Welcome to 16-Bit Brawl, a collection the place we pit two Sega Genesis and Tremendous NES video games towards one another to see which wins. This time round, we get a case of Turtle Energy, pitting the immortal Turtles in Time for SNES towards the underrated Hyperstone Heist for Genesis. Who had the very best recreation? Let’s discover out.
Beat em ups, brawlers, no matter you name them, belong to a style that has seen a reasonably spectacular resurgence lately. However the one that usually nonetheless finds itself on the prime of the heap is the good Shredder’s Revenge (that one or Streets of Rage 4), which pays no small tribute to the 16-bit period. And in the case of 16-bit preventing video games, the Ninja Turtles are legends. Their first Arcade outing was an enormous success, however the residence consoles of the time could not assist it. Its sequel, nevertheless, arrived simply in time for 16-bit machines to do their factor and arrived in dwelling rooms in incredible type. However he was not alone. Each Tremendous NES and Sega Genesis bought completely different, although very related, Turtle-based fighters. Let’s meet the contestants.
First up, we’ve got Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time for the Tremendous NES. Extensively regarded to this present day as top-of-the-line beat em ups ever created, Turtles in Time for the SNES is, frankly, a masterpiece. It is a superbly drawn, brilliantly animated, tremendous enjoyable beat ’em up with some superior results and a killer soundtrack. Arguably even higher than the arcade recreation it is primarily based on! Select your favourite turtle, staff up with a good friend if you want, and embark on a incredible journey by means of time to cease Krang and Shredder… from stealing the Statue of Liberty… for… causes?
Subsequent up, we’ve got Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Hyperstone Heist. As an alternative of giving Genesis house owners their very own port of Turtles in Time, Konami determined to go the additional mile and provide them one thing virtually utterly completely different. Reusing lots of the property, Hyperstone Heist seems like some form of bizarre remix of Turtles in Time, however with its personal set of distinctive bosses, phases, and songs, it truly is its personal recreation, and a rattling good one at that! The story additionally has the identical which means. Shredder and Krang have shrunk New York Metropolis with the facility of Hyperstone! As a result of? To what finish? Who cares? It is an excuse for the Turtles to take to the streets and beat up robotic foot troopers and recognizable unhealthy guys!
Now that we have taken a better take a look at the combatants, let’s examine how they fare.
BUT FIRST! Just a bit home cleansing. In our final episode, I gave Castlevania Bloodlines an additional level as a result of it was a tie. And actually, I do not thoughts an occasional tie. Typically two video games are pretty much as good as the opposite. However confronted with these ties, it occurred to me that this score system is sort of inclined to creating them a actuality because of the truth that it solely awards 4 factors in complete. Due to this fact, beginning with in the present day’s entry, there will likely be a brand new class: CONTENT! This class seems to be at how a lot there may be to do in a recreation. It will likely be value one level and won’t essentially at all times go to the sport with essentially the most content material. It is all about high quality!
Properly, this time for actual…
Now that we have taken a better take a look at the combatants, let’s examine how they fare.
Graphics (1 level)
Right here we’ve got two video games that look very, very related. Once more, it is because they’re each actually utilizing the identical property. That being stated, some modifications had been made for the Genesis recreation. The Turtles themselves have a couple of additional frames of animation than their Tremendous NES counterparts, and their sprites look a bit extra detailed as nicely. Usually, these items would give the Genesis a bonus, however within the case of the TMNT, it is surprisingly a downside. The Genesis Turtles transfer a bit of extra fluidly, however on the expense of impression. Whenever you hit enemies within the SNES recreation, it feels very, nicely, surprising for lack of a greater phrase. The Genesis recreation’s hits nonetheless pack a punch, however general they do not come off as robust as their SNES cousins. As for the sprites themselves, that additional element makes the turtles look a bit of darker, and the dearth of element makes them look way more like their cartoon counterparts on the SNES.
Then there may be the background. Not solely are the SNES recreation phases extra attention-grabbing and assorted, however the Genesis ones are surprisingly stagnant. The SNES sewer stage takes place on these unusual hover scooters, gliding throughout the water. The Genesis recreation reuses the identical background for its sewer stage, however takes place on foot, the place the turtles and enemies actually stroll on water. There is no such thing as a splash impact round anybody’s toes. It simply appears bizarre.
