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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

Game Review | October 26, 2013 3:39 am

Released: October 22nd, 2013
Developer: Magic Pockets
Publisher: Activision
Genre: beat 'em up
Subgenre: 2.5D brawler
Players: 1-4 local only
Rated: E10+ for Everyone 10 and up (comic mischief, fantasy violence)

Yes, it's another TMNT game for the 360, not to be confused with the recently released Out of the Shadows XBLA title. This time it's based on the Nickelodeon animated series that began in 2012.

So far, this game has come the closest to capturing the spirit of the 1989 arcade beat 'em up that was so popular. Even though this game uses a 3d engine and allows for some lateral movement, it is still effectively a linear, "side scrolling" brawling-type game.

The visuals are serviceable if not great; the voice overs are straight out of the show but the music and sound effects are surprisingly bad.

This game is short, which is both a positive and negative aspect. There are 16 levels in the story/campaign but they start recycling halfway through. There are suvival, time attack and minigame modes that unlock but take place on the same stages.

The combat mechanics are very simple, perhaps too much so for their own good. The game rewards you for using the same combo string repeatedly--mindlessly mashing the X button will defeat enemies more quickly and give you more points than if you use environmental objects, throws or sub-weapons.

This is definitely not the worst TMNT game out there, and its simplicity may actually be a good thing for gamers wanting to play with their kids. Its sub-5 hour campaign and lack of online multiplayer are unforgivable for a retail release, especially a licensed product from a huge publisher.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gets a 6.5 out of 10 and is only recommended to die-hard fans and wafflers.

TL;DR:
+ simple beat 'em up action captures arcade spirit well
+ collectibles are reasonably easy to find & make sense in the game's world
+ you can throw bad guys at the screen like in Turtles in Time
- only upgraded special attack differentiates the 4 turtles
- weak, tinny sound effects
- little level variety
- no online multiplayer
? why don't the bros use terrible surfer lingo anymore

Extras: None. They missed a good opportunity for avatar items and gamerpics.

Achievements: Very easy and most come naturally during play. You will have to replay every level a second time in Time Attack mode but total playtime will still be under 5 hours for the 1000G completion.

Rating: 6.5 of 10

Reviewed: TMNT™ (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Keywords: None

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Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

10/26/13 4:19 am | #2

Nice ill pick it up used sometime soon.

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12/31/69 7:00 pm | #3

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Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

10/26/13 7:35 pm | #4

Redboxed it and the new spongebob game today. Hope it's as simple as you say, because I'm no gud att gaems.

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Re: Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

10/26/13 8:09 pm | #5

Quote by Bitz:

Captured the arcade spirit well? Did we have it have this bad back then..?

It's a punch in the teeth when you're sitting alone on your couch in front of a nice tv, but if you and 3 strangers were playing this co-op, standing up and in front of a big arcade cabinet or projector, I think it would feel very similar.

The 2008 TMNT retail game was too similar to prince of persia and was half platforming, half beat em up.

TMNT IV: Turtles in Time Re-shelled made the action feel floaty and weird in 2.5D although it did have a better art style and presentation than this game.

The OOTS arcade game tries too hard to be an action-rpg with its skill trees and levelling up system.

Of all the TMNT titles you can play on 360 that are't Konami's barebones XBLA port, I think this one is the closest to the same experience from 1989, for better and worse.

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12/31/69 7:00 pm | #6

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Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

10/28/13 12:55 pm | #7

Things that would need to change for this game to actually be enjoyable rather than just "not bad" are:
1)The ability to turn off the voices while fighting. The kraang bots are beyond obnoxious.
2)Options to adjust background volume, voices and sound effects. This game is sorely in need of sliders.
3)AI. Playing it single player made me think I had controllers plugged in somewhere that were idling. Most of the time, I was fighting and they were just standing there. And in shredders hideout, the other turtles literally walked into those spike things that go up and down and just kept walking at them and taking damage until they went back down!!!
4)Faster attacks. I get that they're turtles, but come ooonnnnn.
5)More varied boss fights. These were all versions of "avoid, attack for 2 seconds, avoid." And that sucked.
6) bossanova

I feel like I forgot something...

But yeah, not a bad game, but definitely no turtles in time. Gotta do the speed run and survival still.

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Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

10/28/13 1:19 pm | #8

Yo i'm gonna let you finish but TMNT Hyperstone Heist is the greatest Turtle game of all.

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12/31/69 7:00 pm | #9

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Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

10/29/13 4:01 pm | #10

Yeah that was super easy. Awesome.

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Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

10/29/13 11:42 pm | #11

Hyperzone Heist was a freakin awesome game but I'd have to give best Turtles game to the SNES version of 4: Turtles in Time, just cause I spent so much time with it.

It was great how they rearranged some of the bosses and added new levels. That's a port done right!

Another surprisingly good and underrated title was Turtles Tournament Fighters on SNES & Genesis. Who'd have thought they would be so good in a fighting game?

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Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

11/10/13 8:43 am | #12

Does anyone know where the secret panel is on Level 5-2 The Cookie Factory? Been thru 3 times with no luck!

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12/31/69 7:00 pm | #13

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Re: Re: Re: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (too?) simplistic beat em up

11/10/13 9:35 am | #14

Quote by Bitz:

Quote by DeWayne:

Does anyone know where the secret panel is on Level 5-2 The Cookie Factory? Been thru 3 times with no luck!

If its level I'm thinking of, its before you go into the factory by a dumpster near the top of screen.

You are the man! Thanks

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