Release Date: 1989
Platforms: NES, Xbox 360, many computer systems
Developer: Konami

I never really cared for the port to the NES.  The graphics were okay, but not great.  You could only use two turtles at a time.  There were new levels and bosses, but it always felt a bit flat to me.  I honestly like the original TMNT game for the NES better, despite its flaws.  Regardless, I'm not here to talk about the NES.  Today we're talking arcade.

When I was a kid, my mom brought me to Circus Circus about three to four times per year, usually around report card time (they gave out extra tokens for good grades).   I pretty much played the same games every time.  Double Dragon (a hundred times better than the NES port), Arch Rivals, the basketball and pitching games, Skee-Ball, and a few pinball games like Joker's Wild.  But the game I put the most quarters into was TMNT.

The cartoon series was an absolute perfect choice for an arcade game, as you had four primary good guys in Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo.  They had different weapons, different moves.  You had colorful bosses in Bee-bop, Rocksteady, Krang, and of course, the Shredder.  The graphics were awesome, the sound was mesmerizing, and the cinematic sequences made my eyes light up.  But my favorite part of this game is how it could make complete strangers become instant friends.  Whenever I saw an opening (hoping it was Donatello so I could use his bo staff), I'd rush to the console and plug in tokens until the game was won.  The satisfaction felt at winning was palpable.

I never cared much for winning tickets.  All they were good for was cheap, plastic prizes you could get cheaper at the dollar store.  Winning TMNT was tangible.  And if I saw it an arcade today, I'd be hard pressed not to plug five bucks into it.

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