Topic: How to beat Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 for the NES. Ultimate walkthrough inside.

Since the turtles are popular again, I figured it would be appropriate to go back and LP one of my favorite video games from my early childhood. TMNT 1 for the NES.

Most people remember this game for it's difficulty. I know it took me about 15 years, to be able to beat it without save states.

Really, it's all about finding the right path to take. Once you figure that out and collect about 80 scrolls for each turtle, the game becomes a lot easier.

And I included a tutorial, which explains how to finish the game. The four rescue points are also included.

If you remember this game or have any stories you'd like to share, please leave me a comment below. Were you able to beat TMNT 1 or were you able to finish other really tough games from the NES/SNES era?

I've beaten TMNT for NES numerous times. Just play the entire game as Donatello and try not to take any damage.

Now I feel the need to go home tonight and pop this classic into my NES to see if I can beat the game all these many years later.

Wow, that wouldn't be easy at all. You must really be good at the game.

The part that drives me crazy, is the spike compressor at the end of stage 4.

@JoshDragon
I put this game into my NES tonight and plugged in my NES Max controller (my two regular controllers have buttons that aren't so responsive now due to its age so whenever I play NES I have to use the Max or the Advantage).

I was able to get all the way to the last area (6) and died in that small chamber just before Shredder.

I had to use a continue on Stage 5 and I used up my remaining continues within The Technodrome.

Tonight was the first time I've played this game since 1990 and I must say it felt great to play something oldschool and difficult like this again on my original Nintendo Entertainment System.

I plan on trying again either tomorrow night or later on in the week (as I have to be getting to bed soon).

If I could beat the game when I was 13, I should be able to beat it again now. Anyways, thanks for reminding me that I own this game on cartridge. This game sincerely rocks!!!!

Cowabunga, dude!!!

Advertise in your signature please, however you can talk about the game here.

I remember playing the game and getting to the water dam only to get stuck...funny enough I got the game along with the NES/more games free a nice few years back when I already had one, I struck gold

I love AVGN's TMNT review! According to him the turtles theme song doesn't make an appearance in the game. warning NSFW AVGN video here

After playing thru the game last night for the first time in ages, I can say that a variation of the turtles theme song DOES in fact find it's way into the game. Just beat any boss fight and you'll hear a jingle. It's not the exact turtles theme but you can specifically hear "heroes in a half shell" there at the very end.

I'm just nitpicking here as I realize AVGN is going for laughs with his video reviews. Anyways, time to kick some shell and see what the day holds for me.

I'll allow the discussion on the game, but please put links to your blog and YT channel in your signature. I am afraid we do not allow advertising (blogs, channels, etc.) on the thread posts.

Awesome!

That's great to hear! I hope you beat it soon.

At 13, I could only finish the game with save states. It took me until I was 20 to beat it on an NES console.

Also, the final hallway is much easier if you have the scrolls. I'd recommend picking up at least 40 per turtle.

@JoshDragon
I don't remember where to get the scrolls! D:

I'm on Area 4 right now....gonna try to beat w/o them. If I can't, I will probably have to eventually grab them.

You can still get the scroll in Area 4 but it's risky. Which part are you on?

I got the scrolls. Wow, that was risky. And then that turtle got captured. So I've lost them now. Oh well, I'm in the Technodrome now.

I got thru that last hallway but then died at some dude u have to fight right before Shredder.

I give up for tonight but tomorrow is a new day! (I think I will try using the scrolls next time).

To get through the hallway, you need to jump as soon as the jet pack guys appear on screen. Sometimes that gets them to retreat.

I don't remember how exactly, but there is a method for it.

If you want more information about getting through the hallway, watch Redmage1987's Donatello sub-weaponless run.

My advice is to save Donatello (hopefully he ate one of those two full pizzas) and use the other three as sacrificial lambs, esp in that corridor from hell there at the end.

I'm just now starting to play. Using my NES Advantage controller tonight.

@JoshDragon
Shredder just experienced a massive case of shell shock!!!

Game is beaten. No continues were used. I can't tell you how awesome this feeling is!

@WaveBoy In case you wanted to know what Shredder looks like, here are some spoiler images _{(pardon the blurriness of the first pic. I was trying to take a picture and fight cheese grater face at the same time lol)}

http://imgur.com/7nKscOz.jpg
http://imgur.com/7MLuXI8.jpg
http://imgur.com/fDjbVxR.jpg
http://imgur.com/jcGEoOc.jpg
http://imgur.com/MCLRkCw.jpg
http://imgur.com/QS466yk.jpg

Good night!!!

Awesome job! Congrats on beating the game! Can't believe you did it without the scrolls (I've only done that once.)

Now I've got a new challenge for you. TMNT 2: The Arcade Game.

I actually did an LP deathless run for it two months ago.

I'll be honest. I found some scrolls that were really easy to grab inside a building in Area 3 and I spent about 30 minutes maxing out each turtle with 99 of them. (There's also rope in there and I had gotten about 64 of them, lol). After this was done, I continued to progress through the game, thinking I was ready for any of the challenges that lie ahead.

As you know, upon defeating enemies some of them leave behind random weapons (throwing stars, boomerang, etc)....and I was well aware of this, being ever so careful as to not accidentally pick up one of these stray items. Well, as is life, things don't always go according to plan and by the time I was near Shredder these were the stats I was left with. I used a few scrolls throughout levels 4 and 5 but I used none of them within The Technodrome. I'm actually pretty proud of that. As you can see, Michelangelo was the only turtle left with scrolls but he was so low on energy that I never switched to him. Donatello FTW!!!

Thanks for the congratulatory comment. I don't own TMNT 2: The Arcade Game but I have played it (my cousin used to have it and we played it a lot back in the day). Over the weekend I plan on visiting my local hobby shop here where I live to see if they have a copy of that game and I'll try to do a no-death run (although I'm not good at stuff like that, lol). I also want to see if I can get a pair of regular NES controllers.

Thanks again for reminding me of just how "righteous" this game is! It is definitely one of my favorites despite the low 3/10 rating that NintendoLife scored it.

I was unable to find a copy of TMNT 2: The Arcade Game in my local hobby shop. I am going to try eBay next.

Make sure you get one that's been tested recently.

Definitely! I've seen eBay users list that before about certain carts.

My friend said I should check out some of the pawn shops here in my city as they have a ton of old video games. I'm hesitant to go to those stores though .... I've never been a fan of pawn shops. I know the owner of one pawn shop and he is extremely shady.