And talking of results, I might be remiss if I did not point out the incredible use of Mode 7 within the SNES recreation. The long run stage the place you fly round on these bizarre hovercraft seems to be superb, however there’s nothing like the long-lasting “launch.” motion of an infantryman on the display, which is totally absent within the Hyperstone heist.
Hyperstone Heist additionally does this factor the place the HUD is displayed over a black bar, whereas Turtles in Time isn’t, making these cool backgrounds much more seen.
Anyway, the Genesis recreation would not look unhealthy, but it surely simply would not measure as much as Turtles in Time.
The purpose goes to the Tremendous NES.
NES: YO
Genesis:
Sound (1 level)
Once more we’ve got two very related sound conditions, however this time the winner is far clearer. Each video games use a lot of the identical music, however whereas these specific devices usually show way more efficient on the Genesis, the wizards at Konami labored some magic and made the SNES soundtrack an absolute hit, as the youngsters would say . That is to not say that Genesis’ interpretations are unhealthy, it is simply that they cannot evaluate to Nintendo’s.
Sound results have the same downside. Turtles in Time options these extremely high-pitched “Thwap” sounds everytime you hit enemies. Genesis’ sounds are merely weak as compared.
Lastly, there are the voiceovers. Not solely do they sound extremely crunchy in Hyperstone Heist, however they’re additionally utterly lacking from the stage intros. The SNES recreation has “Large Apple, 3 am.” The Genesis recreation has nothing like that.
The purpose goes to Tremendous Nintendo.
NES:II
Genesis:
Content material (1 level)
So far as the bottom recreation goes, this one is a failure. Hyperstone Heist has fewer phases general, however they’re longer and each video games may be accomplished in a timeframe of 45 to 50 minutes. That stated, fewer phases means fewer boss battles. Turtles in Time has Baxter Stockman in fly type, Metalhead, The Rat King, Tokka and Rahzar, Bebop and Rocksteady, Leatherhead, Krang and Shredder. Hyperstone Heist has Leatherhead, Shredder, Krang and provides in human type Baxter from the primary Arcade recreation, Tatsu and, apparently, a battle towards Rocksteady, however no Bebop. Whereas it is cool to see Tatsu within the cartoon Turtles’ world, the remainder of the lacking bosses are an actual intestine punch.
When it comes to recreation modes, the SNES has a Time Trial mode AND a reasonably nifty Vs mode the place Splinter acts because the referee whereas two turtles combat and the opposite two watch within the background. None of which seem in Genesis.
As soon as once more, this isn’t a giant contest. The Tremendous NES has it.
NES:III
Genesis:
Gameplay (2 factors)
As soon as once more, each video games are extremely related. Each have auto-scrolling phases on hoverboards and tons of foot troopers to clear your method. The one actual distinction I observed of their gameplay was that the Genesis recreation has a devoted run button, whereas the SNES recreation requires you to double-tap the D-pad to run. That is utterly loopy as a result of the SNES controller has plenty of buttons, together with shoulder buttons which might have been excellent since they might nonetheless go away your thumb accessible to simply leap or assault, however nope. That stated, the Genesis recreation’s run button is by default positioned on the finish, which is a bit awkward to make use of alongside your normal jumps and assaults, however this may be remapped within the choices menu if you want.
On the finish of the day, enjoying each video games is incredible and nicely value your time. I am personally extra nostalgic for Turtles in Time, however by way of pure gameplay, I am unable to say that one actually performs higher than the opposite. They’re each nice and which means this class is tied. They each get 2 factors.
NES: IIIIII
Genesis:II
Properly, there you could have it, guys and pals. Main League ass-kicking is again on the town within the type of Turtles in Time beating the pizza out of Hyperstone Heist. The SNES recreation clearly seems to be higher, sounds higher, and has extra useful content material. However whereas this one actually wasn’t shut, it is value noting that Hyperstone Heist remains to be a superb recreation. So go and take the Cowabunga Assortment on the trendy platform of your alternative and play each. When you like beat em ups, you will not remorse it.
the winner is Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
And that is all for this version of 16-Bit Brawl. When you have a few video games you’d prefer to see us play towards one another, otherwise you simply do not agree with my evaluation, tell us. See you subsequent time!
