The cover art was done by longtime TMNT comics artist, Michael Dooney. Image courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101.
The Manhattan Project is one of the last great NES games
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project is arguably the best TMNT game on the NES. The less said about the first game the better and its sequel, the Arcade Game, is a mediocre port of an otherwise memorable game.
Image courtesy of uvlist.net.
Which is a shame, since the game came out when Nintendo and Konami were starting to strictly focus on the SNES and was unintentionally swept under the rug.
A gem in the long line of Ninja Turtle video games
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a massive franchise that, despite being incredibly silly and starting out as a parody of overly violent comics of the 80s, has stood the test of time. The heroes in a half shell have been adapted into children’s cartoons, critically acclaimed comics and have had more than a few major motion pictures made about them.
TMNT games are more consistent than most give them credit for. Fans often point to the classic arcade game released in the late 80s or or the SNES version of Turtles in Time. However, the Manhattan Project deserves to be up there with some of the best games adapted from the franchise. The Manhattan Project also pushes the NES to the limits and really shows off what the system was capable of doing, even on its last legs.
TMNT goes out with a bang on the NES
The Manhattan Project features something that the more well-known TMNT games do not have. A unique intro. The four turtles are relaxing in Florida but instead of hanging out, the Shredder is making New York City into a floating island. Shredder hijacks one of April’s newscasts and taunts the turtles to stop him. This is done impressively for the time, in an extensive opening cutscene.
Bummer indeed, Michelangelo. Image courtesy of Azn Badger’s Blog.
In fact, something about the entirety of this adventure feels original. The Manhattan Project is not previously based on any arcade game, which gave the team at Konami more leeway with the creativity of the game and they weren’t afraid to take a few liberties with the license as well.
Instead of the streets of NYC or arriving in some sort of building, players are immediately greeted with vivid colors of the beaches in Florida. The turtles fight the Foot Clan in all kinds of unique environments and the game even does the surfing level before Turtles in Time and is far more challenging in this game. Players will see how much Konami is pushing the NES to its absolute limits. In 1991, the NES was being phased out, but the team still wanted to showcase the power behind the system.
The graphics are on par with some of the best, more vibrant looking NES games. The animation is good too, with each turtle having their own idle animation. Raphael flips around his sai, for example. It’s a small touch, but adds more of the personality of the franchise which is always key for any TMNT adaptation.
The Manhattan Project is also showing off the NES’ sound quality as well. The music is also 100% original, aside from the always classic TMNT theme song which plays in the intro. It is also insanely catchy, and probably the best soundtrack out of any TMNT video game.
Gameplay wise, it is the same setup at the arcade game, but feels tailor made for the NES. Of course two player mode is in the game. Beat ‘em ups weren’t the NES’ forte, but its games like The Manhattan Project that will definitely make the console appear to be adept at the genre. Hit detection is much better than in the arcade game port for the NES, and aside from the obvious flicker and slow down (this is the NES after all) the gameplay remains consistently solid throughout.
Fighting the Foot Clan in Florida! Image courtesy of 8bit.com.
The Manhattan Project contains a feature other TMNT games did not have at the time. Each turtle has his own unique special move. This can be done fighting game style, by pushing buttons in a certain order with the correct directional controls. Leonardo can spin brandishing his katanas, Donatallo has an overhead whacking technique, Raphael has a drill move with both of his sais and Michelangelo will do this bizarre hopping technique. Turtles in Time has the spinning move, but for all the turtles as a power up.
Gaming in a half shell
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project is one of gaming’s undervalued treasures and one that can be considered the definitive TMNT video game. The game’s lively and animated graphics show off the power of the NES and the polished and highly addictive gameplay will keep fans coming back with their favorite turtle to stop the Shredder. Most importantly, the game feels more original than most Ninja Turtle games and creativity is ideal for anything related to the ‘Turtles.