Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 1989 Classic Arcade

Look at it this way – at 400 points, this game is essentially 20 quarters worth of gameplay. If you ever played the game in the arcade, odds are good you used up at least that many.

To Ubisoft’s credit, they did as much as they really could have with the original content, and should be merited for the game’s feature set; especially the online four player co-op.

Come for the nostalgia, stay for the great online co-op.

The four-player co-op is pretty much what makes this update of the classic arcade Turtles beat-'em-up worth downloading, though the $5 price doesn't hurt either.

Outside of nostalgia the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is short and shallow. Then again, it's also an exciting action game full of great characters and cool levels. The fact that this version of the game allows you to play online makes this a must own for anybody who loved the turtles.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may be worth a look for fans of the franchise or those who played this baby in the arcades all those years ago, but many modern gamers will be turned off by the ugly graphics and repetitive gameplay.

Knock [10 points] off the score if you're not a fan. This brawler exemplifies what arcade games used to be.

While hardly resembling the game that could do not wrong from my childhood, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Classic Arcade Game still stands as an enjoyable piece of Eighties gaming lore, but without a warm jacket of nostalgic feelings it will appear outdated and boring, lacking present day sensibilities.

TMNT 1989 has its share of problems...Nevertheless, the game remains a solid thrill. [June 2007, p.76]

It's a good solid beat 'em up, if occasionally a little unfair. [June 2007, p.95]

After having beaten it a few times both offline and online, and realizing it's more simplistic and offers less replay value than, say, "Ms. Pac-Man" or "Dig-Dug," I admit to being disappointed.

Hopefully, when the second game in the series hits (Turtles in Time), unlimited continues will be part of the package.

The game itself isn't bad; it's just blatantly average. [Issue 25, p.68]

A laggy mess online. [Issue#23, p.96]

With unlimited credits in the single player, you’ll wonder why you are playing a game that offers absolutely no challenge, since the removal of the credit system allows you to hammer X all day long without worrying about your credits running out. The Achievements won’t keep you playing, since the majority require a fair bit of work to get.