Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Manhattan Missions
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Manhattan Missions | |
|---|---|
 Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Distinctive Software |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Series | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles |
| Platform(s) | DOS |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Action, platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player and Two-player |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Manhattan Missions is a 1991 PC (MS-DOS) game featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.[2]
Gameplay
The goal of the game is to complete a number of missions, consisting of levels divided into screens, culminating in a final battle with the Shredder. The gameplay is loosely similar to the original Prince of Persia, featuring close-combat melee fighting. In between missions the Turtles can rest, regaining lost hit points, but the player only has a limited amount of time in which to find the Shredder. The game is designed to be played with a keyboard, and utilizes a key to switch between walking and fighting modes. Each Turtle has the ability to arm and withdraw his weapon. Each Turtle wields his signature weapon and a number of shuriken. Holding the enter key makes the Turtles attack, and the spacebar is used to block enemy attacks based on which arrow key is held.
Tone and setting
Manhattan Missions is notable for its more mature tone and setting than other TMNT games of its time. The game greatly draws upon the original Mirage comics and theatrical films,[2] unlike other contemporary TMNT games which were mostly based on the 1987 TV series. The opening story is loosely based on the story from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1. Indeed, the game's title screen is almost an exact reproduction of the splash page from the second and third pages of TMNT #1.[2]
Other elements from the Mirage comics and films include Shredder's red outfit from the first film and base from the comic's Return to New York storyline; the Foot Clan designs; the Triceratons; Master Splinter's appearance; and the inclusion of Tatsu, a character created for the films; and major references to the Mafia. The only direct relation to the 1987 series is the turtles having multi-colored bandanas, arm bands, and knee pads, the inclusion of Bebop and Rocksteady as bosses, and Baxter Stockman being Caucasian.[2]
April O'Neil is a reporter like her 1987 cartoon and movie appearances; while she dressed in yellow like the cartoon, she resembled actress Paige Turco from the film. Splinter resembles his movie design. The Turtles' rescue of April from a group of Foot Ninja is similar to a scene from the first movie.[2]
Also, notably, Casey Jones is a major character in the game, as he is in the Mirage comics and films. This is the first TMNT game where he plays a major part, as he rescues the player's Turtle if he runs out of energy.[2]