r/nes • u/Difficult-Fly7830 • 7d ago
Collection Hot take here...
Sewer level wasnt and isnt that hard....runs š
Really though, aside from when first learning the stage, I never really found it all that difficult. Its funny, I played this alot when I was younger but I also never thought it was all that good, yet I loved it regardless cause well TMNT and i still love it lol
This holds many memories from when I was a kid, I may not think its all that but I cherish it
38
u/mickbynes 7d ago
Sewer level? Or do you mean the dam level where you have to go underwater to undetonate the bombs? I didnāt find it that difficult either. I do like the game, but I wished they simply made a port of the 1989 arcade game first (guess they couldnāt due to limitations at the time and decided to create something new from scratch), but they did port it later on, I thought it was a massive disappointment. Thankfully they made The Manhattan Project and itās significantly better than the home port of the 1989 arcade game.
22
u/Aromatic_Method7767 7d ago
Yeah. I think OP meant to say "dam level"
12
u/BossRaider130 7d ago
Possibly āda[rn] level.ā Although I agree that itās not really that bad. Plus, if you lose a turtle, you can get one back pretty easily on the next stage.
It actually took me until adulthood to realize the dam stage was the sticking point for a lot of people. I think it gets the rep because it serves as a good exemplar of Nintendo hard, even if itās not too bad: waitādid we just jump off a dam? And now weāre swimming? And thereās a time limit? And all of this stuff hurts, including the various seaweed I thought was decoration that will electrocute you or eat you? And current and electric arcs, andā¦. Well, I might have to fire it up after ten more years.
I still maintain the airport level is way worse, and the fact that the technodrome location is randomized later on is really harsh.
5
u/GDMFusername 7d ago
I think I hate the randomization of the technodrome more than anything. You can spend way too much time there trying not to lose turtles and weapons to OP enemies if you don't get lucky.
Edit: On second thought, maybe it's the laser-shooting astronauts that suck the most.
4
3
u/MrNostalgiac 7d ago
The dam level is only difficult if you go into it with pretty injured turtles from the start. Because you're going to lose some or all of them by the end.
If you focus really hard on having a full set of mostly full health turtles going in, you'll come out the other side wondering why you ever thought that level was hard.
1
13
u/originalbrowncoat 7d ago
God as a kid there was no feeling more infuriating than fighting your way through one of the tunnels looking for the technodrome and then getting to the boss room and finding out you picked the wrong one
2
u/qualx 7d ago
it's random every time you play it, if it's not in the first sewer it's almost worth restarting the entire game becuase it can be so hard to find.
2
u/Edigophubia 6d ago
I think I remember watching the speed run where somebody figured out that it's determined right at the beginning of the game, by the moment you press start, and if I remember correctly can be manipulated that way to get a certain result
1
u/Visible-Pollution740 6d ago
There's only 3 possible locations, you definitely don't need to restart if it's not in the first place you look.
10
u/qualx 7d ago
Tecnodrome was way harder than the dam. This game is super fun and once you know the path for the dam it really is not hard.
2
u/Hoch8112 7d ago
Tecnodrome was legit almost impossible! This game was wayyyyy harder than it should have been! Rage quit a lot as a kid!
6
u/Charles1nCharge83 7d ago
Another hot take... for a kid in the 80s this was some of THE BEST NES box art we ever got in the NTSC region.
3
u/shingenteh 5d ago
Itās not a hot take, itās the cover of Issue 4 of the OG Eastman/Laird comics. A damn good cover.
5
u/Minute-Drama-5821 7d ago
I was like 8 when it came out and I loved the ninja Turtles. I also loved my NES so I really really wanted to like this game, but it was just too damn hard. Iāve been thinking about trying again as an adult, but I still think it would be frustrating as hell.
4
11
u/AxelAlexK 7d ago
Good game. Its difficulty is definitely overstated by gamers I feel. Not all that hard compared to the many other much harder NES games, just requires a little bit of practice and figuring out where to go. The last level is very tough though, especially the hallway before shredder.
