than me! I spent weeks trying to make the impossible jump happen and have up, assuming it's never be good enough.

Decades later I now know it was a bug!

 

[Violentvixen]

Quick aside. I had TMNT for DOS PC and there was an impossible jump in the level 3 sewers. I wrote Konami when I was in elementary school and explained that the jump in level 3 was impossible.

About 3-4 weeks later I got a package in the mail. It had a replacement disk which fixed the impossible jump and letter on Konami (not Ultra) letterhead apologizing for the error. It was a pretty nice surprise to get one random day after school.

I love this.

 

[Dracula]

I think the game I most looking forward to re-playing is TMNT (NES). With save states I think I will be able to beat this game. I've never beat it before.

It's doable! I beat it for the first time last year, on original console, with the help of this video.

Players tend to remember struggling with the second stage - the underwater one - but the game doesn't really start showing its teeth until after that. The final stage is so brutal that it caused me to give up on trying it again for years. But when I finally got the clear it was such an amazing feeling. I love that game.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

This was the highlight of the State of Play for me. I've been saying they should do this for years... maybe even longer than they've been doing collections!

I wonder if we'll see a separate 4Kids era collection. I know some aren't so good, but I've heard there are a few hidden gems, namely the GBA games and possibly Mutant Nightmare. And having save states might make the first console one a little easier to swallow.

That is one heck of a collection, and only $40. Looks like it's going to be on pretty much everything, too.

I'm one of those weirdos whose fave TMNT game is Manhattan Project, so I was overjoyed to see that on there.

While I don't know if it's my favorite, it's definitely one I love and am glad to see on there.

Besides NES TMNT with save states, I'll be excited to try all the ones I missed out on -- the last two Game Boy games, the Genesis games, and NES Tournament Fighters.

The Arcade Game (NES) and Turtles in Time (SNES) make this a lock for me. They're my childhood.

So, who do we have to bribe at Disney to get them to lean on Konami to release The Simpsons arcade game on something? Standalone or collection, whatever.

Maybe they can bundle it with X-Men, since both are Disney now.

 

[Exposition Owl]

Turtles in Time on SNES (a.k.a. the better version)

I haven’t played either version—what makes the SNES one better?

 

[Kazin]

I'm really gonna need someone to explain to me why Turtles in Time on SNES (a.k.a. the better version) and Tournament Fighters on Genesis (a.k.a. the worse version) don't have online play. That just seems weird. Or the NES Tournament Fighters. Or either NES brawler. I mean, whatever, everyone wants the Arcade Game with four-player online, but it's a weird decision, imo.

From one of the devs regarding SNES Turtles in Time:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1501964069955260431

 

[Lokii]

I haven’t played either version—what makes the SNES one better?

Cowboy and Bebop get their whip tangled.

 

[Octopus Prime]

The SNES version had revamped controls making it easier to do special attacks (which is important as one of the boss fights is highly dependent on one of them), more levels, more and new bosses, and it’s visually nearly identical.

Only downside is that it’s 2 players instead of 4

 

[Dracula]

I wonder if we'll see a separate 4Kids era collection. I know some aren't so good, but I've heard there are a few hidden gems, namely the GBA games and possibly Mutant Nightmare. And having save states might make the first console one a little easier to swallow.

The GBA game based on the "TMNT" CG movie was done by the same dev team at Ubisoft who later went on to develop Scott Pilgrim and, eventually, Shredder's Revenge, so there's certainly some worthwhile material to explore there!

 

[Beta Metroid]

I haven’t played either version—what makes the SNES one better?

A quick rundown:

First, its weaknesses: Its graphics and sound are inferior to the arcade version, as you'd likely expect, it only supports two players instead of four, and it doesn't have the boss Cement Man (who I only really know due to this appearance. I guess he was a one-off monster from the cartoon...not even the main antagonist of that episode?).

As for what makes it better: In the arcade, throwing enemies toward the screen is something that would just kind of happen randomly, while it's an executable move in the SNES version.

It also adds an entirely new, two-part Technodrome stage, which is nice for the content, and it also contextualizes the whole "Shredder sends the turtles through a time warp" thing better than the arcade version. I mean, you're likely not playing this game for plot, and it doesn't make a TON more sense, but it flows better. Plus, there's a futuristic hoverboarding stage in both versions, but the SNES has an extra section from an over-the-shoulder perspective, which spices up the presentation a bit.

