Shirt a Phobia

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Plot

The introductory cut scene of the game details the game’s plot. It begins with the Turtles watching a TV newscast on a Sunday evening, with April O’Neil reporting from Liberty Island. Super Krang flies in and steals the Statue of Liberty, moments before Shredder hijacks the airwaves to laugh at the Turtles.

The Turtles jump into action in downtown New York and pursue the Foot to the streets and the city sewers (then to the Technodrome in the Super NES version[4]), where Shredder sends them through a time warp. The Turtles must fight Shredder’s army in both the past and the future in order to get home. They defeat Shredder and the Statue of Liberty is returned to its place.[5]

Gameplay

Like its predecessor, Turtles in Time was available for the arcades in two- and four-player versions. In the two-player versions, each player gets to choose which of the four turtles they wish to control, whereas in the four-player versions the characters are assigned to the control panel from left to right in the following order: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.[6] Each playable character has his own strengths and weaknesses.[6][7][8] New features include the ability to execute a power attack by hitting an enemy several times in a row, and the ability to slam foot soldiers into surrounding enemies.[6]

The game features the same control scheme of the previous arcade release. It uses a joystick for movement, an attack button and a jump button. Certain joystick/button combinations can make a Turtle run, perform a slide or dash attack, jump higher, perform a stationary or directed air attack, or perform a special attack.[6]

Players guide the turtles through a series of levels. The first takes place in the streets of New York City, others transport the turtles to representations of various historical eras. In each level, players face enemies from both the 1987 cartoon and the feature film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, including foot soldiers, and stone warriors. Bosses featured in the arcade version are Baxter Stockman, in his fly form, Metalhead, a group of Pizza Monsters, Cement Man, the duo of Tokka and Rahzar, Leatherhead, Super Krang, Krang piloting a UFO, and Shredder.[4]

Development

The original music of the game’s soundtrack was composed by Mutsuhiko Izumi, a TMNT veteran who also composed the music for the previous arcade game in the series. It was arranged for the Super NES version by Kazuhiko Uehara and Harumi Ueko,[9] both of whom went on to produce several Konami games, including the following TMNT game, Tournament Fighters.[10][11]

During development, the game’s working title was “something like TMNT Time Travelers“, according to Konami USA’s Steve Kaufman in early 1991.[12]

In addition to an original musical score, the attract mode of the arcade game is noted for featuring the song “Pizza Power”, which was taken from the TMNT live concert, known as the Coming Out of Their Shells Tour.[13] The game’s music was released as part of the compilation album Konami All-Stars 1993 ~ Music Station of Dreams, published by King Records in 1992.[14]

The 2005 version of the game included in Mutant Nightmare features new music and voices updated to match the 2003 TMNT series.[15] This was also the case for Turtles in Time: Re-Shelled.[16]

Releases

Arcade

Like the original Turtles arcade game, Turtles in Time was released for the arcades as a dedicated 4-player cabinet, as well as a 2-player conversion kit. Unlike the first game, Turtles in Time was not distributed for the arcades in Japan.

Super NES

North American Super NES cover art, retitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
The second part of the Super NES-exclusive “Technodrome: Let’s Kick Shell!” level features a fight sequence in an elevator.

The Super NES version was retitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time in North America and Australia and Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles IV: Turtles in Time in Europe in order to continue the numbering from the first three Turtles games on the NES (despite the fact that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project was never released in the PAL region). However, the Super Famicom version in Japan retained the original unnumbered title.

Much like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game for the NES (a conversion of the first arcade game), the Super NES version of Turtles in Time has some notable differences in presentation.[4] While the Super NES version is missing some animations and graphics effects from the arcade version, it made extensive use of the Super NES’s Mode 7 forward scrolling effect in the “Neon Night-Riders” level, changing it to an over-the-shoulder perspective. Contrary to popular belief, mode 7 is not used for throwing the enemy foot soldiers, as it cannot scale sprites nor is any scaling actually shown.

Sounds also differ between the arcade and Super NES versions. The Super NES version is missing certain voice samples for both the turtles and boss characters.[4] In addition, the arcade version’s title theme song, “Pizza Power”, was replaced with an instrumental version of the cartoon theme song.

Various alterations were made to the Super NES version’s gameplay. “Sewer Surfin'” and “Neon Night-Riders” were changed to bonus levels of a sort, where, unlike in the arcade original, the number of enemies defeated and bonus pizzas collected are tracked and based on which bonus points are awarded to the player(s) before to entering the level’s boss battle. A new Technodrome stage was added, which features a boss battle with Shredder sitting in a battle tank in the foreground which requires the player to hit the tank with foot soldiers thrown at the screen. Several enemies were changed in the Super NES version. Four other bosses were added: the Rat King was added at the end of the “Sewer Surfin'” level, Slash replaced Cement Man in the prehistoric level, and on the pirate ship level, the duo of Bebop and Rocksteady replaced Tokka and Rahzar, who were moved to the new Technodrome level. The game changes the final battle with Shredder to Super Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. The Super NES version adds two regular enemies: Roadkill Rodneys (which replaced the boxing robots) and Mousers.