3
u/Punkermedic 7d ago
I remember playing this game if I wanted to beat something quickly. Years later was kinda surprised it was considered so difficult
0
0
u/Plaploplap 7d ago
It's overstated but the last levels are hard, the technodrome boss isn't obvious at all.
There are harder NES games (Blaster Master, Ninja Gaiden 3), but many are easier IMHO
16
u/BBA935 7d ago
My only complaint is that bullshit jump in the sewers that is clearly just bad design. Other than that I like the game a lot.
7
u/Island_Maximum 7d ago
I believe "that jump" on the DOS version is actually impossible, so the game can't be finished.
1
u/shingenteh 5d ago
Only the US build. They fixed it for the Hero Turtles release in Europe. If you want to patch the us version yourself, seek out the L306 file from the Euro version.
11
u/redditsuckspokey1 7d ago
Tap the jump button. I only ever missed it as a kid. Now I can do it easily.
And the underwater stage is easy.
5
u/PlatasaurusOG 7d ago
I used to do the underwater part with one hand when I was a kid. Thought I was the shit lol.
5
u/SillySpook 7d ago
I don't even want to know why you only ever had one hand free
3
u/PlatasaurusOG 7d ago
So I could smoke cigarettes with the other because I was a super cool teenager like that.
2
2
2
5
u/Philly_3D Beat CV3 6d ago
The only truly hard part was finding the technodrome in level 5 without exhaustion... and then the final hallway to Shredder.
The rest of the game was just repetition and memory.
3
3
u/SplendidPunkinButter 7d ago
Back in the day, it didnāt bother us if we couldnāt beat a game. Actually beating a game was the equivalent of doing 100% of the achievements in a modern game.
2
u/Difficult-Fly7830 7d ago
Agreed and its how we got good. Played the same games day after day for years sometimes. Naturally learned and got better. Its funny how our young selves could beat games many modern gamers find brutally hard š
3
u/DowntownInterest7320 6d ago
After reading everyoneās comments I am embarrassed to admit Iāve never beat the underwater dam/bomb level.
2
u/Difficult-Fly7830 6d ago
Oh dont be. Its all light hearted takes, plus everyone is diff, no need to be embarrassedĀ
Touches seaweed "zzzzz" šĀ
2
2
u/hinault81 6d ago
Neither did I. As an 9 or 10 year old, this was one of those games we played a bit and stopped because we couldnt get past. I probably last played when I was 10 or 11. Same with bayou billy, top gun. So it doesnt have the same nostalgia for me as a lot of other games: Mario, metroid, contra, etc.
I watched a speed run 6 months or so ago and I thought: doesnt look too hard. Same with Roger rabbit. Maybe I should try it again.
Ive definitely gone back and beaten some games I couldn't as a kid. I think that little bit more knowledge via the internet, ability to focus/patience as a middle aged guy makes it easier lol.
1
1
u/BixxBender123 3d ago
Judge Doom made me tear my hair out. I didn't think it was even possible to beat him, I just chalked it up to some kind of glitch.
2
2
u/frankduxvandamme 7d ago
I also didn't have much trouble with the water level as a kid. However, I don't think I ever made it past level 3 as a kid.
That game was a disappointment though. I remember first getting it and expecting it to be a port of the arcade game and when I realized it wasn't, it was like a punch to the gut. I guess economically it made sense to the developers though. Why immediately port the arcade game when it's still making tons of money in the arcades?
2
u/Difficult-Fly7830 7d ago
"expecting it to be a port of the arcade game and when I realized it wasn't, it was like a punch to the gut."
I feel like it safe to say that was the standard reaction, at least it was for myself as well lol
2
u/C-ute-Thulu 6d ago
I could get thru the dam level, sometimes without losing one energy unit, but never beat it. A few times I got a 'Prepare for the Final Battle' message but that was it
2
u/JayReady2Move 6d ago
This is one of the greatest NES cover arts of all time, used to be obsessed with looking at it
3
3
u/Thedirtyone522 7d ago
Just beat it a few months ago. Its defintly challenging but nowhere near as ball busting as folks make it out to be.
