Which version of TMNT Turtles in Time is better?
 

IMO, the arcade version is superior in every way. 4 players (only 2 on SNES), over 10 enemies onscreen (only 4 on SNES), better graphics and sound. The SNES version has more bosses, a time trial and VS mode, and a new level, but the bosses are really easy, the new modes are too short, and the new level is a watered down version of the Technodrome level in the first arcade game.

Nobody ever gives the arcade version enough credit. I'd like to see what you guys think.

The Arcade version. Two words: Pizza Power.

The SNES version has its qualities, and is very good, but I'll always love the arcade version better. More voice samples, more sprites, better animation, better everthing. One day I'm going to buy that sucker.

SNES version wins hands down for me.

The arcade version has more voice samples, but the SNES has plenty anyway. I prefer most of the SNES version tracks, but they're pretty similiar anyway, as in both have very good soundtracks. The pizza power song is pure cheese, I won't knock the arcade version for having it, but its presence is not missed in the SNES version.

Graphics are clearly better in the arcade, but they should be. On the other hand the SNES does have a few added things here and there and uses mode 7 to good effect in the neon night riders level. The SNES version has less enemies on screen, but to be fair the arcade version usually didn't have more than 5 enemies on screen at once so the SNES doesn't fall too far behind.

In terms of control the SNES is superior, no argument. The biggest downfall in the arcade version was the auto run function. Ugh, it makes the dash attack useless in most situations. The SNES had this feature as the default, but at least you could change that. The SNES also had overall better attack control, I couldn't consistently pull off throws or the various jump attacks like I could in the SNES version. Not only that, but the SNES had a cool slide attack that I don't think was in the arcade version.

In terms of layout I prefer the SNES version too. Enemy placement was better in the SNES version, a little more room for strategy as it was a little more than just swamping you with enemies. The sewer surfing level is a good example of this. So I like the extra/reworked levels better. Better bosses in the SNES version too. The bosses had actual patterns that didn't fall back on having overly difficult to dodge counterattacks. The difficulty level was a little bit too easy in the SNES rev, but the arcade was downright cheap. I'll take a little too easy over super cheap anyday. Lack of four player is a bummer, but considering that nearly everything else gameplay wise was improved it's not too big of a loss, and understandable considering the processing power of the SNES anyway.

So in conclusion, SNES version wins.

you make some interesting points there, but IMO, I prefer fighting off swarms of enemies instead of 1-4. Isn't that what beat em ups are all about? Imagine playing a game like X-men or Alien VS Predator with only a scant amount of enemies onscreen. Not very fun or exciting. The same applys to TMNT Turtles in Time. Personally, I hated what they did to Sewer Surfing and Neon Night Riders in the SNES version. They changed them to simple bonus levels where you fight only 1 enemy at a time. And to make things easier, the enemies die in 1 hit. Where's the challenge in that? They took out all the intensity and excitement from the surfing levels. And I do agree that some bosses in the arcade version are cheap (Leatherhead) but bosses in the SNES version are way too easy (Rat King can easily be beaten by simple button mashing). I need more of a challenge than that. I'm not saying the SNES version is bad (I play it more than the arcade), I just think the arcade version is superior.

I find that fighting the massive swarms of enemies in the arcade version, while interesting for awhile, quickly loses its appeal when it becomes obvious that there is practically no strategy in beating them. The SNES version has enemies that you can actually apply some strategy to beat them. Yeah, the SNES version sometimes makes this a bit too easy to pull off, but In the arcade version I can't imagine one crediting it to anything past the second level. Sure, it is somewhat understandable that they wanted the quarters to keep flowing but there is a way to make a game difficult without being so cheap. The other beat em ups you mentioned are hard, but they are nowhere near as cheap.

Though my biggest gripe is with the control. Both games could use a little more move variety, but when it's so difficult to consistently pull off the throws, jump attacks and the dash attack in the arcade version, I just can't forgive that.

I don't see any strategy involved when fighting enemies in the SNES version. Most enemies die pretty easily and some die in one hit. Enemies in the SNES version also have noticeably weaker AI (most rarely attack you and leave themselves wide open for you to attack them). The enemies in the arcade version don't stop attacking you until you're dead. IMO, fighting stronger enemies requires more strategy than weaker enemies because it requires using offense and defense. In the SNES version, you can easily button mash your way through out the whole game without ever trying to defend yourself.

As for controls, it's true that the SNES version allows you to throw and slam enemies at will, but that makes the game too easy because all the foot soldiers die with just one throw or slam.

I will admit that both games are unbalanced. The arcade version is too hard while the SNES version is too easy. IMO, the best is still the original arcade game because it has a good balance of difficulty.

True, to an extent. There are the Foot who block attacks that require you to use the combo finisher or dash attacking them. I never button mash against the roadkill rodneys either, you still need to be careful when fighting them. Enemies could have used a lot more variety though. When it comes to strategy in beating the enemies TMNT 3 is much better than TMNT 4. If only they could have had a game with the graphics of the arcade, move variety of the SNES TMNT 4, and the enemy variety of TMNT 3...

well considering I have the full arcade machine of it, I would have to say the arcade version.

Pros

- Lots more enemies onscreen
- Alot Tougher
- Rock soldiers have more weapons
- The sound, music are amazing
- The animations and graphics are too amazing

Cons

- No Technodrome level
- No Ratking
- No roadkill rodneys
- No mousers
- No Bebop & Rocksteady
- No Slash

Jason, can't you play with the dip switches to make there be more or less villians to face?

My problem with the slaming/flinging of foot is it seemed a bit random....I had problems throwing them at Shredder...but I'm also a lousy gamer...:D

Slamming or flinging the foot is dependent on the direction you're pressing, forward or down.

The best way to get more enemies using the dip switches is by setting the difficulty to the highest setting. You then get around 10 enemies per player.
So with my machine being a 4 player one, if 4 people are playing then thats around 40 on the screen at once.

arcade version I like better.