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As if TMNT hasn’t made a big enough splash on TV and the silver screen, our lovable Turtle siblings have also starred in several video games. In 1989, an action/adventure over world/side-scrolling hybrid game (think Grand Theft Auto-type gameplay, but in pre-3D days of 8-bit gaming) was released on the NES. The same year also saw the release of a an arcade side-scrolling fighting game, which followed gameplay made popular by the Double Dragon series. 25 years later, we have been graced with several TMNT video games that span multiple platforms. Some of the more popular of which have been Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan.

While most of the early games were based on the 1987 TV series, many of the subsequent TMNT games would be based on the 2003 series. 2013 saw the release of TMNT: Out of the Shadows (many people found the following review helpful). The upcoming TMNT movie will likely inspire more TMNT video games, which we will be sure to review.

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TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Hits Consoles!

by Chris M. P.
written by Chris M. P.

After what feels like a long time coming, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge finally hit physical and virtual game shelves late last week. So far, it has received a positive reaction among fans and critics alike. IGN‘s Cameron Hawkins gives a great (spoiler free) preview

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have a notable history of beat-’em-up games on arcade cabinets and retro consoles like the NES and Super NES. Now Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Donny are back again for another adventure in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, and it looks… like a modernized version from the same era, which adds an immediate nostalgic appeal. Developed by genre veterans Tribute Games, the build I played shows that this retro-rules pseudo-sequel is shaping up to be a charismatic – albeit safe – return to the genre.

Something important to share first and foremost is that Shredder’s Revenge is its own game. It may be based off the 1987 Ninja Turtles, but the story is not connected to TMNT: The Arcade Game or Turtles in Time. After playing the first two levels with the developer, Shredder’s Revenge is very much inspired by the era, and plays more or less as a modern release with quality of life improvements, so don’t expect many new additions this time around.

With that being said, “old on purpose” isn’t particularly a bad thing. Combat is smooth and introduces a super attack that is unique for each playable character. I was even able to “meditate” in the middle of battle to automatically fill my super bar. It honestly feels more like a taunt to the enemies, and it was continuously charming to boot. Similar to the level-complete animations where each character is different from one another, each taunt is distinctive as well. Tech wiz Donatello plays on a little Game Boy when meditating and uses his staff as a pogo stick after beating each level. Mikey, on the other hand, does a little dance, and Raphael simply laughs at enemies. It’s these kinds of details that not only distinguish each character, but it’s also a good way to show off their personalities for those who may not be as familiar with the franchise. Tribute also seems to nail the overexaggerated cartoon animation of the late-80s in even the small details, too, like the ninjas typing on a keyboard.

Similar to the classic TMNT games, you’ll find pizza boxes as you progress through each level. Not only is there pizza that heals, but there are also other pies for extra strength, and infinite supers for a limited amount of time. Another fun callback to the older games is throwing enemies around like rag dolls or towards the screen itself, which remains satisfying even 30 years later. Each level seems to end with a boss, which in my case consisted of the iconic duo Bebop and Rocksteady. Both brought a relative challenge that made me be more conservative on when to attack and focus more on dodging. I also can’t fail to mention the funk and groove that is Shredder Revenge’s fantastic soundtrack.

The soundtrack isn’t the only notable new thing in a game full of nostalgic nods. Also new to Shredder’s Revenge is the ability to choose April O’Neil and Master Splinter as playable characters for the very first time, with four total players being the max by either local couch co-op or online play. There will be two primary modes available at launch: Story and Arcade mode. From what the developers told me during my play session, the only main difference between the two modes is that Story will allow you to upgrade your characters health and super bars while Arcade will have you at base level throughout. For those who are (or not) looking for a challenge you will be glad to know that there will be three difficulty levels the choose from to help personalize the experience you want.

