Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

"Short but not awful!!! Needs a bit more to it!!!"

I'm a die-hard Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan so of course i'd enjoy this game for what it has to offer. This game is based on the first season of the newest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cartoon that came out in 2003. Before you start any of the levels you can read the pre-level dialogue that explains the storyline of the game (Their often really long!), if you saw the particular episode of the New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles you would know that a lot of the pre-level dialogue are very similar to the shows actual script. This game is a side scroll er beat 'm up, If you are a fan of side scroll er beat 'm ups ie: Streets Of Rage and Final Fight, and are a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles than you would find this game fun, looking away from the short length of this game.

Graphics 5/5

The graphics are nice and I can find no flaws. All of the colors are bright and lively just like in the cartoon. The characters are small but they are detailed very fine. The foot soldiers who you fight a lot are a nice shade of grey and black and the smoke effect that they make is pretty cool. The Purple Dragons members look like your typical maniacal thugs, and the genetically altered monsters look vibrant, vicious, and colorful. The bosses come in different shapes and sizes whether it is man, monster, or robot.

Controls 5/5

The control scheme is perfect, dead on and is really simple to learn. Each turtle can jump and attack. All turtles can attack low except Michelangelo. Each turtle has their own Standard attack combo. You can also pull off a special move by press and holding the attack button. If you hold the attack button until the meter reaches the green you will pull off a special move and if you hold it until the meter reaches yellow (which is higher!) than you will pull of an even stronger special, but be careful because if you hold the attack button too long you meter will go into the red and your turtle will become exhausted leaving you open for attack from your enemy.

Fun Factor 3/5

The game is fun but it seems that a lot more could have been done to make it better. For one thing the game is just way too short and brief, so brief that you can't get into the characters and the story all that well. The reason why you can't get into the characters all that much is because each turtle has a level of their own, and than you go to the Shredders level fighting through his headquarters and eventually facing him. That makes five levels total and thats not very long.

Music/Sound 4/5

The music is decent , none of the background music is really interesting or memorable but there not bad and are very easy on the ears. The sound effects are pretty good though especially for a Game Boy Advanced game. When a turtle does an attack motion you cam hear the slash and knock of the their weapon. When an enemy or turtle is hit you can hear the impact, on stages with machinery and lasers you can hear the devices in action, when your turtle is defeated you can hear them give a falling cry.

Repeatability 2/5

Repeatability is where this game falls the shortest. There is really nothing that will motivate you to play it again. On the other hand little things may keep you coming back for more like beating your highest score, getting all of the crystals, and beating the game on all difficulties. While those additions kept me coming back a little more, they wear thin over time.

Overall I give this game a 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 08/16/04