Like the heroes themselves, 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:Turtles in Time is something of an anomaly. It remains a rare example of a renowned TV and comic property translating to a renowned video game. Not only this, but this enjoyable romp is often viewed as a top-tier SNES game, and despite dating back decades, one of the best beat-'em-ups to date. It's still usually referred to as the best TMNT title.
One need only look at the hype surrounding Shredder's Revenge, which was revealed by way of a brief trailer, to gauge its staying power.
Not only is the game itself entertaining, but there are a number of interesting details and trivia surrounding Turtles in Time.
10 Totally Radical Success For Konami
Despite its popularity, Turtles In Time had the misfortune of competing with a slew of Nintendo-made titles on the SNES, keeping it from approaching a top spot on the platform in terms of sales numbers.
However, it was still a success for Konami, especially when it came to the arcade version of the title. In fact, Turtles in Time remains Konami's best-selling arcade title to date.
9 Change In The Date Of The Final Stage
There are a few significant changes when it comes to the SNES and arcade versions of Turtles in Time. However, there also exist a couple more minor differences which don't correlate to the actual gameplay. One interesting change comes in the form of a simple date; specifically, that shown in the opening of the final boss fight.
The arcade version of Technodrome: The Final Shell Shock shows a date of 1991, while this is "updated" to 1992 in the SNES installment. It makes sense, as this correlates to the years both games were released.
8 A Reference In The 2012 Cartoon
As one might expect given all its renditions over the years, there are various cross-references and carryovers between Turtles-related media. As it happens, there's a small Turtles in Time nod found in the 2012 cartoon from Nickelodeon.
While it stands as a separate story, a Season 3 episode featuring time travel is named "Turtles in Time," a clear homage to the game. This is simultaneously a reference to an IDW comic from 2014 by the same name.
7 A Technically Inaccurate Title For The PAL release
Things tend to get lost in the translation sometimes when it comes to the international release of video games, and this can include the games themselves. The PAL regions haven't always had the best deal when it comes to getting international titles.
While Turtles in Time was released in this region, the lesser-known Manhattan Projectnever made it beyond Japan and North America. However, in a "Final Fantasy-esque" move, the number in the title was left alone. Thus, the "IV" tag remained despite being just the third TMNT game on Nintendo consoles to hit the PAL region.
6 An Audio-Layering Error In The Arcade Version
The fun four-player co-op aside, there are at least a few blemishes and rough patches when it comes to the arcade version of Turtles in Time. One interesting instance is an audio clip that seemingly extends too far.
Just before the "Big Apple 3 A. M. line," Leonardo proclaims "you bloated bean bag!" in an amusing cutscene. But with how fast this scene cuts to the next, it extends over what's supposed to be an audible "Big Apple 3 A. M" reading, so the audio clip is never heard.
This is rectified in the SNES version, as Leo's audio is replaced with a text blurb.
5 A Sampling Of An Obscure Turtles Tour
One particularly obscure reference can be traced to a rather cheesy live musical tour called Coming Out of Their Shells. A hallmark song featured in the play, "Pizza Power," is reprised in the introduction (or attract mode) of the arcade version.
A charming 16-bit instrumental of this tune can also be heard in the end credit sequence of the arcade and SNES versions, as the jubilant Turtles take flight on their blimp.
4 A Cinematic Homage On The Continue Screen
By and large, Turtles in Time draws from the popular '87 cartoon series. This makes sense given colorful, game-like qualities, and its original '91 release date being close to it. But the game's release is also near that of the original live-action film from 1990, leading to at least one small reference.
The SNES rendition features a slight nod to the film, in the form of the game's continue screen. It shows a still image of the live-action renditions of the Turtles poking out of a sewer; the same visual that adorns the movie poster.
3 One Of The SNES's Shortest Games
While it's one of the most renowned and remembered classics on the SNES, Turtles in Time also stands as one of the shortest. A typical play session will clock in at under an hour, with the actual gameplay being closer to 40 minutes — assuming no redos from dying.
This can be whittled down even further, and in fact, at least one speedrunner has managed to finish the game in under 20 minutes. It's a pretty slim segment of time given the epic nature of this time-traveling journey.
2 Four Different Iterations (Sort Of)
Many gamers usually point to the SNES game when discussing Turtles in Time, and it makes sense as it's widely considered the best version. But what some may not know is that there are actually three other versions of the game in some form or another.
Of course, there's the aforementioned arcade title from which the SNES port originates. Though there's also the more overlooked Hyperstone Heiston Sega Genesis. In some way, it can be considered its own game, though it does have a lot of overlap. The game swaps out the time-traveling stages with levels including a sewer and a ghost ship. Other tweaks like more aggressive AI and a dedicated dash button are present, too.
Finally, there's a Turtles in Time remake from Ubisoft with the subtitle Re-Shelled. The game brings a semi-3D facelift to the visuals and emulates the arcade version. The digital title was yanked only a couple of years after release due to an expired license.
1 An Emulated Version In A Sixth-Gen TMNT Game
Getting more technical — Turtles in Time actually has a fifth form by way of a PS2, Xbox, and GameCube game known as Mutant Nightmare. After beating the first series of stages, players will be gifted an emulated version of Turtles in Time. The game is based on the arcade version, and can even be played with four players on PS2 using a multitap.
This rendition is virtually the same as the arcade installment, though comes with a few slight differences. These include the lack of a score counter, a new soundtrack, different voices, and a somewhat rougher frame rate.