Despite its beloved and iconic past, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge isn’t trying to break any barriers when it comes to the beat-’em-up genre and honestly, that’s OK. Everything that I’ve seen so far has been true to the TMNT brand, and it’s clear that a lot of tender love and care went into making this game live up to its past. So far so good. Chaotic combat, engaging boss fights, and a killer soundtrack is what makes a great beat-‘em-up game, and Shredder’s Revenge is looking to check all those boxes when it comes out this Summer.

You can read the full article of the preview here. 

IGN went on to give TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge an 8 out of 10.  It currently stands at an 85 on Metacritic.

I think it’s safe to say that the TMNT’s throwback to nostalgic arcade beat ’em ups has proven to be a success. Can this lead to a sequel? Or perhaps “new” wave of licensed throwbacks in the same vein?

Sound off below on what you Shellheads thought of the game!

Developed by Tribute Games, Shredder’s Revenge sees the four heroes-in-a-half-shell return to a new adventure based on the classic 1987 Ninja Turtles cartoon, though the story isn’t connected to the original TMNT arcade game or Turtles in Time.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is now available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch!

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TMNT TINY ARCADE!

by Chris M. P.
written by Chris M. P.

There’s no doubt that if you’ve stepped into a few arcades at some point in your life, you may have spotted Konami’s classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade cabinet. A glorious sight, colorful and chaotic…blasting it’s chiptune render of the classic theme…adorned with artwork featuring a much too skinny Shredder and banana-suited-big-wigged April. And it’s absolutely bonkers to think you’re able to own a replica for a decent price through your local Walmart. A thought that would’ve had 10-year-old-me believing we’re quite possibly The Jetsons. 

But, if you’re like me, and don’t want to make such a financial commitment to something that will eventually be used as a theatrical laundry rack…then I have the next best thing that’ll break a twenty dollar bill. 

But here’s the catch: It’s under four inches tall and it’s not the next best thing. 

First…The Source

Developed and published by Konami, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was released in 1989 quickly becoming a staple of arcades worldwide and personally responsible for eating hundreds of my quarters over the years. It featured the ability to play as one (or four) of your favorite Turtles to stop the evil Shredder after he kidnapped yo’ girl April and yo’ boy Splinter. With colorful graphics, pizza power ups, digitized voices, and the gnarly theme song, TMNT successfully captured the vibes of the classic cartoon during the height of Turtlemania. And as the decades pass, it still proves to be a fun four player beat ‘em up. Even by today’s standards, many judge an arcades’ authenticity by the mere presence of a TMNT cabinet. 

Konami’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was ported to the NES in 1990 as well as various computer ports in 1991. And, as previously mentioned, Arcade1Up released a TMNT replica arcade cabinet almost identical to the original. Of course, it’s smaller, but not as small as this one…  

Now…The Tiny Arcade 

I saw this in the electronics department of my local Target for $19.99 and did a double take. These “tiny arcades” have been around for a couple years with the likes of Pac-man, Galaga, Q-Bert, Tetris and more. But Konami’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? The epic four-player-beat ‘em-up classic? Visually, it was all there. The tiny pocket sized cabinet had the original artwork complete with a light up marquee! The box claims “Original Gameplay!”. I press the “Try Me!” button and get a glimpse of Donatello mowing down Foot Soldiers from the first stage of the Konami classic. Sure, the frame rate is poor but it is ported onto a tic tac box. Incredible! 

The company that makes this is called Super Impulse. Very fitting. And it seems they have an undying fetish with making everything tiny. They even made a miniature 1991 Data East TMNT Pinball machine which turned out to actually be pretty dope. So my expectations for this weren’t necessarily tiny. Ha. 

Much like the previously mentioned mini TMNT Pinball, Visually this little arcade cabinet kills it. Measuring merely 3.75 x 1.75 x 1.75 with a 1.5 inch LCD screen, there’s not much room to work with. But we’re given Konami’s original artwork adorning the tiny cabinet complete with a light-up marquee that I did not expect and very much enjoyed that “bonus”. It’s obviously not four players…and there’s virtually no room for art on the button/joystick area. Yet there’s even a neat little coin op design where your quarters would go.  It takes three AAA batteries and features and on/off switch in the back. Yet switching it on might just get your hopes up. The LCD screen is alluring as you’re met with a simplified splash screen followed by the actual but not-quite intro to the first scene. Alas, my brothers and sisters, there is no TMNT classic theme song. 

