Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

"There's no one better."

From 1984 to 1995, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dominated comic books, television, and the movies. Their merchandising onslaught became one of the most successful in history. Their creators earned millions from licensing fees. One of the greatest things to come from this license was the TMNT video game line from Konami. Most installments in the series were cooperative brawling games which were quite popular at the time. The best of these games allowed players to team up and smash their way through New York City, Florida, and time itself. Now that the TMNT have returned to television, Konami has once again created an action packed brawler. Does it live up to it's legendary pedigree? Most assuredly, yes.

Rather than instill this latest installment with modern game design sensibilities, producer Kengo Nakamura looked to the classics for inspiration. As a result, fans of the original games will be thrilled to find what is most definitely the greatest 3D brawler of all time. Granted, this genre has very few good 3D candidates, but this is still an achievement. Although this game has plot sequences and full voice acting, nothing in the story will affect the way you play. If you simply want to play the game and not get involved in the story, you can skip the cut scenes dive headfirst into the action. Like the previous console brawlers, this new TMNT game allows two player cooperative action. Teaming up with a friend to do nothing but smash evil for hours on end is too much fun. And surprisingly, the combat is deep as well.

It has been a decade since the Hyperstone Heist and the fab four have found themselves in a new millennium where one attack button simply won't cut it anymore in a game that contains nothing but fighting. Thus, the Turtles have adopted the classic fast but weak and slow but strong, two button control formula. You can dish out up to four weak attacks in succession, and you can interrupt this basic combo with a strong attack at any time. A separate uppercut button allows you to set up enemies for air juggles. Any attack can be canceled into a dash maneuver which will save you from many a pounding. The Turtles can not block and that works well for this game. Half the fun is letting the Turtles attack animations become second nature and being able to make split second decisions that will allow you to counterattack constantly and maintain control of the battlefield. With practice, it is possible to beat the entire game without losing a life.

Fans of the TMNT will be very pleased with the use of the license. The visual style perfectly matches the current cartoon show. Most characters are voiced by the same actors who work on the show. Also, the Turtles constantly talk while fighting. This is funny feature because some will like it. Others won't. It is simply a matter of opinion. Each character has about ten quotes along with an assortment of grunts a screams. There should have been an option to turn these voices off. As a result, some players will hate this game for the voices themselves. Nevertheless, it adds extra flavor to the action.

Those who have yet to outgrow the joys of smashing evil owe it to themselves to purchase this game immediately. It belongs in your collection right now. It's also a great two player game you can pop in when your little brother wants to play with you. Overall, a fantastic title. Especially when you consider that it was made in about eight months and it is the best in it's field. I give it an A. 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/10/04