Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project (NES) Playthrough
7Playthrough of Konami's 1992 beat 'em up for the NES, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1991. Developed by Konami, it is the third installment in the TMNT series on the NES and is based on the popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The game follows the four turtles—Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael—as they battle their way through New York City and beyond to stop their archenemy, Shredder, who has once again hatched a sinister plan. This time, Shredder has used his advanced technology to lift Manhattan Island into the sky, creating chaos and holding the city hostage. The turtles must fight through waves of Foot Clan enemies, robotic foes, and iconic bosses to save the day.
The gameplay in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III builds on the foundation of its predecessors, offering fast-paced action and cooperative multiplayer. Players can choose to control any of the four turtles, each with their own unique weapon and fighting style. The game features a variety of levels, each with distinct environments such as city streets, construction sites, and even an airborne blimp. The combat system is simple yet satisfying, with basic attacks, jump kicks, and a special move that can be performed by pressing the attack and jump buttons simultaneously. This special move deals significant damage to enemies but also temporarily reduces the player's health, adding a layer of strategy to the gameplay.
One of the standout features of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III is its improved graphics and animations compared to earlier NES entries in the series. The sprites are larger and more detailed, and the environments are vibrant and full of personality. The game also includes a variety of enemy types, from standard Foot Soldiers to more challenging foes like robotic mousers and flying drones. Each level culminates in a boss battle, often against familiar characters from the TMNT universe, such as Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang. These boss fights are challenging and require players to learn attack patterns and timing to succeed.
The game includes two distinct 2-player modes. In the first mode, players can attack and harm each other during gameplay, adding a competitive edge to the experience. The second mode, however, disables this feature, allowing players to focus solely on cooperating without the risk of accidentally injuring one another. The soundtrack, composed by Konami's talented team, features catchy and energetic tunes that perfectly complement the action on screen. While the game can be quite challenging, especially in later levels, it remains a beloved classic among NES fans and TMNT enthusiasts. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project is a polished and entertaining beat-'em-up that captures the spirit of the franchise and stands as one of the best TMNT games on the NES.