And, unfortunately, as far as the gameplay goes…everything goes down the sewer. You’ll start the game as Donatello and think to yourself, “Wait, did I select Donnie? Did I even get an option?”. You Don’t. You can only play as Donatello. Why? I assume it’s due to memory. My personal explanation? Donatello is strapped for cash during these unprecedented times and was the only Turtle brother willing to license his likeness to this game. The small cabinet blares out some grating generic music. Fortunately you have the option to lower it…but the sound effects are what really burns your pizza. Fighting Foot Soldiers sounds more like several squirrels tap dancing on frying pans. It’s an endless array of noise that would make The Grinch rethink Whoville’s caroling. So I recommend turning the volume levels way down before actually playing the game. 

As for the gameplay itself? I mean, you can play it. It’s not necessarily fun…but it’s something you can do. Like scrubbing the tub or doing the dishes. The frame rate is slow. There are four buttons to jump and attack to the left or right making the joystick sort of redundant. You get three lives and a health bar that could last 2-3 seconds if an overwhelming amount of Foot Soldiers get the drop on you. And, pretty early on, there’s a comical amount on the screen. The correct soundbites are there. From “Cowabunga!” to a “Say your prayers, Toitles!” to Shredder’s diabolical laugh at the “Game Over” screen.  

The online description reads the game consists of “3 stages based on the original Konami arcade game.” Key phrase being “based on”. Oops.  When the package reads “Original Gameplay” I’d assume it means that of the Konami arcade game. Yet, in retrospect, I also see the “Turtle Fighter” title across the box. So, as it turns out, it’s “original gameplay” of whatever the hell “Turtle Fighter” is. I can only describe it as playing a version of 1989’s TMNT arcade ported for a 2003 Nokia Flip Phone. So if you’re into that, hey, get on it I guess. 

The Radical 

  • Authentic Artwork and Displays Great 
  • Light-up Marquee feature is rad
  • Has some of the original soundbites
  • Decent Price
  • Game Intro is the best part 

The Lame 

  • It’s a bizarre laggy stripped short version of the original  
  • You only play as Donatello (Great for Donatello fans) 
  • Weapon SFX/Music can get irritating 
  • No TMNT Theme 🙁 
  • Awkward controls coupled with it being so dang tiny make it uncomfortable to play
  • Slow framerate makes you feel like you’re underwater (Turtle based gameplay?)

In Conclusion…

I didn’t expect the actual full 1989 Konami TMNT arcade game to be packed into this tiny novelty for $20. Yet I was still a little disappointed gameplay wise. It should just be called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Donatello’s Big Night with some different artwork. But, as I previously stated, it’s a novelty..and nostalgia opens wallets afterall. You can’t seriously play it…and it’s not really the original arcade game. The original artwork slapped all over it made this purchase a tease. I believe this is something to simply be displayed and/or used as an action figure accessory for a fun photoshoot. The idea is solid but the execution leaves something to be desired. I’d actually like it more if it was the full NES port with just two buttons and a joystick. 

Personally, if you’re aching to purchase a small retro TMNT game for whatever reason, I’d go with the mini pinball machine to fulfill that dopamine rush. Much more fun to play. 

Oh, also…as a keychain? Pretty cumbersome. It fails in that regard. Yeah.

COWABUNGA DUDES AND DUDETTES (also be wise with your money; companies are after our nostalgia) RADICAL! 

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Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade Cabinet from Arcade 1Up

by Kyle Tobey
written by Kyle Tobey

I grew up feeding quarters to arcade machines.

