Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

1992 · Beat-em-up · SNES

Overview

Turtles in Time is a side-scrolling beat-em-up that follows Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael through time periods ranging from prehistoric eras to a futuristic Technodrome, battling Shredder's Foot Clan across eight stages of cooperative action. Based on the 1991 arcade game, the SNES version added exclusive stages, a new final boss, and Mode 7 effects.

Deep Dive

Turtles in Time was developed by Konami and based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles license at the height of the franchise's cultural saturation. The SNES port of the 1991 arcade game expanded significantly on the original, adding stages exclusive to the home version, a new final boss battle against Super Shredder (referencing the 1991 film), and Mode 7 scaling effects during specific sequences. The time travel framing provided variety beyond the franchise's typical New York setting — ancient Egypt, the American frontier, a pirate ship, and the far future each brought different aesthetic energy to the combat. The beat-em-up mechanics were Konami's most polished of the era, with each Turtle having distinct attack speeds and ranges — Leonardo's balanced swords, Donatello's long-reach staff, Raphael's fast but short sai, and Michelangelo's mid-range nunchaku created genuine character differentiation. The signature move — throwing enemies directly into the screen — was technically accomplished and served as the player's primary tool for clearing enemy groups efficiently. Turtles in Time was a massive commercial success and is remembered as one of the definitive beat-em-ups of the 16-bit era. The SNES version's enhancements over the arcade original have led some players and critics to consider it superior to its source, an unusual reversal of the typical arcade-to-home port relationship. The game is frequently cited alongside Streets of Rage 2 as the high-water mark of the genre.

Developer Story

Turtles in Time was developed by Konami for arcades in 1991, and the 1992 SNES version added new stages and bosses. Its throws that hurl Foot Soldiers at the screen became its most remembered move.