The Super NES version features a time-trial mode and a two-player versus fight mode.[4] Like the arcade version, each turtle was given unique attributes in areas such as speed and strength. In addition, the move to throw enemies off-screen can now be performed intentionally (instead of just randomly), a technique specifically required at the end of the Technodrome level.[8]

Emulated re-releases

An emulated conversion of the original arcade game can be unlocked after completing the first batch of missions in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare. The game is emulated from the four-player version. Differences include the lack of a score counter, an entirely new soundtrack (likely due to rights issues with the original soundtrack), altered voices, and a slightly choppy frame rate compared to the arcade. Much like the version it was based on, the characters are assigned by controller. This means that Donatello and Raphael are not playable in the PlayStation 2 version without a multitap, as the base console only has two controller slots. The new soundtrack is a re-arranged version from the Nintendo DS version of Mutant Nightmare.

The arcade and Super NES versions of the game were re-released as part of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection in 2022.[17]

Reception

[18]
Review scores
PublicationScore
ArcadeSNES
AllGame4/5[7]
Electronic Gaming Monthly9/10, 9/10, 9/10, 9/10[19]
Famitsu7/10, 7/10, 6/10, 6/10[20]
Mean Machines80%[21]
Nintendo Power4/5[22]
Game Zero84.5/100[23]
Game Zone93%[24]
Nintendojo9.4/10[25]
Play Meter9/10[26]
SNES Force75%[27]

Following its release, Turtles in Time became Konami’s best-selling arcade title.[28] In the United States, the home console conversion was the top-selling Super NES game in September 1992.[29]

Reviews

The arcade game received positive reviews. Although critics found that the second game was largely similar to the previous arcade game, they felt that it was a net improvement over its predecessor on all points, including graphics, music and gameplay.[7] Overall, the game was hailed for staying true to its source material.[13]

The Super NES version was praised for its additional stages and gameplay modes. The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it unanimous scores of 9 out of 10 each, applauding the fun gameplay, the new moves, the accurate recreation of the arcade version’s graphics, and the two-player versus mode, though they criticized that the game is too easy.[19] The Super NES game was lauded in Allgame for its visuals, which replicate the cartoon’s art style.[5] Nintendojo called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time the best Ninja Turtles game of all time.[25]

Entertainment Weekly wrote that “The Turtles may have peaked on the big screen, but in video-game land they’re just reaching their potential.”[30]

Game Zero magazine’s four reviewers gave the game a combined review score of 84.5 out of 100, they praised the graphics and the option to switch between the animation and comic book style graphics and gave praise to the game’s music, improved moveset and voice acting. The only criticism given was the game being too easy even when played on hard mode.[23] Super Gamer gave an overall review score of 90% calling the game “Highly impressive cartoon platform beat-em-up.”[31]

Accolades

Nintendo Power ranked the game 7th in their “Top 10 in 1992” praising the characters being well animated concluding: “the popularity of Konami’s TMNT series with players and the new theme of time travel put this one into our year end top 10.”[32] IGN ranked the game 39th in their “Top 100 SNES Games of All Time”, praising the bright graphics that captures the look and personality of the classic cartoon and praising the utilization of mode 7 when throwing enemies into the screen.[33] GamesRadar ranked the game #24 in their “Best SNES Games of All Time”, they praised the game music and commenting that Turtles in Time improved everything the original Turtles game did and made it better and felt the game was “one of the best action games on the SNES”[34] In 2013, Arcade Sushi ranked Turtles in Time 10th on their “10 Best Retro Beat ‘Em Ups.” They praised the game’s aesthetics staying true to the franchise’s cartoon series.[35] In 2018, Complex listed the game 9th in its “The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time.”[36] In 2023, Time Extension included the Super NES version on their top 25 “Best Beat ‘Em Ups of All Time” list. They called it the best game in the series.[37]

Remake

The 2009 remake, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, features new graphics and sounds. The graphics were remade in 3D, with players moving in and out of a true 3D camera.[38] The opening and closing cinematics were remade with a stylized 2D look. The vocal quips of the arcade version return, re-recorded by the cast of the 2003 cartoon. The music was also re-done.[39]

