Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection

Break out the personal pan pizzas - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is the best way to experience these heroes in a half shell. This is more than just a collection; it’s a tribute of the highest order.

Cowabunga Collection is a nunchuck-twirling, shuriken-hurling jaunt through a glorious five-year stretch of Konami’s rich history, a perfect complement to the recent indie brawler Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

The Cowabunga Collection frankly lives up to the expectations placed on it. Despite its status as a “simple” compilation, the work of the Digital Eclipse studio is a lesson for all publishers who bring out the old things of the past. If the 13 games do not show the same interest, we can only bow to the avalanche of options and bonuses integrated into this compilation. Admittedly, some productions have aged and the lifespan is not enormous, but the user-friendliness is there and in the field of compilations, this Cowabunga Collection holds the dragee high for the tenors of the genre. In such conditions, it is difficult not to be seduced.

The Cowabunga Collection is a masterful work of preservation, and the best way to contemplate the rise of the Turtles in Konami's heyday while contextualising it within a historical framework created with the taste and expertise that only Digital Eclipse can boast.

Not every game here is essential (or even worth playing), but there are enough gems that even new players will find something to enjoy.

Despite the stuttering and issues with the extras, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is still a very good title thanks to the quality of titles on offer and the enhancements to make each game a little easier for inexperienced players. The duo of arcade classics still stands the test of time, and their home version counterparts do a very good job of porting it all over while adding new elements to mask the parts that didn't get moved over. The portable games can be hit-and-miss, but they're still very good compared to the Game Boy lineup. The fighting games are interesting, and the other beat-'em-ups are solid. Hopefully the title gets patched for improvements, but retro fans will definitely enjoy it.