s someone who grew up with the Ninja Turtles, I am happy to see them make a comeback. Not only did I dig the show and the toys, I was a big fan of their side-scrolling beat-em-up video games as well. This new TMNT adventure is a welcome throwback to the brawlers of old, but also retains all the flaws of the genre.

This latest Turtle title plays out like several episodes from the new series, offering up plot in animated sequences between levels. Although it’s hard for an old-school Turtles fan like myself to get into the new look and voices of the characters, these sequences do lend it a decent ongoing plot; something severely lacking in most brawlers. They also earn this game the strange distinction of being the only title I can name with in-game graphics that look better than the cutscenes. Herein lies this title’s greatest strength: The character models are perfect, the animation is flawless, and the colorful backgrounds are impressive. In other words, the graphics are fantastic and simply smoke the traditionally animated cutscenes – which look drab and lifeless in comparison.

Nearly as impressive as the graphics are the combat controls. While quite simple, the control scheme is incredibly easy to learn and still offers a wide variety of attacks and acrobatic maneuvers. Sadly, fighting gets repetitive in spite of the solid interface. There simply aren’t enough different enemy types to keep things fresh. Aside from boss battles, you’ll only find yourself encountering a handful of different enemies. Even though you will learn a couple new attacks over the course of the game, you’ll still be unleashing them on the same old goons.

Also problematic is the camera. While usually pretty solid in single-player mode, it does occasionally present an unhelpful angle, which cannot be adjusted. This problem is even more prevalent in co-op play, as the camera tends to stall when players move in opposite directions. Coupled with continues that are shared between the two players, I found myself preferring to play alone. Having a partner in my battle with the Foot Clan actually made the game more difficult.

Although I’ve slammed this title on many fronts, I want to end things on a more positive note. This game is one of the better next-generation brawlers that there is, which simply demonstrates the limitations of the genre. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is fun, looks amazing, and will certainly appeal to their main fan base. But, like the plastic bins of original Turtles figures forgotten in the back of your closet, don’t expect to come back to this title often after you’ve had your fun with it.  

ANDREW REINER   6.75 As a person who dwindled away most of his trust fund on the Turtles arcade game, I can honestly say that nothing excites me more than the prospect of a new TMNT beat-em-up. Konami definitely nailed the look of the cartoon series, and there’s no denying the beauty of the cel-shaded graphics. As we all know, however, looks only go so far in this industry. The combat engine is a dilapidated mess that lacks both intensity and style. The game forces players to use the same moves and combos throughout the majority of the quest. The pacing is really slow as well, and it doesn’t have nearly enough enemy types. You never find yourself suffocating under a sea of foes. You usually only have to battle a handful of thugs at a time, which makes for a fairly boring experience…especially for two players. What a bummer. I was really looking forward to this one.