Wearing out your fingers while throwing your quarters to the free-life Gods is an experience that is gone in an age of the digital e-shop and Gamestop. And while I could have paid for college with the amount of quarters I put in the X-Men and the Simpsons machines, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade games were the ones my brothers and I gravitated towards. While remasters and emulators have been a nice placeholder, nothing has replaced the feeling of gathering close a foot from the screen and button mashing your way past countless Foot Soldiers.

Until now.

Arcade1Up has recreated the feel of the old school arcade and shrunk it down just enough to fit in almost any home. With the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles installment of their hit cabinets, they bring the co-op button mashing action to your home with as many lives as you need to take on the Shredder.

The Look

Pulling this out of the box, the side panel artwork is identical to the original cabinets. Everything from April’s giant coveralls, to Michelangelo’s yellow color scheme, it is perfect. The marquee is still as iconic as ever. Shredder stands alone in the streets surrounded by the Turtles. Each brother stands ready to protect April. The only difference is the lack of the classic Konami logo, which has been replaced by the Nickelodeon logo on the cabinet. And since no quarters are needed to play, the front simply shows the logos for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and TMNT: Turtles in Time.

The joysticks match the turtles color schemes perfectly. The instruction box lies exactly where it used to. The neon green trim on the pressed wood is a bit much at first, especially if you don’t have a designated arcade/game/nerd room, but once the machine is assembled, it only makes the rest of the art pop. There was a real risk of having to trade off style for awesomeness, but, shockingly, you can have both.

The Size

The cabinet is 75% of the original machine size. Although it is smaller, it’s still totally comfortable to play! You can play up to 4 players, just like the original, and despite the small size, not feel cramped with the other players. It includes a riser, to bring it up to a more playable height. Even with the smaller size, I could play side by side with my wife and neither of us would bump elbows during the game.

Even though it’s smaller than the original machines, it’s still has some heft to it. It will more than likely be a focal point of most rooms. I live in a small apartment in the boroughs of New York City. I’m able to fit the arcade in a weird nook of my apartment that formerly housed my Christmas Tree. I wish I could use the space inside the cabinet as storage. It’s still an option, if you want it to be. But it would have been awesome if there was a door latch in the front to use. The cabinet shape also made it so you can’t use the top over the marquee as a shelf. There’s a good chance that these are problems only found in small studio apartments, but it’s something to think about.

The Games

Both games are absolute classics. Some of the games almost feel like remastered classics, but they play exactly like you remember. Nothing tops playing an arcade game on an actual arcade. It’s a feeling I realize I missed for so long now that it’s back.

The original classic “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is a perfect recreation. I’m not sure if some of the graphics and sounds may have been updated, because it actually looks and sounds better than I remember.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time” threw me a little. Growing up, I never played Turtles in Time at the arcade, only on Super Nintendo. Some of the sounds are less muffled than I remember and some of the graphics seem more animated than I remember. The biggest difference is the final boss of “Prehistoric Turtlesaurus.” I’m used to fighting a hyperactive Slash rolling across the screen, where the game here has you fighting Cement Man. There are other differences I miss with the SNES version, but I understand the choice to use the arcade version. Because it’s an arcade machine.

The Assembly

Assembly was very easy and, although daunting to look at all the boxes and wood panels, took minimal effort to set up. All you need is a phillips head screwdriver. It says you don’t need a drill, but it definitely helped me. The process took about 2 hours, but I never felt frustrated or lost. I never felt like I was building Ikea furniture, and I was never worried I was doing something wrong.

The Price

$399. It’s not cheap. They have been on sale in certain markets for $350, so at it’s best, that’s still $175 per game. But, as I said, this is more than just picking up a game for console. This is an experience that is hard to find now. Arcades are no longer in malls, because malls are no longer malls. Playing with your friends, with a joystick, might just be worth the price. This is more than a game, it’s a new piece of furniture.

Overall

Arcade1Up has successfully recreated 2 of the best arcade games of all time. This is a full on experience that’s truly unique in a digital world.

