Do you like turtles? Of course, you do! And who doesn’t love pizza? I love pizza! So, what do you get when you combine turtles who love pizza? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! I first encountered the TMNT in 2003 through the awesome TV series, which featured one of the most iconic theme songs ever. You’ve got to check it out!
My first introduction to TMNT was back in 2003, through the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series. It had one of the catchiest theme songs of all time (seriously, check it out below—you’re welcome)!
Fast forward to today, and Outright Games, a leading family-friendly game publisher known for creating inclusive and accessible titles, so you can feel comfortable knowing its child-safe content. Now Outright Games has brought us something exciting: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Based on the latest Nickelodeon reboot, this action-packed third-person family adventure puts you in the middle of the action as the turtle brothers take on human-mutant chaos in the streets of New York City. It’s up to you to restore peace and save the day!
With Outright Games’ commitment to creating safe and imaginative games for all ages, you can confidently dive into this epic adventure, knowing it’s perfect for the whole family. Cowabunga, indeed!
Release Date: 18TH October 2024 on PlayStation Xbox Nintendo Switch Steam
Turtles Counting Down 1,2,3,4
Over the years, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games have explored a wide range of styles and genres across various platforms. However, this latest instalment brings something entirely new—a fresh take that stands out from the rest. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially for long-time TMNT fans, it’s important to remember that this is a kid-friendly version inspired by the popular movie.
From the trailers and gameplay footage, the game looked vibrant, action-packed, and incredibly fun. As a fan, my expectations were naturally high. And with this being an entirely new IP, it was exciting to see how they reimagined the Turtle brothers for a new generation of players.
Story and Settings
“Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go!”
Following the events of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed in the movie, humans and mutants now coexist in harmony in New York City—or so it seems. Unfortunately, this newfound peace is quickly disrupted, and it’s up to Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello to restore order. Together, they’ll face dangerous enemies, tackle thrilling challenges, and do what they do best—save the day!
“Anger Clouds The Mind. Turned Inward, It Is An Unconquerable Enemy.”
The game takes players through a variety of exciting locations in and around New York City. From the bustling streets lined with buildings and stores you can smash up (so much fun!) to the iconic Central Park, and even the turtles’ home—the sewers—there’s plenty to explore. These are just a few of the areas available, offering a semi-free roam experience that keeps things fresh and engaging.
As you fight to restore peace, you’ll battle enemies in these dynamic locations while encountering a mix of familiar faces and brand-new characters, all of which help bring the TMNT world to life.
"I Love Being A Turtle!"
The characters in this game are a significant departure from what we’ve seen in previous TMNT titles, both in appearance and personality. While the turtles are still recognisably themselves, they feel much more like actual teens this time around, shedding the bulky, muscular look from past versions in favour of a more kid-friendly vibe.
Supporting characters have also undergone some changes. The legendary Master Splinter, while still a skilled fighter, sports a fresh new design. April and other familiar faces have been reimagined as well. Sadly, my personal favourite, Shredder, doesn’t make an appearance—but here’s hoping we see him in the future!
One of the game’s standout features is how you build relationships with these characters, which adds depth and fosters a sense of mutual respect. I’ll dive into how this ties into the gameplay a bit later.
Gameplay
“I do not wish to fight. But cast a stone into the lake, and the ripples will return to you.”
Let’s break down the gameplay! It’s designed to be simple and easy to pick up, making it accessible for players of all ages. As you progress through the game, the controls evolve with the introduction of new abilities and combos that you can unlock.
To access these combos, you’ll need to spend the XP earned by completing levels and challenges. The more XP you earn, the more upgrades and skills you can unlock, allowing for a variety of playstyles and strategies across all four turtles.
Throughout the levels, you’ll also come across canisters in three distinct colours, each serving a unique purpose. Red canisters boost your damage, green ones restore health, and blue canisters recharge your assist abilities. Be sure to keep an eye out for these valuable pickups—they can make all the difference in your battles!
You’ll also have the choice to play solo or join forces with a friend—or even one of your kids—for some exciting co-op action. Teaming up lets you take on enemies together, making the adventure even more fun and engaging!
During combat, you can join forces with your brothers for a powerful team-up attack. This move is especially helpful when you’re overwhelmed by multiple enemies or facing off against a tough boss. And yes, it wouldn’t be a classic beat-em-up without some epic boss battles to keep things exciting.
One of the coolest features in this game is the in-game phone! You can use it to teleport between locations, read messages from characters, track your progress, and even snap pictures. It’s a fun and handy tool that adds an extra layer of immersion to the experience.
I must admit I would have preferred a more third-person style instead of crossing it with the 2-D beat-em-up style.
The camera angles in TMNT: Mutants Unleashed weren’t terrible, but they did have some frustrating moments. For example, during a boss battle with two opponents, one moved to the right while the other stayed on the left. This caused the camera to pull me across the screen, almost like being tethered and catapulted me toward the enemy that was going off-screen. It disrupted the flow of the fight and made it harder to stay engaged with both bosses simultaneously.
“You’re flying too close to the bull and you’re gonna get stung.”
The combat in the game is straightforward yet offers a nice challenge at times, without ever becoming frustrating. And if you do start to struggle, the assist feature is always there to lend a helping hand!
"Grab shell dude!"
Each of the four turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo—has unique abilities tied to their iconic weapons. Leo wields his katana with precision, Raph dominates with his Sai, Donny masters the Bo Staff, and Mikey brings the flair with his Nunchucks.
“Booyakasha!”
