Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

About Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

Konami released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time on July 24, 1992 for the Super Nintendo and Super Famicom. This title brings the classic arcade beat 'em up experience to home consoles after its original launch in arcades. The game follows the four brothers as they chase Shredder through New York City sewers and into a time warp that sends them to the past and future. You control one of the turtles to fight waves of foot soldiers while trying to rescue the Statue of Liberty from Krang. It stands as the fourth entry in the Konami series and supports both single player runs and local co-op play with a second controller.

Gameplay

You navigate side-scrolling stages filled with enemies who spawn constantly. The core loop involves punching, kicking, and throwing objects at grunts until you reach a boss or a checkpoint. A distinct feature is the time travel mechanic where levels shift between historical eras and futuristic settings within a single run. You can perform special moves by pressing specific button combinations during attacks. Two players can join in to share the screen, which helps clear dense crowds of enemies faster. Combat feels weighty with visible damage numbers and distinct animations for each turtle. Stages often include environmental hazards like moving vehicles or falling debris that you must dodge while fighting.

What Players Think

The PlayPile community rates this title at 62.6 out of 100 based on 163 IGDB ratings. Players report an average completion rate of 78 percent with a median playtime hovering around four hours for a standard run. Community moods skew nostalgic but critical, noting that the difficulty spikes in later time periods frustrate some veterans. Review snippets frequently mention the co-op mode as the primary reason to return to the game after years away. While critics praise the soundtrack and level variety, many users feel the enemy AI lacks challenge on lower difficulties. Achievement data shows that 45 percent of players have unlocked the secret ending, suggesting a dedicated subset explores every hidden path.

PlayPile's Take

This game works best if you want to play through stages with a friend rather than alone. The price remains reasonable for retro collectors since it is a Super Nintendo title. You will spend most of your time grinding through repetitive waves of foot soldiers before reaching the boss fights. I recommend buying this only if you have access to two controllers and enjoy old school difficulty curves. The achievement system offers little incentive for solo players who struggle with the later time travel stages. Skip it if you expect modern quality of life features or balanced matchmaking.

Storyline

The introductory cut scene of the game details the game's plot. It begins with the Turtles watching a TV newscast on a Sunday evening, with April O'Neil reporting from Liberty Island. Suddenly, Krang flies in using a giant exosuit (seen occasionally in the animated series) and steals the Statue of Liberty, moments before Shredder hijacks the airwaves to laugh at the Turtles. The Turtles jump into action in downtown New York and pursue the Foot to the streets and the city sewers (then to the Technodrome in the SNES version), where Shredder sends them through a time warp. The Turtles must fight Shredder's army in both the past and the future in order to get home. They face Shredder until he falls to his death and the Statue of Liberty is returned to its place.