oday at the Konami Summer BBQ event I had a chance to sit down and get some hands on time with their upcoming sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battlenexus.  While you may simply write the game off as just another sequel, Konami is doing it’s homework to help make sure that the latest Turtles title not only gives gamers the non-stop action that they enjoyed from the first game, but also add enough variety to keep the series fresh and new.  And with the game planned for the PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA, and PC, everyone will be able to take part in some turtle-rrific action.

The most noticeable addition to TMNT 2: Battlenexus is the fact that the game now supports up to four simultaneous players for the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube versions of the game (although PS2 owners will need to use a Multitap).  If you choose not to play the game with three buddies don’t count yourself out on the action.  Playing the game by yourself allows you to actually switch through the three remaining turtles in your team at any time by pressing one of the controller’s shoulder buttons.  To play even heavier into the new team dynamic all four of your turtles share one common health meter. 

While the four turtles really didn’t vary in abilities in the first TMNT, this time around each ninja carapace will possess unique skills and abilities that you’ll need to call one while playing the game.  For example Raphael has the most brute strength compared to his brothers, making him handy for pushing around heavy boxes and crates that you may run across that block your path.  Donatello, the brains of the group, excels in using computers, making him invaluable when you need to hack into terminals that may be controlling locked doors.

To add a bit more spice to the combat aspect of TMNT 2: Battlenexus, each turtle will now come complete with more moves and attacks, many of which are unique to each of them.  The last TMNT lacked some variety in combat and instead relied on using the same moves over and over again.  The new turtles will now be able to bust out impressive combos and aerial attacks, as well as be able to pick up and throw enemies and objects in their environment.  Boxes that are strewn around the game’s levels not only may hold helpful items, but they also make good throwing ammunition if you get in a pinch. 

Visually the game is sticking to the cel-shaded look of the last TMNT title and thankfully Konami hasn’t altered the appealing visuals.  The turtles and their enemies feature a nice degree of visual spark and the overall presentation of the game closely mirrors the look and feel of the animated television series.  Enemies are also now more varied and you’ll run across a wide array of different foes, which really helps to alleviate the generic enemy syndrome that was prevalent in the last TMNT. 

Gameplay wise TMNT 2: Battlenexus also seems to be staying true to most of the core gameplay of the last TMNT, although progression is now quite a bit more open ended.  The last title shuffled you along from one stage to the next, which admittedly got a bit boring.  TMNT 2: Battlenexus features an in-game map that shows the available levels that you can tackle and allows you to even skip some levels entirely if you simply want to try and run through the world as quickly as possible.  Also new to the series is the ability to block enemy attacks, the lack of which was probably one of the most major complaints from the last TMTN.  The turtles, however, still make trips to some pretty odd worlds, including their hometown city, ancient feudal Japan, and even space.

Overall, TMNT 2: Battlenexus seems to be taking the right road in making sure that the game offers up just enough of the gameplay from the last TMNT title while adding enough features to keep things interesting.  As an added bonus, you’ll also be able to unlock the original TMNT arcade game.  Although extremely dated by today’s standards, the title was perhaps one of the most beloved arcade games of all time, making it an extremely enjoyable diversion.  Even if you don’t dig the many adventures of the ninja turtles, they’re upcoming adventure is coming together so well that it may just be time for you to take a trip back to the sewers.