As you make your way through the levels, keep an eye out for hidden secrets! Collectables like purple star coins and videotapes are scattered throughout, adding an extra layer of exploration to the game. You can also collect pieces of street art for Mondo Gecko.
The phone also features an app that gives off a Pokémon collector vibe called DigiMutants. While tracking down some of the items wasn’t always easy, it added an enjoyable and rewarding layer of exploration to the game adding the perfect way for replayability for those collectors.
Graphics and Visual Design
“Cowabunga!”
The art direction takes some inspiration from the movie it's based on, but it’s also distinct in its own right. The style is similar to the trendy 3D-looking 2D comic aesthetics seen in many recent animated films—bright, cartoony, and full of energy. This marks a fresh departure from the animation style used in previous TMNT games and shows, giving the series a new, vibrant look.
“Heroes in a half shell, turtle power!”
When it comes to the cinematic moments and cutscenes, they don’t quite capture the feel of the movie. While the cutscenes feature voice acting, the screen has a black scribble-style effect along the top and bottom, giving it a unique but somewhat distracting look. Additionally, character cut-outs appear with different emotional expressions, which felt a bit unnecessary since the cutscene is already playing with voice acting. Subtitles would have sufficed for those who need them, without the extra visual elements.
Sound and Music
“I’m the leader. I give the orders!”
The sound design in the game is fairly simplistic, focusing on the essentials without overwhelming the player. The sound effects are clear and effective, but there's nothing too complex or layered. It suits the game's style; it feels appropriate for the target audience.
“Do not say anything that I would not say, and do not do anything that I would not do.”
The voice acting is lively and full of energy, perfectly capturing the fun, playful tone of the game. It’s deliberately light-hearted and aimed at a younger audience, adding charm and personality without trying to be overly serious or dramatic.
“Wise man say, ‘Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza.'”
The music is more ambient than anything intense, setting the mood without being overpowering. Unlike the movie, there’s no licensed music, but the soundtrack still creates a fitting atmosphere. It’s subtle and doesn’t distract from the other game elements, offering a well-balanced experience.
User Experience and Accessibility
“I’m not just another pretty face.”
The interface is clean and non-intrusive, with only the health bar displayed, allowing players to focus on the action without distractions. In contrast, the cutscenes felt more intrusive, as they added extra visual elements that interrupted the flow of the game, unlike the streamlined interface.
“Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?”
In terms of accessibility, the game may pose challenges for players with light sensitivity or photosensitivity, as certain effects could be overwhelming. While it doesn't specifically cater to these needs, there are features like a colour-blind option to help make gameplay more inclusive. The game also includes vibration feedback, slow-motion moves, hitstop effects, and screen shake, all of which enhance the experience, but could be overwhelming for some players. These features can be turned off in the settings for those who prefer a more comfortable playthrough.
Innovation and Comparisons
“Cowabunga! It’s Turtle Time!”
While TMNT: Mutants Unleashed had some cool features, it didn’t quite stand out as a unique game. It offered enjoyable gameplay and familiar elements, but it didn’t introduce anything particularly ground-breaking or new to the franchise. It’s a fun experience, but not one that redefines the genre.
“Heroes in a Half Shell”
It’s hard to directly compare this game to its predecessors. Personally, I prefer some of the older TMNT games, but it’s important to remember that Mutants Unleashed is designed with kids in mind, which makes it a very different experience from what I’m used to. Compared to other beat-em-ups, this game takes a more light-hearted and graphically friendly approach. For example, defeating a boss often leads to them becoming an ally, whereas other games usually resolve conflicts with a more aggressive tone and no reconciliation.
Final Thoughts
Strengths
The game’s colourful visuals, light-hearted tone, and straightforward gameplay make it perfect for younger audiences and family play. The ability to team up with friends or family adds a fun social aspect, making the game ideal for couch co-op sessions. The vibrant, comic-inspired visuals provide a fresh look that stands out from previous TMNT games and resonates with modern animated styles. Easy-to-learn combat mechanics with evolving abilities keep gameplay engaging, while each turtle’s unique skills add variety. Hidden secrets like gold coins and videotapes encourage exploration, and the semi-open world design offers diverse locations to discover. Turning defeated bosses into allies promotes an uplifting approach, setting it apart from more aggressive games in the genre.
Weaknesses
I found it frustrating and a struggle with uncooperative camera angles, making it difficult to keep track of the action and detracting from the overall experience. The plot is underdeveloped, with cutscenes that lack dynamism and fail to engage players, resulting in a narrative that feels flat and uninspired. The day and night cycles.
Personal Opinion
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed was a bit of a disappointment for me personally. While I fully understand that the game is designed for kids—something I’m not disputing—the repetitive gameplay started to wear thin. The camera angles, for instance, were occasionally frustrating, and the mechanic of skipping a day after every task felt unnecessary and confusing.
Don’t get me wrong, the game is fun and enjoyable in its own right, but after a while, it starts to feel like you’re just doing the same thing over and over again. A bit more variety could have gone a long way in keeping the experience fresh. If your kids are into the newer version or even the movie of TMNT: Mutants Unleashed then yes, this is entirely for them, but if you are looking for a nostalgic game based on a franchise you love then this doesn’t hit the spot.
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to take a moment to read this review, your support is always appreciated and means the world to me!
So, from all of us and myself thank you! Oh, and guys before you go always remember to… KEEP GAMING!
XPN Rating: 2 out of 5 (Silver)
(Thank you to Stevie at Outright Games for providing the code for this review)
Be sure to check out Ash’s Video Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed!
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