TMNT4: Turtles in Time -Snes- 9

May 18, 2024

Turtles in Time has always been one the few beat ‘em ups that I truly loved, and one of my favorite games for the Super Nintendo. I have great memories of playing it in both the arcades and on the SNES back when I was in grade school. So for the last couple days, I have been playing the game again to relive those memories after all these years have passed. Even though hard mode earns the true ending, I had a wonderful time beating the game on easy mode yesterday and normal mode this afternoon.

There were many arcade-style beat ‘em ups back in the early 1990’s, but Turtles in Time was always the best. What makes Turtles in Time so exceptional is how well it uses the TMNT license with the theme of time travel to create such a fun brawler with so many assorted locals and enemies. This game is constantly throwing something different your way. From fighting Baxter Stockman atop a sky scrapper in New York, to traveling back in time to the dinosaur era, and even going forward into the future on an alien starbase, every set piece is loaded with imagination and personality. Other memorable moments include the boss fight with Beebop&Rocksteady aboard a pirate ship, surfing through the sewers to fight Rat King, throwing Foot Soldiers at Shredder’s cockpit while he watches you from the first person inside a giant robot, and fighting Leatherhead on a train in the Old West.

The controls in this game are simple, tight, and responsive. Everything feels just right. You can beat up enemies with the standard attack button and bust out combos, and you have the option to hit them with a special move that costs health points. You can also grab and throw the foot soldiers in multiple directions, including directly at the screen!

This game is just beautiful. The graphics are dazzling and vibrant, and the flamboyant soundtrack fits the mood perfectly with many catchy tunes. Two player mode is available, but I’ve just been playing solo for the last couple days.

Turtles in Time was marvelous in the arcades, and the SNES port was outstanding. I think it’s the best arcade-style beat ‘em up ever made, and I rate it a 9 out of ten.