When Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4, Windjammers 2) and Tribute Games (Mercenary Kings, Panzer Paladin) announced a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, the beat in our little hearts picked up hard, very hard, and we couldn’t help waiting with great impatience. The promise ? An old-school title, furiously reminiscent of Turtles in Time on SNES, with a touch of modernity. After walking the streets of New York with the heroes of our childhood in TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, was the hype justified or totally unreasonable?
It’s been decades now that we’ve been waiting to see one or more studios dare to try their hand at this pop culture myth that is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Dotemu and Tribute Games had the courage (to say the least) to tackle it and we already thank them for releasing TMNT Shredder’s Revenge. We (re) immerse ourselves very quickly in this universe with the shock duo Bebop and Rocksteady who attack the premises of the TV channel Channel 6 to help rebuild the Krang brain while ransacking the Statue of Liberty and the streets of New- york in concert with the Foot Clan. The ninja minions of the ever-villainous Shredder. And it is our siblings of genetically modified turtles who have the responsibility to fight against this band of thugs.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a beat’em’all in the best sense of the word and doesn’t bother with a convoluted or drawn-out storyline. And that’s good, because that’s not what we ask of the franchise. On the other hand on this point, the teams could have gone much further, especially as the first minutes are very promising. As an opening, a superbly executed introduction worthy of the 1987 animated series with the iconic main theme… but in English. It’s absolutely brilliant even if we would have dreamed of having the music in French. The few undubbed cutscenes make the whole thing a little sad when it was precisely possible to develop this with the talent of the two studios.
TMNT Shredder’s Revenge: Proust’s Pizza
Despite this small disappointment of too wise storytelling / direction, even if it is not the main objective, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge formula works admirably well. We feel the developers’ love for this cult license and their love of pixel art. Admittedly, the game is old-fashioned, but in the 2022 sauce by taking advantage of technological advances. Dotemu and Tribute Games literally sublimate the iconic Ninja Turtles design of the 80s/90s with, in particular, delicious animations. Especially when our heroes mock their opponents. Any occasion is good to also stage the Foot Clan (some play at an arcade terminal, think of themselves as secretaries…) and make the many sets of the title even more alive.
Finally, and it’s quite paradoxical with what we said above, but not taking risks also allows the software to shine. To draw a parallel, the teams did not fall into the trap of Dragon Ball Z Kakarot which modifies things to the point of distorting the work. No, here, there is a real respect which, inevitably, is touching for any thirty-something of which we are part. The winks multiply and we take great pleasure in finding this gallery of characters who rocked our childhood. Whether it’s our favorite turtles and their allies, the Foot Clan, or the various bosses that punctuate the 16 levels of the Story mode. The memories come to the surface and perhaps make the most sensitive shed a tear.
A beat’em’all that beats up?
Unlike Streets of Rage 4, TMNT Shredder’s Revenge is less technical. It’s more accessible, simplistic, and you have to be more careful about dealing with the waves than avoiding taking serious damage. There is also no notion of benefit/risk linked to a special attack. However, we can lose life by encouraging a colleague via a High-five, which will have the effect of restoring a little health to the detriment of ours. We are really in the continuity of the SNES episode Turtles in Time, to the point where it could be a sequel, but more evolved. We thus have a classic attack which can also be charged, a salto which serves both as a dodge and as a blow (when combined with a normal attack), a dash, a double jump or even a super attack. The latter is only triggered by filling at least one bar of the ninja gauge. Once empty, it can be recharged by carrying out a provocation which differs for each playable character (Splinter meditates, Michelangelo plays on the console).
And even if we go around the gameplay very quickly in solo, the Story mode allows you to increase the range of movements or to obtain health or even life bonuses. To do this, you just have to hit enemies in a chain, find hidden points in the environment or carry out side missions which consist of collecting collectibles (VHS tapes, secret journals, etc.). It increases the power level (10 in total) of each hero, knowing that certain techniques can only be accomplished at a very advanced level.
And of course, none of the characters look alike. Everyone will be more or less comfortable on the offensive or defensive side. April and Michelangelo are fast. Donatello’s staff gives him greater range. Splinter is more powerful and so on. In all, the four turtles are playable, plus April, Splinter and Casey Jones. Enough to relaunch different parts in order to increase the life of TMNT Shredder’s Revenge and its Story mode. A mode that may lack challenge (in normal), with the exception of the final boss, the complete opposite of Arcade mode. In this one, no saved progress, lives and credits are limited. At an equal level of difficulty between the two modes, the Arcade is much less permissive. If you make too many mistakes, you can always cheer up and survive longer by eating whole pizzas in the different stages to recover health, perform an unstoppable spinning attack or perform as many super attacks as you want. in a limited time.
And with several people, is it fun too?
In one mode as in the other, the fights are very satisfying and it’s even more exhilarating in multiplayer, since you can unlock new attacks with several people by being, for example, on either side of an enemy. Up to six players can join via a drop-in/drop-out system that does not require restarting a level. Clearly practical if you just want to have fun on the go without trying to do the levels in order. However, the multi has a big flaw: readability. Already at three, the worries are there, so at six, we let you imagine. It’s a mess quite honestly, and yet that’s what will also make the charm of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shreeder’s Revenge… provided you have good partners. Because to manage for example to complete the Arcade mode in multiplayer without leaving feathers, it will be necessary to support each other and to take care to raise a teammate on the ground. Knowing that the resuscitation window lasts only a few seconds.
If we play for example with three players, and two players lose all their lives, it’s game over for them and the last one standing will be alone. Not cool for him but that’s the game! Finally a last word on the music. If those of Streets of Rage 4, another Dotemu production, could be disappointing (compared to the trilogy), the soundtrack of TMNT: Shreeder’s Revenge is clearly excellent.