The games are true to the originals, it looks amazing, and most important, it’s fun! Playing an arcade game side by side with my wife in 2020 is a crazy thought that’s my reality.

The downfalls are few, and may not even apply to you. If Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t your favorite games (in that case, how did you get here?) the company has several other machines to offer. Any of their cabinets are great additions, or beginnings to your personal home arcade. This is the next best thing to owning an original, full-sized arcade cabinet. But considering it doesn’t need quarters, maybe it’s better.

You can buy yours here.

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The Next Ninja Turtles Game

by Kyle Tobey
written by Kyle Tobey

In late February 2018, Injustice 2 released its third pack of character DLC. I’m sure plenty of people were excited to play as Enchantress or the Atom, but most people weren’t expecting to be as shell shocked as they were. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles finally made a return to video game consoles. All four brothers are now playable alongside Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and other staples of the DC Universe. And the world, for a moment, was happy.

We were finally given the Ninja Turtles in a form finally fitting of the current generation of platforms. Studios have tried bringing our favorite brothers back a few times, but they were always a bit lackluster. 2016 gave us “Turtles in Manhattan,” which was fun, but definitely wasn’t the game we wanted. We got “Turtles in Time – Reshelled” which was a great trip down memory lane. But as of the time of this writing, the license has expired and is unavailable for purchase. There are mobile games and games based on the latest movies and cartoons, but the gap has been glaring at fans of the turtles since, arguably, Tournament Fighters in 1993.

The announcement gave fans more than playable characters in a fighting game. It gave us hope. And a healthy dose of internet speculation. The turtles have been crossing over to the DC universe a lot lately, and the connection to Batman, specifically, has fans waiting for the next announcement.

Batman has gotten a fair shake at the current gen of console and PC games in recent years. In addition to the Injustice series, we’ve been able to be the Batman. We started by battling the rogues gallery and thugs in Arkham Asylum. Continuing to glide across rooftops in the expanded Arkham City. Finally zipping the Batmobile across Gotham, concluding the trilogy with Arkham Knight. Telltale studios recently gave us a look at a first person perspective with Batman VR. All these games have given hardcore Bat-Fans an onslaught of Easter eggs and a fluid combat system to please even the snobbiest gamers. Rocksteady games allowed us to be Batman and experience Gotham City.

Injustice 2 isn’t the first time the brothers have met the Batman. In 2015 the Ninja Turtles joined forces with the caped crusader for a mini series that was so well received, they continued it with Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. It’s a great series that has given us the gift of Bebop and Rocksteady hopped up on Bane Venom.

It’s cool, but why does it matter?

All this really means is the license holders (Nickelodeon) are open to lending out their characters for other endeavors.

The Ninja turtles being lent out to Warner Bros. for the game could be a neat gift to longtime fans of the franchise. This could be all we get! But based on the reactions online, this could have been a test.

 

If this DLC pack sold well, would it open the doors to future appearances? Rocksteady studios parent company Warner Bros. owns DC comics. Maybe these recent collaborations in comics and games could have been testing the waters for an all out 5-star game featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It would make sense to test out the waters with a DLC pack before investing years in on a bit of a risky endeavor. Remember, the turtles haven’t had a truly successful original game since 1993. Of course Rocksteady studios has been silent about what they’re doing next. Troy Baker (Voice actor on the Batman games and most of your favorite things) has said it won’t be Batman. The only information we have is this tweet, from their Mo-Cap studios. 

We probably won’t have any official news until E3 later this summer.

Rocksteady could make the first full Ninja Turtles game worth of the current generation of consoles. I think it’s time we get an open world sandbox game. They could take a lot of gameplay aspects from the Arkham series and transfer it over with new legs. They mastered the 1 vs all combat style and could transfer the same overall style to the turtles. Being able to swap characters part-way through battle kept the games fresh and fighting never got stale. We don’t want to play as 1 turtle. We want to play as all the turtles.

