Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is a compilation pack that includes 13 games from the beloved franchise based on the popular cartoon. Playable solo or through local and online multiplayer, this collection features some timeless action games and beat 'em ups that are perfect for new players and lifelong fans. Tracking the series from the late-1980s to the early-1990s, this package is guaranteed to have any fan of the franchise salivating with anticipation and excitement.

Main Game Features

• Includes 13 classic TMNT games
• Rewind time to prevent mistakes
• Unlockable concept art, cheat codes, and more

Story

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection tells a loose story connected through 13 games, starting with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Most of the games tell a similar story, featuring the iconic squad of Ninja Turtles as they travel the world to save humanity from the evil villain Shredder. Other games included in the collection, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, raise the stakes as the Turtles hop universes and battle monsters unlike anything they've seen before.

Regardless of the game you play, each title is packed with cool characters, exciting bosses, and colorful levels to play in. Dialogue is infrequent, as the Turtles are more prone to spouting off one-liners and celebrating with a slice of pizza. Although there's not much in the way of an overarching narrative to follow, players will undoubtedly adore each Ninja Turtle, due to their relatable and varied personalities.

Gameplay

Although there are 13 games in total (as well as a few region-specific versions of each game), most of them have similar controls and gameplay concepts. Games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue offer sidescrolling action, similar to Ninja Gaiden or Castlevania. Most of the games are arcade-style beat 'em ups, where each player controls their favorite Ninja Turtle and progresses through the levels while defeating as many enemies as possible.

There are even a few traditional fighting games in the pack, like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, which provide gameplay similar to Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Select games can be played online, while most games offer local multiplayer. The compilation also features numerous extras, like strategy guides, cheat codes, and even original manuals and concept art. The high level of difficulty might be a challenge for some, but thanks to cool features like time rewind, no stage should be too tough to clear.

Conclusion

Truthfully, some of the games in the Cowabunga Collection haven't aged the best, but that doesn't stop this compilation from being one of the best of its kind. There were so many great Ninja Turtle video games at the height of their popularity and the Cowabunga Collection puts them all in one place.

Pros

• Full of nostalgia for TMNT fans
• Lots of games to try
• Simple controls and gameplay concepts

Cons

• Video filters aren't the best
• Some games haven't aged very well
• Frustrating levels