Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist

"What!? Shredder did something bad? How original!"

The Ninja Turtles were a large part of my childhood. I had the slippers, the dinner tray, and the backpack. I had the action figures, the movies, and the miniature gun-like flashlights. I also had the video games.

Shredder is at again, NO FOOLIN'. It's your job to take control of one of those four radical turtles to defeat the likes of Leatherhead, Krang, Bebop, Rocksteady, and the Rock Soldiers. Are you up to the task? Probably, it's not too hard... really.


Graphics 7/10

Standard TMNT graphics. Imagine *TMNT 4* for the SNES with a lower color pallete and blurrier action. The Genesis never was the graphics beast (or the sound beast). It still looks a lot better than the NES games. That's right all 3 of them!


Gameplay 5/10

Jump. Kick. Jump-kick. Yawn. Get ready for a steady dosage of this. Grabbing an opponent is tricky business and a lot harder than in *TMNT 4* The game also lacks the option of throwing opponents. This option was in *Turtles 3* for the NES and *TMNT 4,* so why isn't it here? KONAMI! Bad!


Music 8/10

Ah... the Turtles' music is always some upbeat fare. The boss music is fun fun fun to listen to. This is the type of game that would make Michelangelo say ''LLLET'S PARRRRTY!''


Replayability 5/10

Once through this game was enough for me for a while. The action just doesn't change enough. Half of the level, you're just WAITING for the boss. Foot Soldier after Foot Soldier after Foot Soldier at your disposal. This game would have benefitted from added levels, but I guess some things just weren't meant to be. Like a console-version of ''The Simpsons.''


SUMMARY

I can't really recommend this game over *TMNT 3* or *TMNT 4.* Get those, and if you're hard-pressed for turtle-fu action, then get this game, sucka.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 04/14/00, Updated 04/14/00