Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue

About

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue is a side-scrolling platformer where you play as Michelangelo to free his brothers and allies from Cyber Shredder’s clutches. The game mixes exploration with action, requiring you to navigate maze-like levels and use each turtle’s unique skill to unlock paths. While Michelangelo starts the journey, accessing new areas often means returning with Donatello’s wall-climbing, Raphael’s shrinking shell, or Leonardo’s floor-drilling spin. The layout encourages backtracking, with hidden items and secrets tucked into every nook. Standout features include the creative use of turtle-specific abilities, which are essential for completing the game. Boss battles range from the comical Scratch and Dirtbag to the fearsome Triceraton and final showdown with Cyber Shredder. With a structure similar to Metroid and early Castlevania titles, it offers a challenging but rewarding experience. Though overlooked at release, it’s gained a small but dedicated following among retro gaming fans. Its tight level design and quirky enemies make it a memorable entry in the franchise for those seeking a nostalgic platforming fix.

Storyline

The player begins the game by taking control of Michaelangelo, who must rescue the other turtles, along with Splinter and April O'Neil, who have been kidnapped by Shredder. Unlike other games based on the franchise, this is a scrolling action-adventure game reminiscent of Metroid, Konami's own The Goonies II and the later Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Each turtle has a different ability which is necessary to finish the game. Michaelangelo can hover using his nunchakus as a helicopter, Leonardo can drill the floor by spinning with his katana, Raphael can hide himself inside his shell to enter passages that are otherwise too small to enter, and Donatello can stick to and climb walls. The bosses are Scratch, Dirtbag, a Triceraton, Scale Tale, and Shredder (in this game known as Cyber-Shredder).