When Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection launched earlier this year, 6 out of the 13 included games featured online multiplayer. That number has now increased by one thanks to this week's huge update. The update adds 2-player online co-op to the Super Nintendo version of TMNT: Turtles in Time as well as numerous new options and enhancements to other parts of the collection. It's going to be a cowabunga-cool Christmas for Turtles fans!
Patch Notes
Here's a selection of the changes made in the new update. Visit Konami's website for the full list.
New additions:
- When creating an online lobby, the player can now set the lobby size for the two arcade games. Host can limit it to 2, 3, or 4 players.
- When creating an online lobby, the player can now set the frame delay to “Automatic”. When this is set, the input lag adjusts according to the number of players.
- A new enhancement added to Arcade US/JP Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Number of lives per coin can be adjusted from 1-5.
- A new enhancement added to Arcade US Turtles in Time. Number of lives per coin can be adjusted from 1-8.
- A new enhancement added to Arcade US/JP Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Difficulty can be adjusted.
- A new enhancement added to Arcade US Turtles in Time. Difficulty can be adjusted.
- A new enhancement added to Arcade US Turtles in Time. Game Loop can now be turned ON/OFF. While ON, the game will restart from the beginning after the credits.
- New button action added to “Arcade US/JP TMNT”, “Arcade US Turtles in Time”, “SNES/Super Famicom Turtles in Time”, and “Genesis/MegaDrive Hyperstone Heist”. Players can now assign a button to “Special”. This button presses “Attack” and “Jump” together to make it easier to do special attacks.
- A new color enhancement added to all GameBoy games. Added GBC Mode ON/OFF. A new “Color Palette” option added to the Pause Menu for all GameBoy games. In additional to other filters, players can choose between 4 color palettes, 1. black and white, 2. GameBoy green, 3. GameBoy Pocket green, 4. GameBoy Light blue.
New additions:
- In SNES Turtles in Time, Stage Select enhancements now works even after settings are changed in Options.
- In Hyperstone Heist, Stage Select enhancements now works when selecting 2 players.
- Easy Menu Navigation enhancement for TMNT III Manhattan Project (NES) /TMNT 2 The Manhattan Project (Famicom) now work.
- SNES Turtles in Time manual in the museum now includes missing page 18-19.
Impressions
The best part of the new update is getting to play the Super NES version of Turtles in Time with online co-op. We hopped into a game and had a blast, even if the Cowabunga Collection's net code is still less than awesome.
The 16-bit home version of Turtles in Time differs from the arcade version (which already has online co-op in this collection) in numerous ways. The home game is only 2-player instead of 4-players - a clear downgrade. The SNES graphics are also a bit lower resolution and lacking some frames of animation, but still quite attractive. On the upside, the Super NES game adds a Technodrome level, several exclusive bosses (Slash, Rat King, Bebop and Rocksteady, and Shredder in a tank), unique Mode 7 effects in the "Neon Night-Riders" level, and improved controls. The extra level and new bosses probably account for the home version's fan-favorite status.
We also checked out the new presentation options for the GameBoy Turtles games, which do not have multiplayer. GameBoy Color mode (pictured above) offers the best presentation by assigning a different color palette to the sprites and backgrounds, effectively doubling the number of colors while improving picture clarity. Players who dislike the GameBoy Color presentation can turn it off and then choose from four standard palettes that replicate a standard GameBoy's display in different ways. It's always nice to have options, dudes.
Finally, Konami has promised to add online co-op to TMNT: The Manhattan Project (NES) in a future update!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection sells for $39.99 digitally on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and Steam. It's also available physically on Xbox, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Switch.
To learn about how The Cowabunga Collection came to be and the tremendous effort that went into it, check out our developer interview! For even more Turtles love, don't miss our co-op review of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge!