
77
MONSTER
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection contains thirteen previously released video games from the Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Sega Genesis, and the Game Boy. This collection is a great place for gamers to experience these popular titles on Steam.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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67
Nostalgia drives Cowabunga Collection, celebrating retro Turtles gameplay and historical charm, but repetitive, formulaic stories and shallow narratives leave little room for modern appeal.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
67
Positive Reviews (80-100)
14%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
86%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Nostalgia drives Cowabunga Collection, celebrating retro Turtles gameplay and historical charm, but repetitive, formulaic stories and shallow narratives leave little room for modern appeal.
Gameplay Mechanics
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85
Nostalgic charm meets clunky gameplay in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection—a mixed bag of retro thrills, modern tweaks like save states, and uneven mechanics that frustrate as much as they delight, offering value for fans but plagued by dated design flaws.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
85
Positive Reviews (80-100)
83%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
14%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Nostalgic charm meets clunky gameplay in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection—a mixed bag of retro thrills, modern tweaks like save states, and uneven mechanics that frustrate as much as they delight, offering value for fans but plagued by dated design flaws.
Graphics and Visual Design
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79
Nostalgia reigns, but pixelated flaws linger: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection delivers faithful retro visuals with CRT filters and 80s charm, praised for authenticity and smooth emulation—but its dated graphics, blurry textures, and lack of modern upgrades alienate fans craving polish, splitting opinions between retro purists and those demanding sharper tech.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
79
Positive Reviews (80-100)
40%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
57%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Nostalgia reigns, but pixelated flaws linger: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection delivers faithful retro visuals with CRT filters and 80s charm, praised for authenticity and smooth emulation—but its dated graphics, blurry textures, and lack of modern upgrades alienate fans craving polish, splitting opinions between retro purists and those demanding sharper tech.
Music and Sound Design
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80
Praised for nostalgic, faithful sound design and remastered music in TMNT: Cowabunga Collection, with cassette-style presentation and accessible OSTs, though minor technical flaws like volume issues and repetitive tracks temper the experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
80
Positive Reviews (80-100)
56%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
42%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
2%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Praised for nostalgic, faithful sound design and remastered music in TMNT: Cowabunga Collection, with cassette-style presentation and accessible OSTs, though minor technical flaws like volume issues and repetitive tracks temper the experience.
Voice Acting
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61
Voice acting in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is hit or miss—praised for nostalgic charm and standout moments like Turtles in Time, but criticized for inconsistent quality and rushed audio, with regional adaptations adding depth to an uneven experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
61
Positive Reviews (80-100)
10%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
80%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
10%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Voice acting in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is hit or miss—praised for nostalgic charm and standout moments like Turtles in Time, but criticized for inconsistent quality and rushed audio, with regional adaptations adding depth to an uneven experience.
Technical Performance
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76
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection nails emulation fidelity and modern perks like save states, but online multiplayer stumbles across all platforms—PS5 lags, Xbox glitches, Switch chokes. Nostalgia meets convenience, but technical hiccups spoil the fun.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
76
Positive Reviews (80-100)
44%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
44%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
12%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection nails emulation fidelity and modern perks like save states, but online multiplayer stumbles across all platforms—PS5 lags, Xbox glitches, Switch chokes. Nostalgia meets convenience, but technical hiccups spoil the fun.
Replay Value
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85
Nostalgia-driven joy for TMNT purists, but repetitive, short-lived gameplay and dated mechanics limit appeal beyond hardcore fans—packaged with extras, co-op flair, and retro charm, but lacking modern innovation or depth for newcomers.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
85
Positive Reviews (80-100)
72%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
25%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Nostalgia-driven joy for TMNT purists, but repetitive, short-lived gameplay and dated mechanics limit appeal beyond hardcore fans—packaged with extras, co-op flair, and retro charm, but lacking modern innovation or depth for newcomers.
Overall Verdict
77
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
77
Positive Reviews (80-100)
80%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
20%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
A nostalgic goldmine for TMNT fans, this compilation delivers 13 classic games with modern polish, earning rave reviews as a "love letter" to the franchise. While its retro charm, bonus content, and accessibility shine, dated graphics, steep price, and uneven gameplay hold it back from universal acclaim—ideal for diehards, less so for newcomers.
77
MONSTER
Reviews
123 reviews found100
GameGrin
Aug 30, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review highly recommends Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection as a must-play title for retro game lovers or turtle fans, calling it the best game compilation.
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95
The Mako Reactor
Aug 28, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The reviewer praises the collection as one of their favorite retro collections of all time and recommends it. The only downside mentioned is that some of the games may not have aged well for newer players.
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92
Atomix
Aug 29, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is praised for its rich and immersive experience, strong emphasis on historical preservation, and extensive content, making it one of the best collections released in a successful year for such packages.
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90
MondoXbox
Aug 29, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, the collection is deemed a must-have for fans, offering a comprehensive and high-quality experience of classic TMNT games.
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90
Nintendo Life
Aug 29, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is the best thing Konami has released in a long while and sets the gold standard for retro collections.
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90
Nintendo Insider
Oct 3, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection as a nostalgic compilation that celebrates the games and the franchise at its peak.
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90
NintendoWorldReport
Aug 29, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises the game as one of the best retro packages and enjoyable for fans of the Turtles or their video game exploits.
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90
GamingTrend
Aug 28, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection as a painstakingly crafted love letter to a by-gone era of gaming, and states that it is a collection well worth the asking price.
90
ZTGD
Aug 28, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review states that the Cowabunga Collection is a must-own and praises the quality of life updates added by the developers.
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90
IGN Adria
Sep 9, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is a retro release that surpasses expectations. It offers high-quality emulation, numerous options for each game, and a wealth of bonus content. It is a must-have for fans of the original games or those looking to experience them for the first time.
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