TMNT: 2 Classic reviews!
So this week sees the release of a heck of a lot of TMNT goodness, not only in theatrical form, but in video game form as well. There’s the TMNT game being ported across PC, Wii, 360, PS2 and PSP. Then there’s the DS game. And finally a GBA game that looks to harken back to the days of classic side-scrolling beat-em-ups, much like the original TMNT Arcade game. In addition to all the new we’re getting, we lucky TMNT gaming fans are getting a nice treatment of classic TMNT games as well, delivered virtually.
Last week, one of the best arcade games ever dropped on the Xbox Live Arcade service, the original TMNT arcade game. I had pretty much figured this game showing up on their service was nothing more than wishful thinking, even after seeing the leaked video, due to the fact that Konami, who created the game (and all TMNT games until now) no longer held the rights to TMNT. Ubisoft now does, and once a license runs out, there’s very little chance to see a re-release (Even after this game coming out, I still refuse to believe we’ll ever see Miyamoto’s “Popeye” game show up on the virtual console in the near future).
The TMNT Arcade game is short, sweet and fantastically fun. The graphics are fantastic, the animation recalls the action and antics of the TMNT as they were in the late 80s and early 90s, and the soundtrack simply can’t be beat (yes, I have the entire soundtrack on my iPod). It’s 400 Microsoft Points to download, which means it’s a crime not to get this game for this cheap. I have a few minor, *minor* complaints about the game’s Live Arcade version though. First of all, if playing in single-player mode, you’re given unlimited continues. This is one of my problems with playing this game on an emulator, when you can give yourself unlimited lives, the suspense and consequentially the fun and challenge of the game are lost. This has been temporarily alleviated thanks to the Achievement Points, which give you new challenging goals, such as beating Krang without losing more than 10 points of health or not getting hit with General Traag’s flamethrower. I saw temporarily because after only three playthroughs, I’ve gotten 9 of the 12 achievement points already. Two of the three I’m missing require you to be in an online co-op game which I haven’t done, but will soon. The other, I’m afraid, is broken; it requires you to beat Shredder without getting hit by his mutagen ray, which I did, and I didn’t get the point. Other forum posters have claimed the same problem, so hopefully this will be fixed in the near future.
If rumors are to be believed, then tomorrow morning we’ll all be able to download Konami’s TMNT game for the NES using the Wii’s virtual console service. I feel this game needs more positive reviews, as many people come down on it for being too hard and not having enough in common with its cartoon counterpart. This game is unlike nearly every other TMNT game ever conceived, as it’s not your standard side-scrolling beat-em-up. Instead, you guide your turtle (who is quite small on the screen) through different large open areas, sometimes several stories tall. Lots of crazy enemies are going to get in your way from standard mousers and foot clans soldiers to the more bizarre like chainsaw maniacs and fire guys. Some areas, like in the first level, will require you to traverse above ground areas in an overhead, Zelda-esque perspective until you can find a sewer entrance to drop into that might lead you under a part of the map that would otherwise be inaccessible. Most of the levels follow this standard formula in some form or another. While it’s vastly different than, say, the arcade game, I always felt that’s what made this one so special.
The difficulty level is no joke, though. However it seems that most people got caught in level 2’s dam sequence, where you had a limited time to disarm all the bombs. I’ve never found this part to be particularly challenging once you memorize where all the bombs are and which ones to take in what order. From level 3 on out, though, the game gets much much tougher. This is still the only TMNT title I haven’t been able to beat. I can get to the last level, inside the Technodrome, but I quickly lose all four turtles before I can get very far in there. With turtlemania once again reaching an all-time peak, though, perhaps it’s worth dusting off that old cartridge and seeing if I can’t make it any further. For those of you who have yet to try it, I encourage you to give it a whirl, but it’s probably a good idea to find a PDF of the Nintendo Power magazine that had all the maps, as knowing your way around the later levels is a necessity.
So two great turtle games to keep us busy until the new games and movie hit later this week. Personally, I’m so excited I’m seeing green!
Last week, one of the best arcade games ever dropped on the Xbox Live Arcade service, the original TMNT arcade game. I had pretty much figured this game showing up on their service was nothing more than wishful thinking, even after seeing the leaked video, due to the fact that Konami, who created the game (and all TMNT games until now) no longer held the rights to TMNT. Ubisoft now does, and once a license runs out, there’s very little chance to see a re-release (Even after this game coming out, I still refuse to believe we’ll ever see Miyamoto’s “Popeye” game show up on the virtual console in the near future).The TMNT Arcade game is short, sweet and fantastically fun. The graphics are fantastic, the animation recalls the action and antics of the TMNT as they were in the late 80s and early 90s, and the soundtrack simply can’t be beat (yes, I have the entire soundtrack on my iPod). It’s 400 Microsoft Points to download, which means it’s a crime not to get this game for this cheap. I have a few minor, *minor* complaints about the game’s Live Arcade version though. First of all, if playing in single-player mode, you’re given unlimited continues. This is one of my problems with playing this game on an emulator, when you can give yourself unlimited lives, the suspense and consequentially the fun and challenge of the game are lost. This has been temporarily alleviated thanks to the Achievement Points, which give you new challenging goals, such as beating Krang without losing more than 10 points of health or not getting hit with General Traag’s flamethrower. I saw temporarily because after only three playthroughs, I’ve gotten 9 of the 12 achievement points already. Two of the three I’m missing require you to be in an online co-op game which I haven’t done, but will soon. The other, I’m afraid, is broken; it requires you to beat Shredder without getting hit by his mutagen ray, which I did, and I didn’t get the point. Other forum posters have claimed the same problem, so hopefully this will be fixed in the near future.
If rumors are to be believed, then tomorrow morning we’ll all be able to download Konami’s TMNT game for the NES using the Wii’s virtual console service. I feel this game needs more positive reviews, as many people come down on it for being too hard and not having enough in common with its cartoon counterpart. This game is unlike nearly every other TMNT game ever conceived, as it’s not your standard side-scrolling beat-em-up. Instead, you guide your turtle (who is quite small on the screen) through different large open areas, sometimes several stories tall. Lots of crazy enemies are going to get in your way from standard mousers and foot clans soldiers to the more bizarre like chainsaw maniacs and fire guys. Some areas, like in the first level, will require you to traverse above ground areas in an overhead, Zelda-esque perspective until you can find a sewer entrance to drop into that might lead you under a part of the map that would otherwise be inaccessible. Most of the levels follow this standard formula in some form or another. While it’s vastly different than, say, the arcade game, I always felt that’s what made this one so special.The difficulty level is no joke, though. However it seems that most people got caught in level 2’s dam sequence, where you had a limited time to disarm all the bombs. I’ve never found this part to be particularly challenging once you memorize where all the bombs are and which ones to take in what order. From level 3 on out, though, the game gets much much tougher. This is still the only TMNT title I haven’t been able to beat. I can get to the last level, inside the Technodrome, but I quickly lose all four turtles before I can get very far in there. With turtlemania once again reaching an all-time peak, though, perhaps it’s worth dusting off that old cartridge and seeing if I can’t make it any further. For those of you who have yet to try it, I encourage you to give it a whirl, but it’s probably a good idea to find a PDF of the Nintendo Power magazine that had all the maps, as knowing your way around the later levels is a necessity.So two great turtle games to keep us busy until the new games and movie hit later this week. Personally, I’m so excited I’m seeing green!