This is a great opportunity to bring couch co-op back to the turtles. Being able to play with a friend next to you (or online) could bring teamwork that the brothers always display. Ninja Turtles fans want a hack slash game, but we’ve progressed past “Press A to punch.” We want weapons. We want combos. We want special team up abilities.

The world is rich. Being able to run and flip  around the city and up buildings is hugely important. But that’s the major difference in the turtles series and most other open world sandbox games have yet to explore. The sewers. Adding an intricate sewer system to explore gives players a sense that this is the turtles universe. It’s a crucial, often overlooked aspect of the turtle lives we need to see in the game. It needs to be underground. And when we do go above ground, it needs to feel like Manhattan. The turtles live in the city and have since their original form. It seems to be the ONLY constant in the series! This also leads to a world as giant as the TCRI building, or as inconspicuous as Casey’s Dad’s house.  I wonder what happens when we stand over a sewer grate at 122 and an 1/8th.

Something I really hope Rocksteady brings over from the Arkham games is the mass amount of Easter eggs in the series. No one ever expected to see Calendar Man in a Batman game, let alone getting an achievement for talking to him on major holidays. That’s what I want.

The turtles haven’t been around as long as Batman, but it has a deep roster of relative unknowns. Imagine the joy you’d feel running down a building, chasing the foot clan into a firehouse when, suddenly, Hot Spot appears to douse all the Foot Clan with a fire hose. Or Manta Ray swimming in the East River. Add special skins that add the Mirage style duo shading we all love. If I could run through the streets of New York as Raphael with the strange Mirage cross-hatching, I’d be the first person recorded to die of nostalgia.

The city should be littered with references to past iterations. Kevin Eastman artwork needs to be plentiful throughout the city. On billboards and logos. I want to cruise around New York City sewers driving the Turtle Van! And it should never ignore past iterations of the turtles.

Give us a bonus world where we transport to Dimension X. Trigger a cut-scene where we transport back to a pirate ship. Something as simple as the Foot Soldiers being colored like in “Turtles in Time” is such a simple touch, but lets the fans know that the game was handled by people who also love the characters. You should be able to get around the city by running up buildings and ninja flipping your way to secret areas and hidden characters. We need Triceratons! 

Photo from nick.com

Please can we play against the Triceratons? PLEASE!?!

As much as it should honor the past, the game needs to be its own entity. I don’t want it to resemble the old black and white comic. It can’t be the 90’s we all love. It can’t be the 2012 or from any movie. The game needs to exist as its own entity.  The designs used for Injustice 2 look really good, but could use a bit more personality. It absolutely needs to skew to a more adult audience. It should return to the comic books, but only in tone. If you narrow it to a certain style, you alienate a generation of fans, and this game needs to be a celebration of everything about the turtles to date.

The story on the other hand, should be pulled directly from the comics. “City at War.” The story could lend itself to a world occupied by elite Foot Clan and mousers creating mayhem in the city. The overall arc could lend itself well to the game, where after the defeat of Shredder, Karai takes the loyal foot clan and vow to destroy the city.

Specifics can definitely change as you encounter new characters along the way. As much as the characters and design should stand alone, the main story should have a direct influence from turtle lore. It could even be an interesting title to let old school fans know that this is a game for them.

The rumblings of Rocksteady Games giving the world a great game have been happening for a few months. Hopefully at this summer’s E3, we see if the rumors are true. This is a game that has a built in fanbase. We would buy the deluxe edition with the special edition statue and bonus features. And if the game is good, new fans will be created that don’t know how deep the turtle lore goes.  With any luck, we won’t suffer an underwater level with electrified seaweed.

Have mercy

Please. Oh god. Please not this.

 

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Could we see one of the most popular TMNT games on the SNES Classic? Not likely. Image source: Konami.
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This is Why We Are Unlikely to See Turtles in Time on the SNES Classic Console

by Justin W
written by Justin W

Just last year, Nintendo released their NES Classic to widespread success. This miniature version of the original Nintendo Entertainment System came with several popular games that had defined the success of their first video game console. Unfortunately, they had a huge problem with distribution and few stores received many copies of the unit as a result. Regardless, this device remained a hot commodity in the market for pretty much the entirety of 2016.

