Retronauts Episode 230: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1989
Added 2019-06-24 07:00:02 +0000 UTCBefore the launch of the go-go '90s, a certain green foursome closed out the decade with a bang. Though the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles entered the comic book world in 1984 and debuted on television in 1987, 1989 belonged to the Turtles, with weekday cartoon episodes, a movie in the works, and, at long last, a chance to be the Ninja Turtles in both console and arcade forms. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Henry Gilbert, and Ray Barnholt (check out his issue of SCROLL on the TMNT games) as the crew goes sewer surfin' through the tail-end of the Reagan Decade in search of Pizza Power.
Comments
As someone who's beaten the first NES TMNT game, I'll say that Raphael is kind of misunderstood; he's got short reach, yes, but his attack power is the same as Donatello's (Leonardo and Michaelangelo are half as strong, I think). Some later enemies take two hits to kill with Leo and Mike, and that Donatello's Bo takes some time to swing, there are stretches where, at least in my opinion, Raph is actually the best option. (That being said, his lack of reach is still pretty annoying.)
2019-12-16 05:10:47 +0000 UTCGreat episode, but Ray's mic was wayyy too low! I really struggled to hear him without blowing out my eardrums every time Bob started talking again.
2019-06-26 07:26:41 +0000 UTCTMNT is just one of the greatest arcades of all time. And I didn't realize Final Fight came out the same year, dang! Comparing the two, Capcom's ur-beat em up seem like the older game than Konami's lightning quick color explosion.
2019-06-25 22:37:15 +0000 UTCBABAUDBALRBA (select) start
Dave Dalrymple
2019-06-24 20:04:12 +0000 UTCThe X-men game wasn't too bad: I beat Magneto with $5 back in the day. Colossus' special was fantastic.
Dave Dalrymple
2019-06-24 20:01:17 +0000 UTCAlso in 89 was the terrible portable game that I got (being a poor kid unable to afford the NES game). It's everything bad from the NES but in handheld LCD format! https://handheldmuseum.com/Konami/TMNT.htm
Mat Segal
2019-06-24 19:48:33 +0000 UTCAlways great to hear Ray!
Will Oliver
2019-06-24 18:04:36 +0000 UTCI wore the Burger King VHS tapes of the cartoon out as a kid.
Eric Plunk
2019-06-24 17:37:46 +0000 UTCThe history with Daredevil was bizarre. (Only watched the show myself.) You've got The Hand, while TMNT has The Foot. Splinter carries a Stick. (A stretch, but still.) There's probably a lot more.
Andrew O.
2019-06-24 16:32:51 +0000 UTCAs a kid my dentist had one of the TMNT Arcade cabinets set to free play in his waiting room. It just occurred to me that I never spent a single quarter on this masterpiece, and I even beat Shredder once or twice.
danfic
2019-06-24 14:48:56 +0000 UTC
