Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Coin-Op! (C64) Playthrough
4Playthrough of Konami's 1991 beat 'em up for the Commodore 64, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Coin-Op!
*Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Coin-Op* marks the return of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their second game for the Commodore 64, this time diving into the more popular genre of scrolling beat 'em up. While the original Turtles game could be classified as a platformer, this arcade conversion allows the turtles to shine in action-packed gameplay.
The game stays true to the cartoon series, featuring a host of familiar characters, including the evil villains Shredder and Krang, along with their mutant sidekicks, Bebop and Rocksteady. Players can choose from any of the four turtles at the start and face off against Shredder's army of foot soldiers throughout various levels. The game adds a layer of variety by introducing different colored foot soldiers—blue, red, and yellow—indicating the type of weapons they wield, such as boomerangs or guns. However, the enemy variety does feel somewhat limited, as the focus remains predominantly on the foot soldiers.
The graphics in *Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Coin-Op* are visually appealing, with well-colored and outlined backgrounds that enhance the gaming experience. Each turtle wields a distinct weapon that reflects their character: Donatello, wearing the purple mask, uses a bo staff; Raphael, in red, fights with sai; Michelangelo, in orange, employs nunchaku; and Leonardo, the leader, brandishes dual katanas. Players can also collect pizza boxes scattered throughout the levels to replenish their health.
Despite some graphical shortcomings compared to the arcade version, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Coin-Op stands out as the best Turtles game available on the Commodore 64. Its blend of engaging gameplay, recognizable characters, and nostalgic charm makes it a memorable entry in the franchise, allowing fans to enjoy the action and camaraderie of their favorite heroes in a half shell.