There is something about an arcade style button smasher that appeals to the more primal aspects of human nature. The execution is simple while the returning satisfaction (or frustration) exceeds it tenfold. Konami’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles in Time hits all the right notes of a quality, side-scrolling beat em’ up. Debuting in arcades in 1991, nothing was lost in translation when it was ported to Nintendo’s SNES home console in the summer of the following year. There’s no need for me to expound on the absurdity of the plot because it’s TMNT. It’s self-explanatory. How grounded could you expect a story to be when your leading characters are four sentient turtles with a penchant for the martial arts? Just hold down the d-pad and press the Y and B buttons until your fingers bleed! “Cowabunga!”

A brief quote from Shredder: “My patience is wearing thin. I am banishing you to a time warp from which you shall never return!” Well, there it is. There’s your plot. Playing as any of the four turtles, (Raphael for me, thank you), the game starts off in New York City at 3 a.m. You progress through the level making quick work of the hordes of Foot Clan that cross your path. Your first boss fight is with a mad scientist, Baxter Stockman, who happens to be in fly form. Once he has been properly dispatched by your pizza-fueled fists, an enraged Shredder sends you into the time warp mentioned in the quote above. You arrive in a prehistoric Earth, and with each level, you fight your way back forward through time. You’ll battle an ever evolving Foot Clan, and top of each level with a boss fight that steadily increases in difficulty. Did I mention Shredder stole the Statue of Liberty? What a bastard! The fight gets so intense that before you know it, you’ll have travelled into the future where you’ll take on ol’ Shred-Head face to face in a space ship! Everybody, be cool!

The mechanics are basic, as you can imagine. Y for attacks, B to jump, and the d-pad to navigate. The power-ups are a hoot as certain items can grant temporary invincibly, as you turtle avatar spins about, weapon outstretched, cutting down any poor foe it touches. Pizza, the ambrosia for all crime fighting reptilians, increases the player’s health. The Foot Clan come dressed in a variety of clothing colors, signifying their method of attack. This varies from basic hand-to-hand combat, to swords and bow-and-arrows.

If my description of TMNT 4 sounds a bit tongue-in-cheek, please know I really, truly love this game. Some of this may just be the warm, fuzzy bias of nostalgia, for sure. But I would not take the time to write a piece on a game that is now a quarter of a century old if it were not actually very good. Not only does TMNT 4 check all the necessary boxes of a competent side-scroller, it leaves any potential for mediocrity in the dust due to its undeniable charm. Every level is essentially the same, but it’s the kitsch in the execution of the environments that make it endearing. Settings run the gamut from pirate ships to 19th-century trains. Add to that a campaign that can be wrapped up within 30 to 60 minutes, and the player won’t have enough time for it to become grating. It doesn’t overstay its welcome in the least. And if by any chance the opportunity arises that you can play this game, I recommend you do so with a friend or family member. Its heart is in its arcade style, and the ability to create a fun, lasting experience while only pressing some buttons.
Conclusion

With a brief running time and an overload of charm, TMNT 4: Turtles in Time rises above mediocrity, to become a truly delightful and memorable experience.

8.5/10