Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles NES - Strategy Guide

Released by Konami under the Ultra Games label in 1989, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is famous for being one of the most notoriously difficult games on the NES. Combining overhead overworld exploration with side-scrolling platforming action, the game challenges players to rescue Splinter, save the city's water supply, and defeat Shredder. In this guide, we analyze the stats of each turtle, item options, and the infamous Area 2 Dam bomb defusal route.

1. Character Profiles (Turtle Swapping)

You can swap between the four turtles at any time by pressing Start. Managing their health and weapon offsets is crucial for survival:

• Donatello (Bo Staff): The best turtle. Donatello's Bo Staff has the longest reach and deals double the damage of other weapons. Keep Donatello healthy and save him for difficult boss fights.
• Leonardo (Katanas): A solid all-around choice. He has medium reach, moderate damage, and a fast overhead swing that can hit enemies above him.
• Raphael (Sais): The weakest turtle. Raphael has extremely short reach and low damage, making it hard to strike enemies without getting hit. Use Raphael to absorb environmental traps or damage before swapping.
• Michelangelo (Nunchukus): Similar to Raphael, but has slightly wider hit boxes. Ideal for clearing standard overhead targets.

2. Special Sub-Weapons

Turtles can collect sub-weapons scattered across side-scrolling sections:

• Shurikens (Single/Triple): Throw stars at range. The Triple Shuriken fires three stars in a spread pattern.
• Boomerangs: Travels horizontally and returns to you. Catching it on return preserves your ammunition.
• Scrolls: The strongest sub-weapon. Launches high-damage energy waves that pass through walls, making boss battles significantly easier. Collect scrolls for Donatello whenever possible.

3. Defusing the Dam Bombs (Area 2 Walkthrough)

The second stage tasks you with defusing 8 time bombs attached to the Hudson River Dam within **2 minutes and 20 seconds** under water. The route is:

1. Avoid the Seaweed: Electric seaweed deals high damage and stuns you. Navigate gaps with micro-taps.
2. Swap Hurt Turtles: If a turtle's health falls low, press Start and swap to another turtle immediately. You do not have time to find pizzas.
3. The Bomb Order: Collect the first bomb immediately. Drop down the central shaft, swim left to clear the bottom 3 bombs, then head right to clear the remaining 4 bombs. Keep moving continuously.