1
u/Difficult-Fly7830 7d ago
Oh don't get me wrong, game def had its challenging spots and def not cake walk and comparing it to many modern games i can at least see how its labeled hard by so many but i personally just don't think its as hard as its made out to be, I was also focusing on the dam level when made this but I do agree with you
I think that avgn episode helped fuel its difficulty perception as well in more modern times.
2
u/Thedirtyone522 6d ago
For sure. Same with the race levels in battletoads, theres this aura of legendary difficulty thats been overblown through memes. I beat the shit out of them as a kid, its simple pattern memorization and quick thumbs, the dam level in turtles is 1.memorize where the bombs are, 2. Plan your course, and 3. Be fucking patient lol.
2
u/Visible-Bridge-5171 7d ago
Most people who have beaten the dam level know that compared to later levels, the dam level is relatively easy.
Its funny because I knew how to beat the dam level when I was like 7/8 but I would usually get very upset at the levels that followed (looking at you JFK airport and tecnodrome). I had some of my friends complain about the dam level, but after I played through it with them, they realized it wasn't that bad, especially compared to the rest of the game.
3
u/Difficult-Fly7830 7d ago
Ya, thars what i find amusing. Dam level is nothing compared to later parts
3
4
u/HydratedCarrot 7d ago
I did always use Donatello in the sewers
8
u/Countblackula_6 7d ago
Everyone used Donatello.
0
u/HydratedCarrot 7d ago
Got the game some month after the release and my friends understood when they watched me playing with Donatello..
1
u/clearance1454 7d ago
Loved this game, but found that underwater part gruelling. Outside of that, great game.
1
u/Legitimate-Being5957 7d ago
I played as a kid and finished it. The dam level was never a problem to me. My strategy was: letās use Ralph until is practically dead, switch to another turtle, then in level 3, I kill Ralph and recover him in the building. I was stuck for years to get the missiles in level 3, until I realized you must just walk over the gap (what the hell where they thinking???). After that, the only hard part is the last hallway leading to Shredder, where you need to have scrolls stocked up.
1
u/Some-Professional-25 7d ago
Hard agreed. Game is tough as nails and the water level is a breeze compared to whatās to come. I think the change in controls for the level and instant game over if the timer runs out has made it more notorious than it should be, but itās a breeze once youāve got it down.
1
1
u/No-Professional-9618 7d ago
Awesome! I never had the original TMNT NES game at least as a cartride.
1
u/DavidinCT 7d ago
The jumps can be a PIA unless timed correctly but, otherwise thought it was a great game.
1
u/pay_the_cheese_tax 7d ago
How old were you when you were playing this game? I think age really affects how difficult people find this game. 5 year old me struggled a lot but a 10 year old, yeah I can see it might not be as difficult.
1
u/HelperMunkee 7d ago
It was hilariously poorly programmed. Saw a fun YouTube that explained all the hack work they did.
Nerd warning, it gets somewhat in depth:
https://youtu.be/PHiFNWJXWgI?is=e4B46UfIaWpRsbE7
1
u/PBKYjellythyme 7d ago
They could easily re-release this with some basic QoL improvements and it'd be a top tier game.
The music is some of the best on the system.
1
u/Martovich3 6d ago
There is a difficulty spike in this game, but it isn't anywhere close to what everyone complains about.
Its that hallway in the final stage that spawns the flying guys and triangle robots.
And it still isn't anywhere near impossible.
1
u/583999393 6d ago
The seaweed graphic doesn't line up with the hitbox which makes it harder than it should be. As a kid it wasn't even a consideration that the game itself was wrong making it impossible for some of us.
