TMNT III The Manhattan Project - NES Review
A Sequel That May Not be Revolutionary but Certainly is Fun
Oct 21, 2009
After a so-so debut as well as a successful venture on the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to the console in TMNT III: The Manhattan Project. The game doesn’t stray too far from the formula set by its predecessor, but it hardly suffers as a result of that and ultimately offers gamers more of a good thing.
TMNT III Storyline – Shredder’s Manhattan Project
The game starts off with a cutscene of the Turtles vacationing in Florida. They tune in to the New York news channel to listen to April O’Neil’s report. During her report, the Turtles’ friend is taken captive by Shredder, who reveals that he’s lifted the island of Manhattan above the rest of New York. The Turtles then set out to rescue April along with the rest of Manhattan from the Shredder’s grasp.
TMNT III Gameplay – More of a Good Thing
The gameplay in TMNT III remains unchanged for the most part. The beat ‘em up elements from the previous game are all present; combat mechanics work the same as they did before; and level progression is similar as well. Still, these were all things worth praising in TMNT II, and they remain as such here.
It is worth noting that two features have been implemented into the game. The first is a special move unique to each Turtle. These moves can take down enemies after one hit, but they come at the expense of the player’s health bar. Executing a special move takes one point from the player’s total health, so it is better to use these moves sporadically.
The second addition to the game is the ability to switch between Turtles after losing a life. When one of the Turtles falls in battle, a small menu appears at the bottom of the screen. Here, the player can pick a new Turtle to play as. It’s a small addition, but it’s highly welcome.
Two player cooperative play returns in TMNT III, and this time it comes in two forms. The first is the standard co-op option, and the second allows players to attack one another during play. This definitely raises the game’s difficulty, and it is very reminiscent of Battletoads, which featured this mechanic first.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics in TMNT III are a big leap over the previous game on the NES and are a lot closer to the arcade iteration of that game. Everything has a richer level of detail and the sprites are larger and more visually impressive. Additionally, there is more variety this time around in terms of visuals.
While the Ninja Turtles theme returns in all its glory once again, TMNT III features a complete soundtrack with all-new music. The tracks in this game have a style all their own, and they give the last game’s soundtrack a run for its money. One thing that has remained prominent in all three NES games, however, is the catchy, old-school beat of the songs.
Lasting Value
TMNT III features eight stages, just one more than the last game. The levels in this game are considerably longer, though, and many of them feature mid-level boss fights. In addition to this, the game’s difficulty has been raised a bit, so breezing through this game isn’t nearly as easy as it was in the previous installment. The co-op mode also allows for replayability, and it is definitely worth playing this game alongside a friend.
TMNT III – More of the Same, but That’s Not a Bad Thing
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project isn’t really a step forward for the series, but it’s not a step back either. The game retains all of the elements that made the previous game so much fun and sprinkles in some new features that, despite not being huge additions, help round out the overall package. Like TMNT II before it, The Manhattan Project is a fun and accessible title worth any gamer’s time.
Score: 8/10
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