What I feel is most important in a beat-em-up based on a beloved franchise like this is the characters, and that's where the SNES version really shines. At the cost of D-lister Cement Man, the SNES version has exclusive boss fights with Bebop and Rocksteady (the arcade version omits them entirely, while Hyperstone Heist just has a solo Rocksteady fight. Meanwhile, the SNES has a fight that takes advantage of them fighting as a duo, and since they're fought on a pirate ship, even decks them out with thematically appropriate pirate garb and weapons), Rat King, and Slash. It also replaces the final Shredder battle with Super Shredder, which is mostly cosmetic, but a nice nod to the films. It adds a separate Shredder fight that takes advantage of the aforementioned "throw enemies at the screen" move, making that the key to victory. And it adds mousers and Roadkill Rodneys as regular enemies.

Oh, and it has a Vs. mode, which on a compilation that includes three versions of Tournament Fighters, isn't much of a selling point, but it was a nice perk it had over the arcade version and Hyperstone Heist back in the day. And there is a series of "kill X amount of enemies within a time limit" challenges. And you have the option for the turtles to all have the same skin tone, or present each with a different shade of green.

 

[chud_666]

. Meanwhile, the SNES has a fight that takes advantage of them fighting as a duo, and since they're fought on a pirate ship, even decks them out with thematically appropriate pirate garb and weapons),

Isn't this Tokka and Rahzer in Arcade?

 

[gogglebob]

Isn't this Tokka and Rahzer in Arcade?

Yes, and they are moved to the Technodrome level in the SNES version, so you get both fights over the course of the game.

 

[YangusKhan]

As for what makes it better: In the arcade, throwing enemies toward the screen is something that would just kind of happen randomly, while it's an executable move in the SNES version.

How do you do this, exactly? That stage always frustrated the hell out of me.

 

[Octopus Prime]

I think you have to push either away or down when attacking an enemy whose already been staggered? It’s been a minute…

 

[gogglebob]

I want to say "down" while a foot is in that pose while they look like you just kicked 'em in the robo junk. But, like Octo, been a while.

 

[Violentvixen]

From one of the devs regarding SNES Turtles in Time:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1501964069955260431

I read this then thought "oh it's too bad they couldn't have done a poll and had people pick which ones to have online co-op".

Then I realized that's not really possible for a bunch of reasons, but certainly would have been cool. I'm honestly just curious which ones people would have picked and how well it aligns with their choices.

 

[Kazin]

I'd imagine everyone would just say "put all the multiplayer games online" and to be honest, I'm not really sure why they didn't do that anyway. Like, yeah, for people just wanting random matches, that might make it harder to find a match, but I'm absolutely never going to do that, I'd just play online with distant friends lol

 

[chud_666]

They should have cobbled the SNES stages into arcade somehow. 4p is non-negotiable for me, so I understand choosing Arcade though.

 

[zonetrope]

The throw is weird in that I figured how to do it perfectly, every time, from muscle memory, without being able to explain the timing or what buttons to push. I could be wrong, but I could swear they make the input just a little easier during the Shredder fight only.

 

[Kazin]

I fucking hated that throw mechanic, but that's probably because I was a kid, didn't own an SNES, and couldn't reliably perform it at my buddy's house. I do remember playing through it about a decade ago and not really having a problem with it, so ymmv.

 

[Phantoon]

I was always able to do that move when I needed to do it, but I couldn't tell you with any degree of certainty how you do it

 

[Voncaster]

So, I presume M2 is doing this, since they did the Contra and Castlevania Collections for Konami? Maybe Hamster is doing the arcade games? Maybe? Do we know if Japanese versions are included?

Hope Limited Run does a physical at some point.

Because Digital Eclipse is working on the TMNT collection, I assume M2 is busy working on more Castlevania Collections. I'm really hoping at some point that Castlevania 64, Castlevania Chronicles and Castlevania the Adventure Rebirth get ports to modern systems.

It would be beyond sick if M2 were working on another attempt at a Silent Hill collection. That is a pipedream.

The M2 ports I've played of Wonderboy and Castlevania games have been great.

I have not played Digital Eclipse ports (unless they worked on Megaman X collection), are they good?

 

[Octopus Prime]

Faithful to a fault, and usually chock-a-block with bonus ephemera.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I want to say "down" while a foot is in that pose while they look like you just kicked 'em in the robo junk. But, like Octo, been a while.

I also can't quite remember either but I think I usually would do dash into shoulder tackle as a setup (but that might only make the setup easier and not the subsequent 4th wall smacker throw).

 

[madhair60]

Hit the enemy once, they will buckle over. Walk into them and hit towards + attack. Voila.

 

[Becksworth]

To add to why the SNES Turtles in Time is better than the Arcade version, I believe it was also generally rebalanced to be a fun console game and less a quarter cruncher. Like play up to the Baxter Stockman fight in the first level and it should be apparent. In the SNES version he has clear attack patterns you can learn and master whereas in the Arcade his attacks are more random and he is more liable to just attack you whenever you get in range.