Review of TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection: flawless pizza

Our Verdict

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection features 13 nostalgia-inducing games, each of which serves as the perfect reminder of why many of us love 1990s platformers. It’s a worthy purchase for TMNT fans or even just those of you that are after a challenge

I have been a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for as long as I can remember. Actually, I believe that part of the reason I like pizza is because of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo—especially Mikey, the turtle who adores pepperoni pizza and shares my passion of the dish.

Hence, it should come as no surprise that I was eager to get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, as it allows me to go on thirteen adventures with my beloved butt-kicking turtles. Yes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES and arcade), TMNT: Turtles in Time, TMNT: Fall of the Footclan, TMNTII: The Arcade Game, TMNTIII: The Manhattan Project, and more are included in this collection of games. It's also important to remember that these games were developed for a variety of systems, including the Sega Genesis, SNES, NES, arcade, and Game Boy.

I won't go into detail about every game in The Cowabunga Collection since I would be here until Christmas if I did. Rather, I will provide a summary and specific remarks where needed. But I can tell you right away that every game is enjoyable. Not a single dud is in view.

Every one of them completes the task at hand precisely. Though not all of them, I did play a few of these games in the past. However, after only a few minutes of playing a game I had never played before, I knew I was going to have a blast with plenty of action, excellent side-scrolling, and challenging platforming that would put all of my nonexistent talents to the test. Although I like playing platformers, I won't fool myself into thinking I'm an expert at them. I like horror, action, role-playing games, and shooters.

Among the many gameplay components of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, one of its greatest attractions is the variety of storylines it offers, many of which include recognised characters. This extends across many settings and categories. I am referring to the ability to kick butt while skating. These kinds of elements contribute to the entertainment value of games, particularly when there are 13 to complete.

Of course, Leo, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey are in every single title (after all, without the titular turtles, would it really be a TMNT game?). But the decision of who to go on an adventure with in each game is one that never gets any simpler. You know, in terms of character, it's all about Mikey; he's my friend who loves pizza, but I also have a soft place for Donnie, who wields a stick and beats people.

As a result, when I play through the various games, I usually switch between the two. However, some games, like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, do let you play as all four characters because, when you run out of lives with your first option, you take control of one of his brothers, and so on, until you lose with them all. Naturally, winning the game and saving the day is undoubtedly the best conclusion.

Of course, there are a tonne of adversaries in every game—so many, in fact, that it often seems like there are never enough of them. Then, as each level of the game draws to a close, you'll encounter several challenging minibosses (yep, you must overcome a few failures before you're competent to take on characters like Shredder). But I haven't given in to boredom yet. It's exciting to see the action all the time; it keeps you waiting for more.

But finishing even one game in The Cowabunga Collection is no small task. The renowned difficulty of games during that era is well remembered by those who grew up with arcade machines, NES, SNES, and Sega systems throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. This is particularly true for platformers, a genre that TMNT games contributed to popularising back in the day.

If platformers aren't your thing, however, you may still have fun with the fighting games in TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection. Even while I love Mortal Kombat and have the original games, I contend that the TMNT: Tournament Fighters games from the 1990s are strong competitors. They fulfil all the requirements for the genre and provide a way to decompress after playing through the many platformers available and being repeatedly kicked in the butt.

However, you may use the auto-game mode to observe how the game unfolds if you do find yourself suffering butt whoopings on a regular basis. Every game has a "watch" option that allows you to see an almost flawless replay of the whole adventure. Sincerely, I believe this is a great feature, and I make the most of it whenever I go into the never-ending cycle of death.

I don't have any problems with The Cowabunga Collection's controls since they're snappy, straightforward, and mapped similarly to the original games. Even better, enjoyable visuals that pay homage to the classic games complement the controls. On Sunday afternoons, I feel like I'm a kid again. I have some food, it's pouring, and my mother is simply relieved that I'm not causing any fuss. Indeed, such were the times.

Though my biggest issue with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection has more to do with the era the original games are set in, I still have a lot of appreciation for the game. playing the same music over and again. Although I like the music in these games, I find it annoying because it plays nonstop. As I said before, this has more to do with the era from which the original titles originate, and I appreciate that this compilation stays faithful to the original work. However, it doesn't mean I can't become tired of the songs after a time.

Having said that, I really like the song and the superb sound design. It does bring back fond memories. Undoubtedly, it has two sides. But I'm not going to let the constant playing of the TMNT theme music get in the way of what I think is a very fun game series that fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will undoubtedly love.

Lastly, I know you're all probably wondering how The Cowabunga Collection performs on Switch, so I'm happy to report that there aren't any performance issues—at least not that I can notice. Every title is buttery smooth, inviting, and transports you back to the nineties in the greatest manner imaginable. Furthermore, the game functions well on a portable device, allowing you to carry the turtles with you wherever you go.

All things considered, I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is an essential purchase for everybody who enjoys retro video games with side-scrolling, action, platforming, fighting, and other elements, not just TMNT enthusiasts. Pick up what will undoubtedly be the 2022 platforming highlight for yourself.