Unfortunately, it would appear that excellent sales figures aren’t the only factor to consider, because Nintendo has since decided to discontinue the NES Classic. While some fans are convinced that this move is directly tied to poor distribution, others are under the impression that the company cancelled production because they didn’t want it to compete with their newest console, the Switch. There are also rumors that this decision may have been tied to the fact that a lot of people were modding the device in order to play additional emulated software.

The NES Classic was one of the most interesting success stories of Nintendo's history. Image Source: Nintendo.

The NES Classic was one of the most interesting success stories of Nintendo’s history. Image Source: Nintendo.

Whatever the case may be, recent reports suggest that Nintendo might actually follow up the NES Classic with the SNES Classic. This device would probably be very similar in design and concept, but it would obviously include a bunch of classic titles from the Super Nintendo console. As usual, fans immediately began to speculate about the titles that would be included with the SNES Classic, coming up with their own retro gaming wishlists. Some of these lists included perhaps the most popular TMNT game ever made – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.

As a fan of both Nintendo and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, any mention of Turtles in Time on the SNES Classic struck me as odd. The NES Classic included mostly popular titles that were developed and produced by Nintendo themselves. They owned all of the rights to these games, so it was easy to put them on the console. Although they did add a few titles that were developed elsewhere, few of them represented any kind of incredible stretch for the company.

Most notably, none of the TMNT games were included on the NES Classic. Considering how popular the first TMNT game was in the UK, you’d think they might have considered that title. Alternatively, the second game was literally a port of the incredibly popular TMNT Arcade game, which also would have been an excellent choice for the console. Could there be a reason why they didn’t add either of these titles to the NES Classic? Well, there could be many reasons, if we’re being honest.

Turtles in Time was one of the best arcade game ports ever produced for the SNES. Image Source: Konami.

Turtles in Time was one of the best arcade game ports ever produced for the SNES. Image Source: Konami.

The problem with a game based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is that their likeness plays into copyright laws. Obtaining the rights for those games might not just be a matter of paying the owner of said property, there may be several other factors to consider. Just take a look at what has happened with each remake of the TMNT Arcade Games; distributed digitally, they were both fairly popular upon release, but both titles mysteriously disappeared from the digital marketplace after only a year or two.

Why would they take a popular game off the market? Why did they do the exact same thing with the most recent TMNT game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan? Most video games – even those tied to a popular franchise – don’t have this problem. However, when it comes to our heroes in a half shell, it would appear that there are some serious issues with copyright law. My best guess is that there is either a limit to the amount of time that these companies can use the likeness of the turtles, or someone who should be getting paid for their likeness is not getting a check.

The Super Nintendo was one of the most popular video game consoles ever sold. Image Source: Nintendo.

The Super Nintendo was one of the most popular video game consoles ever sold. Image Source: Nintendo.

Whatever the reasons are, it should be perfectly clear by now that TMNT games have a problematic history which implies that it may be difficult to sell them after a certain amount of time. With that in mind, it seems to me that it would be pretty foolish to expect Nintendo to obtain the rights to Turtles in Time for the SNES Classic. I’d love to see that happen, but history and keen observation tells me the chances are slim-to-nearly-impossible.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think it’s time we all stop expecting something that will probably never happen. Sadly, unless you find an old copy of Turtles in Time in the wild and dust off your old SNES console, chances are that you won’t be playing it anytime soon. I suppose there’s always a chance that I could be wrong – and I’m definitely rooting for that chance – but this just doesn’t appear to be a distinct possibility.

Sorry to burst your bubble, fellow shellheads! Here’s hoping that someone finds a way to bring back these classic TMNT games in the near future.

Are you still hopeful that Nintendo will add Turtles in Time to the SNES Classic? Share your thoughts either in the comments below or on facebook/twitter.

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