Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (ARC, 1989) (1p)
Graphics-8 Sound-8 Control-7.5 Challenge-8 Story-6
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8.5 Fun-(7.5) Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Decent amount of hazards and some interactive objects in levels (exploding barrels)
4-player co-op
Fast paced
Throws (auto-activated after a set amount of foot soldiers are killed (different for each turtle) and can be used against them only) and three different jump kicks+high jumps
Can jump sideways/on the z-plane
Special attack (not as efficient as in later games but you can use it for free so it's still pretty OP)
Somewhat comical (funny voices and cutscenes)
Very true to the style of the early cartoon/toy line
Life refill in-between levels
Good animation and use of colour
Skateboard level
Good AI on foot soldiers
Lots of sprites on screen with very little slowdown
Bounce and attack off of walls
Enemies can grab you (mash to get loose)
+/-
All turtles play pretty much the same
Can't run
You have less energy than in home versions
Jump kicks aren't as good as in the NES version
-
Sloppy hit detection on some sprites (electronic traps, rock soldier bosses, trial & error (car trap, boulders, some enemy entries, boss attacks often take priority over your combo)
Shredder's instant death attack
Tedious rock soldier boss which is also repeated (Krang is also kinda tedious)
Krang doesn't have a very interesting pattern
Inconsistent art quality (some cutscene art is poor with odd color choices)
Somewhat repetitive
Some annoying sfx
Pretty short
No grabs
Throws don't hit other enemies and you can't control your throws
No pits
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8.5 Fun-(7.5) Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Decent amount of hazards and some interactive objects in levels (exploding barrels)
4-player co-op
Fast paced
Throws (auto-activated after a set amount of foot soldiers are killed (different for each turtle) and can be used against them only) and three different jump kicks+high jumps
Can jump sideways/on the z-plane
Special attack (not as efficient as in later games but you can use it for free so it's still pretty OP)
Somewhat comical (funny voices and cutscenes)
Very true to the style of the early cartoon/toy line
Life refill in-between levels
Good animation and use of colour
Skateboard level
Good AI on foot soldiers
Lots of sprites on screen with very little slowdown
Bounce and attack off of walls
Enemies can grab you (mash to get loose)
+/-
All turtles play pretty much the same
Can't run
You have less energy than in home versions
Jump kicks aren't as good as in the NES version
-
Sloppy hit detection on some sprites (electronic traps, rock soldier bosses, trial & error (car trap, boulders, some enemy entries, boss attacks often take priority over your combo)
Shredder's instant death attack
Tedious rock soldier boss which is also repeated (Krang is also kinda tedious)
Krang doesn't have a very interesting pattern
Inconsistent art quality (some cutscene art is poor with odd color choices)
Somewhat repetitive
Some annoying sfx
Pretty short
No grabs
Throws don't hit other enemies and you can't control your throws
No pits