Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue

The first title for the turtles released on Gameboy, The Fall of the Foot Clan, was pretty basic. Then the sequel, Back from the Sewers, was pretty good, taking its inspiration from the arcade game, but now, this game, a game that should have been better than 2, failed to be so.

Right off the bat, I was wondering if I was playing the right game? All these trees around, and bats... yes, bats!? The lazy devs idea of an enemy in NES titles. Yet, this is Gameboy, and here we see, unrelated to the TMNT series, bats, attacking us in a Turtles game?

There's also stupid jump limitations to reach certain heights. Why do devs do these kinds of things? What's the point? To encourage Game Genie/Shark users?

The plot is pretty simple. Michealangelo was out for pizza when the rest of the guys got caught by Shredder. Now he has to go rescue them and then beat Shredder and Krang to save the day.

I don't know why when a game works, these devs decide to change everything up and go in solly directions like this game did. It's only cool addition is Mikey can use his nunchucks like a helicopter to slow his landings. Too bad we're not playing Mary Poppins here.

Overall, compared to the previous sequel, this game has really dropped the ball. I'd really only recommend the second game if you feel you must own a TMNT gameboy title.

This one really feels off. Bizarre additions, levels that are no fun, stupid bat enemies, and a soundtrack that's not pleasing to the ear at all.

This is another of my favorite "TMNT" games and one of my favorite games on the Gameboy. This is also another entry in the "Under the Radar" series. The game wasn't overlooked but it didn't sell as well as they hoped as this game was just another victim of bad timing as this came out just when "Turtlemania" was coming to an end but also the Gameboy was on its twilight years. This game was different from the previous entries, it was still an action platformer but a different kind as her they made the game a "Metroidvaina". This I thought was cool and a wise choice as I love the "Metroidvania" subgenre.

The plotline is pretty good as it's the kind you'd see from the 80's cartoon, which is fine by me as I wouldn't want it any other way. As of course Shredder and his evil forces are as usual up to no good, as they have another scheme for conquest unfortunately this time the ball is in Shredder's court as he has captured three of the Turtles and it's up to Michelangelo to come to their rescue and put the hurt on Shredder's scheme.

That's pretty much it the usual Turtles fare, but what I like is for one thing Michelangelo being the main protagonist which is cool as he's over course a fan favorite along with being my second favorite character. But also, the game actually has a developing story as you get further, which is interesting as the past game never did, but this enhances the feel of game, making you feel like your watching another episode of the show.

The graphical presentation is good if nothing groundbreaking, though I like the look of the bosses that look accurate to the typical villain of the weak in the cartoon or even toy line. Music is good or decent as can be nothing memorable but nice to listen to all the same and still have Turtles written all over it.

But where this game has it is in the gameplay. The control is solid it's your basic move, jump and attack, but here at least the control actual feels tighter and better response. One thing your characters has is an ability that serves a purpose throughout each of the section of the game. With Michelangelo he can use his nunchakus like a helicopter to glide down for the long drops to help in getting from point A to B. And Raphael it's using his sai's to scale up walls This give the game a bit of a puzzle aspect as you constantly alternate with each of the turtles and use them in the right places. This is cool because you're exercising some brain muscle but also simply the fact you get to take control of all of the Turtles which of course is part of the joy of what the Turtles games are for anyway.

I really like the depth to each of the levels, you have a map screen you can come back to whenever you need to find you place and where to go next. Each of the sections of the level always has something different which keep the game fresh. Even the boss battles are really good; though it's true they do take a small cue from "Mega Man" and "Punch Out" with that door that comes up after you enter and how the boss's fight, but I didn't mind as long as it works out well and it did. I like that the boss fights aren't easy at first anyway, just like in "Mega Man" and "Punch Out" each of the bosses have a specific attack pattern and cues to give them away. You may have to tussle with the bosses a while till you memorize all the cues and can take the boss down with the rest.

It would be cool if the next Turtles game in the future was a 2-D "Metroidvania" adventure. It could be one based on the 80's cartoon like the previous one or any of the other shows over the years, or even both comic series (classic and IDW runs to be exact). The graphical presentation would have to be to modern standards may 'be like "Metroid Dread". We can still have the turtles with special abilities but may 'be also some supporting characters like April and Casey Jones. It's a thought to consider anyway but as the "Metroidvania" subgenre is still going strong along with the "Turtles" franchise, I wouldn't put the possibility past them.

This is a small vintage classic worth rescuing.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.