Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Cover artwork of the SNES version, which was retitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
Developer(s)	Konami Ubisoft Singapore (2009 remake)
Publisher(s)	Konami Ubisoft (2009 remake)
Composer(s)	Mutsuhiko Izumi
Series	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Platform(s)	Arcade, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, XBLA, PSN
Release date(s)	Original version: Arcade SNES NA April 12, 1992 JP July 24, 1992 EU November 19, 1992 2009 remake: Xbox Live Arcade INT August 5, 2009[1] PlayStation Network September 10, 2009[2]
Genre(s)	Side-scrolling beat 'em up
Mode(s)	Single-player Cooperative gameplay (up to four simultaneous players)
Media	Cartridge, download
Input methods	8-way joystick, 2 buttons
CPU	68000 (@ 16 MHz)
Sound	Two channels amplified stereo CPU: Z80 (@ 8 MHz) Chips: YM2151 (@ 3.58 MHz), K053260 (@ 3.58 MHz)
Display	Raster graphics Horizontal orientation Resolution: 304x224 pixels Refresh rate: 60.00 Hz 2048 colours

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is a video game produced by Konami. A sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) arcade game, it is a scrolling beat 'em up based on the 1987 TMNT animated series. Originally an arcade game, Turtles in Time was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time in 1992. That same year, a similar game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist was released for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

Years later, the arcade version of Turtles in Time was revisited on newer consoles. A slightly altered version of the arcade game was included as an unlockable bonus in the 2005 game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare.^[3] In August 2009, Ubisoft released a 3D remake of the game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, for Xbox Live Arcade.^[1] The remake was released onto PlayStation Network on September 10, 2009.^[2]

Gameplay

Up to four players (two players in the SNES version) can take control of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.^[4] Each playable character has his own strengths and weaknesses. ^[4][5][6] New features in this game 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 or to throw them out of the playing field, towards the camera.^[4]

The game features the same control scheme of the previous arcade release - 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.^[4]

Players guide the turtles through a series of levels, starting out in the streets of New York City before being transported to levels representing various eras of history. In each level, players face enemies from the 1987 cartoon, including foot soldiers and stone warriors.^[7]

Plot

Shredder taunts the Turtles after Krang steals the Statue of Liberty, in the intro of the arcade game.

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. Suddenly, Krang flies in using a giant exosuit (seen occasionally in the animated series^[8][9][10]) 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 SNES version^[7]), 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.^[11]

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 produced by Kazuhiko Uehara and Harumi Ueko,^[12] both of whom went on to produce several Konami games, including the following TMNT game, Tournament Fighters.^[13][14] 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.^[15] 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.^[16]

The 2005 version of the game included in Mutant Nightmare features new music and voices, updated to match the new TMNT series.^[17] The same would apply to Turtles In Time: Re-Shelled.^[18]

Home versions

Super NES

The Super NES version was retitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time in North America in order to tie it to the first three Ninja Turtles games for the NES. Like the NES version of the first arcade game, the SNES version of Turtles in Time is not a direct port of the arcade original, as it did present some notable differences in presentation and gameplay.^[7]

While SNES version is missing some animations and graphics effects from the arcade version, it features a Mode 7 forward scrolling effect in the "Neon Night-Riders" level and unique skin tones for each turtle. The SNES version is also missing certain voice samples for both the turtles and boss characters. In addition, the arcade version's title theme song, "Pizza Power", was replaced with an instrumental version of the cartoon theme song.^[7]

The second part of the SNES-exclusive "Technodrome: Let's Kick Shell!" level, features a fight sequence in an elevator.

Various alterations were made to the SNES version's gameplay. "Sewer Surfin'" and "Neon Night-Riders", were changed to bonus levels and a new technodrome stage was added. Four new bosses were also added: Slash, who replaced Cement Man, the Rat King, Battletank Shredder, and the duo of Bebop and Rocksteady. The game also replaces the final boss with Super Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (who previously appeared in the NES game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project). The SNES version also adds two regular enemies: Roadkill Rodneys (which replaced the boxing robots) and Mousers. The game also features a time-trial mode, and a two-player versus fight mode.^[7] Each turtle was given unique attributes in areas such as speed and strength. In addition, the throw and slam moves can now be performed intentionally, instead of just randomly. ^[6]

Re-Shelled

The 2009 remake, Re-Shelled, features new graphics and sounds. The graphics were remade completely in 3D, with players now moving in and out of a true 3D camera.^[19] 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.^{[citation needed]}

Re-Shelled is based on the original arcade version instead of the SNES version, meaning that the extra stages and enemy characters from the earlier home version are not included.^{[citation needed]} The gameplay remains similar, except that players can now attack in eight directions. The game can also be played online with up to 4 players. This version also features a Survival mode, Quickplay mode, multiple difficulties and achievements.^[19]

Critical response

Following its release, Turtles in Time became Konami's best selling arcade title.^[23] 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.^[5] Overall, the game was hailed for staying true to its source material.^[15]

The SNES version was praised for its additional stages and gameplay modes. Like the arcade version, the SNES game has been lauded for its visuals, which replicate the cartoon's art style.^[11] The game's music and sound effects have also been praised.^[24] However, the game has been criticized for its repetitive gameplay and short length. ^[24] Despite these criticisms, Nintendojo called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time the best Ninja Turtles game of all time.^[22]

Unlike the SNES version, the 2009 remake Re-Shelled has met with mixed reviews. IGN gave the game a 5.9 out of 10, stating that Ubisoft hasn't improved enough upon the original game to justify the remake's comparatively high price point. It also criticizes how there is no option to play the original arcade version of the game. ^[25] Gametrailers gave the game 6.1 out of 10, saying there isn't enough to warrant more than one or two plays.^[26] Screwattack included the game on their Top Ten Busts lists, giving it 8th place saying it took out all of the fun of the original.^[27]

References

See also

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist