April O'Neil, reporter friend of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is kidnapped by the villainous Shredder and his two thugs, Bebop and Rocksteady. Four ninja turtles: Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello and Leonardo fight their way through hordes of soldiers to save their girlfriend. They battle familiar foes such as the mad scientist Baxter Stockman, Dimension X's General Trag, and the evil Brain Krang, all the way to the final showdown with Shredder himself.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an arcade game created by Konami at the height of the animated series' popularity. Depending on the version of the game, up to two, three or four players can participate in the action. The game is similar to a simplified Double Dragon. While most standard enemies are easily overcome, attacks with knives or laser cannons become more dangerous. At the end of each level, players face a boss (or, in some cases, two bosses working in tandem, such as Bebop and Rocksteady).