Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

"Watch out for that...bulldozer!?!"

I sat down and pounded my NES in the morning and blew in the game and I was happy to see my favorite childhood cartoon and my personal favorite move pop up on the screen. I was ready for a day of saving April O'Neal action. I was very happy to see Splinter pop up on the screen looking as old as ever (isn't it funny how he never ages) and I picked my first victim. It happened to be my favorite turtle, Michaelangelo.

The screen appeared showing a green blob. I turned the corner and got crunched by a bulldozer. I let a few inappropriate words slip out of my mouth but I stayed pretty calm. The next sucker happened to be Raphael. This time I was ready, I realized I could attack on the screen so I decided to show that bulldozer who's boss. Little did I know that I would be proven quite wrong, I managed to get trampled and flattened once again by a bulldozer. This was starting to piss me off. I through the controller, but I picked it up and rolled up the cord and whipped out my turbo controller and pushed in both of the turbo buttons. I decided against fighting the bulldozer and made it to the sewer. I walked in and saw some wannabe foot soldier fly at my and I nailed him easily. The level was incredibly easy although I still managed to be nailed a few times and like in the classic Donkey Kong, April got swept away leaving me at the birds eye view game. After playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II I knew I wouldn't be too pleased with this pitiful prequel.

Gameplay 1: The controls of this game are absolutely terrible. It has caused me to give quite a beating on my controllers from being thrown so many times. The jumping is incredibly hard to control and attacking when you are squatting is just about the stupidest thing I have seen. How can you hit through a brick floor and take out the jumping ninja fool below you. Also there is a huge pause between when you press the button and the turtle tries to poke the enemy with his weapon or swing it in a circle.

Sound 4: The sound of the game is sadly one of the strongest points. Although it is nothin special it isn't bad for an NES game. I know it probably didn't deserve the four I gave it but I have to feel pity on the Turtles just because I love them so much. They did make it kinda enjoyable. I must say it is better than the Tomb Raider 2 sound though and it is an NES game. The beeping sound when you get hit can get pretty annoying but at least it warns you when you get hit unlike some other NES games...coughAthenacough...

Story 6: I know some people out there are looking at me and wondering what I am thinking. Some people may consider it one of the worst parts of the game but I like it a lot more than anything else in the game being a huge TMNT fan. I think the classic theme is a great addition to a terribly thought out game.

Graphics 1: I know the Nintendo system can't handle much better but they could have at least tried to make the levels laid out well. The sewers weren't sewers and the huts or whatever they were looked like my six year old cousin drew them. The enemies have no detail too them although the bosses are ok. My biggest complaint has to be the jumping ninjas. Why couldn't they use foot soldiers...sigh...

Replay 1: This was my second NES game being a new school gamer (who plays a lot of old school games) and I haven't played it since I got my hands on TMNT II, TMNT III, Metal Gear, and Jackal. This is not worth being in your collection unless you find it really cheap and just want to complete the TMNT series.

In conclusion, this was basically a practice for the following TMNT games and it shouldn't be sat next to other great old games on the shelves. If you are expecting a lot then watch out for the bulldozers.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 07/17/01, Updated 07/17/01