Not even the co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles could overcome the infamous Dam Level of the original TMNT NES game. At the height of their popularity, the Cowabunga Crew starred in their fair share of video games, but none were as infamously difficult as Konami's first home console release. Those brave enough to try can attempt the infamous NES title with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, which includes several classic Ninja Turtles games.
When one thinks of the punishing difficulty of old-school NES games, the Dam level from the original TMNT NES game likely comes to mind. Released under Konami’s Ultra subsidiary in 1989, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was an action sidescroller, with questionable hit detection and gimmick sections that often interfered with overall enjoyment. The most notorious was the game’s 2nd level, where the player must pass a gruelling underwater swimming section that involves navigating an underwater maze to disarm eight bombs. This section earned the ire of many players back in the day for its terrible swimming controls, unavoidable damage sections, and unforgiving time limit. While the level will be no less difficult in the Cowabunga Collection, Ninja Turtles can be saved thanks to in-game rewind and save features.
In an interview with IGN to promote The Cowabunga Collection, TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman shared his experiences on working with Konami and Ultra on the 90s Ninja Turtles games. When the subject of the infamous dam level came up, Eastman admitted that not even he could beat it. Eastman later addressed how fans took their frustrations out on him for the notorious segment. “We would go to conventions back in the day, people would come up to us and be angry with us because they thought we made the game that hard,” Eastman said, “And we're like, 'We can't win either. We've tried.' I never made it through the water level and I've tried and tried and tried.” Given the frustration of the Turtles co-creator, perhaps it's best the stage went unmentioned in the recently released TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, a game that honored the retro Turtles legacy. Eastman further spoke about enjoying his time on the games and his respect for gaming's creative process. “[It's] amazing to work with these guys that follow some of the same steps design-wise or whatever,” Eastman elaborates, “But then to bring them into a thing that you can only see them in full motion, but also control that motion was ... It's really mind-blowing. But what a treat to be part of that team.”
The Infamous Dam Level Of The Original NES TMNT Game
It's heartening to hear that Eastman still has a fondness for both Ninja Turtles video games and game development. Translating other mediums into games is never easy, and though the premise of butt-kicking turtles is an easier prospect than others, passion for a franchise is necessary for the game to gravitate towards its respective fans. This same passion cited by Eastman certainly seems to be present in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge game, which helped it become the modern successor old-school fans dreamed of. Conversely, other attempts, like Platinum Games' TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan, either failed to engage players or lacked the refinement of its retro counterparts.
Despite the troublesome Dam level, it's clear Kevin Eastman respects TMNT video games. Oddly enough, this sentiment is likely shared by the grizzled fanbase who endured the Dam's tribulations in its heyday. With the Cowabunga Collection now available, newer fans can see for themselves why these games hold a special place in the heart of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator, for better or worse.
Source: IGN