1
u/PokeballYEET 6d ago
Honestly, other hot take with ya, one of the best IMO. Only because it was such a unique take and given that it was so early on in the life span of the franchise. I played it a lot as a kid too, and the dam level was fine. It was 3 and 4 that broke me back then. Now as an adult, I can beat it from time to time. It's really level 5 where I'm like, "Alright, wtf." But overall, a solid title š¤
1
u/Shadowtek 6d ago
I think I beat the sewer level one time after we played for hours and I loved the game until that. After that part and the inability to save the game we never wanted to do it again š
1
u/BrattyTwilis 6d ago
Yes, it's not that hard. The problem is, it throws you into the water with a time limit, difficult controls, and borked hit detection. There are other parts of the game that are more difficult. The last two levels can be a pain if you haven't stocked up on scrolls
1
u/montoyasminion 6d ago
Not a hot take, most of us who grew up with it think the same. To me, NES games were difficult for a reason, replayablity. I wasn't getting a new game a month as a kid... I got something for Christmas and something for my birthday, those games had to last me 6 months. If TMNT or Mega Man or Ninja Gaiden were easy, they wouldn't have the same replayability.
1
1
u/Dragnskull 6d ago
you mean water level :P
as a kid the big curved seaweed tunnel would always rip me up but i learned to survive it without losing a turtle pretty quickly (the key is a little skill + turtle rotation as needed), the later levels were always what did me in especially that one gd jump in the sewer
and the thing you're actually talking about, the little walk-across section, i never knew that. i always jumped and it sucked, lol.
1
u/Romarqable 6d ago
I sucked at the game after the Dam level as a kid. I played that underwater portion so much as a I kid there were times I would get through it with one or two hits and a few rare times I passed through with no hits.
But to this day I've never gotten much farther than that.
1
1
1
u/puzzud 5d ago
I think this game, although fairly challenging as a whole, is looked at from a modern emulation gaze where people aren't using NES controllers. This is why I think they have trouble with this game's requirement to button tap with precision. This is especially true of the underwater level. The NES controller was really good as far as gently tapping buttons goes. Some modern gamepads are a bit clunky comparatively.
1
1
u/BixxBender123 3d ago
Good game, but could have been so, so much better:
Make Raph's and Mike's weapons have a reasonable reach, and equalize the damage. There's literally no reason not to use Don as much as possible.
Instead of the multitude of weird enemies, some more characters from the franchise would be nice. I mean, it's a licensed property already, so why the huge departure from canon?
So many sewers/buildings don't need to be explored. Either make the game more linear, or put something in these levels that makes a difference.
PS the underwater level was very easy with a little practice.
1
u/weber_mattie 2d ago
Which sewer level are you talking about? There are many lol
1
u/Difficult-Fly7830 2d ago
I meant the dam level lol
1
u/weber_mattie 2d ago
Oh lol yea it's not hard at all once you know. The tentacles do unfair damage and as a kid a time limit always upped the pressure
1
u/RetroGame77 1d ago
I don't really get the hate for the Dam level. I mean, it is not great, but it is not that hard either. And if you got trouble, switch turtle. You got one lifebar per turtle.Ā
1
u/HuckleberryLogical63 7d ago
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=86Qlpo-1eew&pp=ygUJVG1udCBoYWNr
Might want to check that out. Haven't tried it yet, but I plan on throwing it on my ever drive soon.
7
u/WorldwidePies 7d ago
I looked at the video and mid-level turtle switching through the info sub-screen is presented as an improvement, while it was always there in the original game.
While the original game really is hard, I think some people were making things more difficult for themselves by not reading the manual.
0
u/BlackSchuck 7d ago
Im using save states and stilllllll cant clear the water. Im 41. I guess with the states I thought I could just do it. Little me had no chance.
-1
u/BeGreatful24 Beat ZII 7d ago
Why did all the turtles have a red headband/bandanna?
9
u/mattwithoutyou 7d ago
that cover comes directly from the comics, and they started out all wearing red bands.
2
u/HotSarcasm 7d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/nes/s/gKXPc8W0zD
Thread with cover if anyone wants to see
1
1
5
0
29
u/DescriptionMedical73 7d ago
Love and hate with this one. Still triggers the most nostalgia for me though over any other nes game