Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters

"Best 2-D Fighter ever? Not quite... One of the best Fighters based on a TV show? Absolutely!"

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, started as quirky odd Black & White comic from a couple of fellows from Dover, New Hampshire soon became a hit animated TV series, series of live action movies and even Video Games made by known 3rd party Konami. As wee all know Konami has always been the maker of TMNT games from its start to even today. However they were for the most part are 2D brawling sidescrollers however that changed when the TMNT series actually had its own 2-D fighting game named ''Tennage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters''. And first off NO it is not a ''Street Fighter II'' rip-off. Yes they are both 2-D fighters but trust me the similarities for the most part end there.

Its a real pity that Konami doesn't do 2-D fighters anymore cause this game is solid proof enough that they could give Capcom some good competition. If your a TMNT fan and you've been generally enjoying the TMNT games chances are this most likely won't change your mind anytime soon. This is in a ways a half weapons based half martial arts-based fighter. (Though for the most part the four Ninja Turtles themselves are the only ones with weapons.) Gameplay rarely if ever feels repetitive since all the characters moves are very unique to eachover. And unlike most of Capcom's efforts the control is perfectly fine here. I can remember a pretty good amount of times the conrol doesn't work that greatly when performing moves in Capcom's past entries for the genre. However I rarely if ever remembered any control problems here. There are plenty of modes such as Story mode (Turtles only), Tournmanet mode (all playable characters), Vs. Mode, ''Watch'' mode (Comp. Vs. Comp.) and more.

Fortunately the other characters in this game are good as well. Featuring somewhat familar characters as the Dhalsim/Shredder-like robot Chrome Dome, loopy bat-like Wingnut, the deranged Rat King and of course Shredder himself. (And the various familiar characters of TMNT past make cameos in the backgrounds of most of the stages which is a nice treat.) There is also not-so familiar characters like the Shark-like fighter Armaggedon, purple demonic long-clawed creature War, ambiguously mysterious ninja Karaii and slender buxom kunoichi Aska. (Yeah she is pretty much Konami's answer to Mai Shiranui. Except that Aska's attire doesn't show as much skin, fights with her fists nor does she chase anyone else around. Though her lesbian-like ''feminist'' winquotes to April in Tournament mode and her awfully suggestive ''Hip Drop'' might give a few gamers some giggles and intresting thoughts.)

Graphics look great, while they may not be up to the caliber of the likes of Final Fantasy 3, Chrono Trigger & Secret of Mana but lets just say they are awfully close. Music is pretty good as well which fits within the game just fine. While fans of TMNT will most likely love it just fine, be good for 2D fighters but lets just say it'll most likely not give any casual gamers that ever-so proverbial shaft. One great thing that Konami did was to try to make it as different as possible compared to its NES and Sega Genesis versions. (Though why they didn't make one for GB is beyond me but thats a diffrent story.)

The only flaw in this game is mainly well Konami can make great gameplay for TMNT but they got to work on their writing skills. Most of the winquotes are rather bland and wooden (while some are decent at best). Konami may not have the best writing in the biz but they have done better in the past. And it was also poorly timed in its release as it sadly was lets just say not a financial success to put it mildly. (Which unfortunately might scare off Konami to making TMNT fighters again for the more curent consoles. Though fortunately its not an ABSOLUTE guarentee.)

Overall this is one of THE best fighting games based on a known TV show ever. (Heck the Inu-Yasha fighting game for the PS one is the only that gives this game good competition of the best TV-show based fighter.) While its easier to find than its other counterparts its not that incredibly common itself. (Not a total rarity mind you like Mega Man X3, Earthbound and the like but uncommon nevertheless.) But at least its price is decent. Basically if you want proof that Konami CAN make a great 2D fighter this is most likely it.

+ Great Graphics, music & characters roster with moves that're unique to eachover. (With plenty of good modes to boot.)
+ Good Gameplay with great control which makes it NOT a ''Street Fighter Rip-off''. (Heck you don't even need to be a fan to go for this.)
+ Nice variety of TMNT characters (playable and background cameos)
+ It differentiates itself from its other versions (and its the easiest version to find)
+ Makes you strongly wish that Konami would re-make it for the current systems
- Most of the winquotes are...tolerable at best
- This may be the easiest version to find compared to the other two. But its still not that common by itself. (But at least the price is still decent.)
- Due to bad timing it didn't sell well (which'll probably prevent new TMNT:TF gamed even though Konami has started making new TMNT games in general again.)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/09/04