Re-Shelled was based on the original arcade machine, rather than on the Super NES version. As a result, the extra stages and enemy characters from the earlier home version were excluded. The gameplay remained similar, except that players can attack in eight directions. The game can also be played online with up to four players. This version also features a Survival mode, Quickplay mode, multiple difficulties and Achievements/Trophy support.[39]

References

  1. ↑ GameSpot Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare. URL retrieved 16 September 2006.
  2. ↑ Bailey, Kat (11 June 2009). “Turtles in Time Remake To Be A Timed Exclusive”. 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  3. ↑ “PlayStation Store Update blog”. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 “X-Cult comparison of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time“. X-cult.org. 2008. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2010. Previous version accessed 16 Sept. 2006.
  5. 1 2 Allgame Archived 10 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Anthony Baize, review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time. URL retrieved 15 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Konami; Arcade machine manual for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. (PDF)
  7. 1 2 3 review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. AllGame, URL retrieved 30 October 2006. Archived from the original at the Wayback Machine.
  8. 1 2 Instruction manual for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (PDF). Konami. 1992.
  9. ↑ IMDb Archived 9 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. URL retrieved 22 July 2006.
  10. ↑ Moby Games Archived 19 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine profile of Harumi Ueko. URL retrieved 22 October 2006.
  11. ↑ Moby Games Archived 1 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine profile of Kazuhiko Uehara. URL retrieved 22 October 2006.
  12. ↑ “News Digest: ‘Simpsons’ Video & ‘TMNT’ Sequel In Konami’s Future”. RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 5. February 1991. p. 24.
  13. 1 2 Arcade History Archived 10 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. URL retrieved 22 July 2006.
  14. ↑ Game Music Revolution Archived 14 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine CD information for Konami All-Stars 1993 ~ Music Station of Dreams. URL retrieved 13 October 2006.
  15. ↑ Video Game Talk Archived 20 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare. URL retrieved 15 October 2006.
  16. ↑ “Video – Warrock M1”. GameTrailers. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  17. ↑ Bailey, Kat (21 July 2022). “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection Has a Release Date”. IGN. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  18. ↑ “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time review score”. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017.
  19. 1 2 “Review Crew: Turtles IV”. Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 36. Sendai Publishing. July 1992. p. 18. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  20. ↑ Hirozaku, Hamamura; Chuji, Giorgio; Watanabe, Miki; TACOX (1 January 1993). “New Games Cross Review”. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). No. 211. ASCII Corporation. p. 39.
  21. ↑ “Turtles in Time – Super Nintendo – Mean Machines review”. Meanmachinesmag.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  22. ↑ Nintendo Power Magazine review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time. Issue of 1 August 1992.
  23. 1 2 “GZ Reviews–T.M.N.T. IV: Turtles In Time”. www.gamezero.com. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  24. ↑ “Turtles IV: Turtles in Time”. Game Zone. No. 11 (September 1992). Dennis Publishing. 19 August 1992. pp. 34–5.
  25. 1 2 Nintendojo Archived 5 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time. URL retrieved 16 July 2006.
  26. ↑ Overman, Jim (April 1992). “An operator’s video picks of the show”. Play Meter. Vol. 18, no. 5. p. 52.
  27. ↑ “TMNT Turtles In Time SNES Force Review”. July 1993.
  28. ↑ “Developer Lookback: Konami Part I”. Retro Gamer (53). Imagine Publishing: 29. August 2008.
  29. ↑ “EGM Top Ten”. Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 40. November 1992. pp. 40–41.
  30. ↑ Entertainment Weekly, Bob Strauss, 4 December 1992 Holiday video game guide: 1992 Archived 7 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ↑ “TMNT: Turtles in Time Review”. Super Gamer. United Kingdom: Paragon Publishing: 124. May 1994. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  32. ↑ “Top 10 Games of 1992”. Nintendo Power. No. 44. January 1993. p. 120. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  33. ↑ Top 100 SNES Games of All Time – IGN.com, retrieved 15 February 2021
  34. ↑ GamesRadar Staff (19 April 2017). “The best SNES games of all time”. gamesradar. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  35. ↑ Ledford, Jon (30 May 2013). “10 Best Retro Beat ‘Em Ups”. Arcade Sushi. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  36. ↑ Knight, Rich (30 April 2018). “The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time”. Complex. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  37. ↑ Banks, George (14 February 2023). “Best Beat ‘Em Ups Of All Time”. Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  38. ↑ Nardozzi, Dale (3 August 2009). “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled Review (Xbox 360)”. Team Xbox. Archived from the original on 8 August 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  39. 1 2 Nicholson, Brad (11 August 2009). “Review: TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled”. Destructoid. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.