TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleshave come in many forms across their 35+ year history. Yet the most beloved form has to be their 1987 Cartoon version. It was the peak of their popularity and made the Shinobis of the Sewers a household name. They could be found in cinemas, cereal boxes, and on video game consoles.
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DotEmu and Tribute Games’TMNT: Shredder’s Revengeis a gorgeous look back at that era. It brought back the cartoon’s characters, settings, voice cast, and more to make the old Millennials feel like kids again, and the newer generation see the appeal the original show had. But it has some references only the most tubular ofTurtlesfans would catch.
5Fighting Game Fun
First off, while the Turtles aren’t well known for their tournament fighters, they have a lot ofclassic fighting game moves. Splinter’s spinning kick resembles that of Billy Lee’s inDouble Dragon. Yet it’s most likely a reference to Ryu & Ken’s Hurricane Kick. Why? Because there are many otherStreet Fightermoves in the game! Here are just a few of them.
April O’Neil’s rising kicks resemble Chun Li’s Tenshou Kyaku, while her rush punches look a lot like Karin’s combos fromStreet Fighter Alpha 3. Donatello’s super kick even resembles Chun Li’sMarvel Vs Capcomflying kick super. Not that Capcom’s premier punchfest was their only source of inspiration. Michelangelo has a bicycle kick rather similar to Liu Kang’s inMortal Kombat. Donatello’s stick-spinning super is almost the same as Billy Kane’s inKing of Fighters, and Raphael’s rising uppercut animates more like Sol Badguy’s Volcanic Viper fromGuilty Gearthan the Shoryuken.
4NEStled Away
But people don’t need to beTMNTfans to tell their Street Fighters from their Mortal Kombatants. What will really separate the men from the boys are the references to the classic Turtles’ games. Quite literally, as these games come from nearly 30 years ago now.
For example, the TV screen in the ‘A Few Screws Loose’ episode shows Shredder pointing menacingly at the viewer. Just like he did in the intro to the NESTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesgame. Likewise, if April O’Neil heals her co-up partner, she says “You have my support”, which was the same phrase she uttered constantly after each hint she gave in that game. Luckily, there are no impossible jumps to make or underwater bombs to defuse.
3Back To Beat ‘Em Up!
The most fondly rememberedTMNTgames are Konami’s sidescrollers likeThe Manhattan ProjectandTurtles in Time. As such, there are a bundle of callbacks to them. The level screens with the boss silhouettes resemble those fromTurtles in Time, as does the game’s first episode. The older game’s first level was called ‘Big Apple 3am’, soShredder’s Revengestarts at ‘Big Apple 3pm’. The final level even features a clock stuck at the same time.
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Likewise, characters can also throw Foot soldiers off into the screen. That’s if they don’t fall into the open manholes first. They’ll make quips from the pit too. Michelangelo’s win pose at the end of the levels is the same as inTurtles in Timetoo. Which is fair enough as it may take place in the same continuity. During the Rat King boss fight, players can see a wrecked Foot-Ski vehicle in the background, which the Rat King used to toast the Turtles in the previous game.
2They Made a Funny!
Before Michael Bay’s production company put the Turtles back in cinemas, the cast were brought to life in live action through the power of the Jim Henson Production Company. Three films were made, with the first two becoming cult classics. Classic enough for Tribute Games to give fans some classic winks. If Michelangelo gets knocked out, he’ll cry “I love being a turtle!” on revival, matching what he said after a similar near-death encounter in the firstTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfilm.
During the Tempestra boss fight, she can summon recreations of Tokka and Rahzar, the monsters fromTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze.If players select Raphaeland Casey Jones, and one heals the other, they’ll get the ‘Finally Getting Along’ trophy/achievement. This refers to their meeting in the first film, where they fought each other to a standstill. While another trophy, ‘Who Needs a Dock?’, gained from beating Shredder without getting hit, alludes toSecret of the Ooze’sending where a dock collapsed on him.
1Cartoon Capers
Finally, the cartoon series is the biggest influence on the game. So, the Easter eggs here are perhaps a little more obvious. Players can find April’sChannel 6 news colleagues, the Punk Frogs, and the Neutrinos hidden in the levels togain side activities. While the Turtles’ taunts and win poses, like Michelangelo’s foot shuffle, Leonardo’s sword point, and Raphael’s menacing way of holding a pizza, match their poses from the cartoon’s intro. But there are a few, more subtle references.
The arcade stage has a poster for ‘Tempestra’s Revenge’, the arcade game from the villainess’ debut episode. While Stage 10 features the Weird Pizza Store, the Turtles’ favorite pizza place. The deepest dive might be a reference to one line from the show’s first episode. If the Turtles pick up a Sushi Box, they’ll remark “Raw fish?! Blegh!”, which is how Donatello countered April when she reprimanded the Turtles for preferring pizza to Splinter’s sushi.
