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In line with the soon-to-be-released film, Ubisoft have released the TMNT game for the GB Advance.
But are the Turtles as good as we remembered?
Another fan:
Bed covers, cups, videos, board games… In fact everything but the action figures (I used to hate action figures). Turtles stuff was everywhere in our house and we couldn’t watch enough of the cartoons. I must have watched the films a million times. Seriously though, I exaggerate not…
After going quiet for a few years, it’s been deemed that an upgrade of my old favourite would be necessary; in the form of a film and game. But like so many other things we look back at after growing up (allegedly) do we like it?
Heroes in a half shell… …Turtle Power! Awesome. But anyway, the game: Load TMNT up and you’re greeted to the expected nasty music albeit with a nice simple menu. Either start the game, or play with the options; where you’ll be able to turn the music and sound effects on, or off. This is great for kids, however slightly worrying for older gamers who expect a bit more substance.
Let’s go crime fight… and stuff:
Choose one of the three profiles, choose your difficulty, and away you go. The story starts when April the journalist (come on you remember), is writing about the legend of Yaotl. As April recalls her research into Yaotl the Turtles remember what their family experienced during that time. Your first level takes you back to when Raphael (the red one – don’t kid yourself that you didn’t watch it), has gone solo due to his frustration that not enough is being done to tackle the growing crime rates.
In most levels following this one, you will be able to decide which of the four Turtle brothers you wish to play with. Also you’ll be able to choose a second of the brothers who will be your support for when things get extra tough.
For anyone who remembers the MegaDrive, the first thing that you’ll think of when playing this game is that old chestnut ‘Streets of Rage’. Like that, you must travel from left to right to proceed further in a level. You will face groups of enemies and only when you have dealt with them will you be able to move on.
The basic controls are; jump, attack (when pressing the attack button repeatedly you will perform a combo), a jumping attack and when pressing both the jump and attack buttons together – a floor sweep to disperse of a number of enemies that approach.
Cartoon animation:
Visually TMNT is nothing breathtaking however you wouldn’t expect anything more from a Turtles game nor from a portable game of this genre. The cut scenes between levels where you are fed the story line are still pictures straight out of the film.
The Fruits of my speakers:
Already touched on is the nasty music – kids won’t mind, however I listened to my Minidisc player or just played in silence. A lack of sound makes absolutely no difference as there are no vocal scripts. Like the music the effects are out of date by about 15 years. But because this game is mostly mindless button mashing and is on a portable system it doesn’t feel that important.
Simple things:
Button mashing is the aim if you set this on easy, and within a couple of hours my 6 year old lad was well into the game. More-so than me, as I set the game to hard difficulty and had to think before I mashed the buttons. In fact, it was a struggle to proceed through the levels… (Nothing to do with my lack of ability might I add).
Each level is pretty similar in the fact that you have a screen full of enemies, beat them up, move to another screen of enemies and so on. However to be fair, Red Steel was the same as this and I love that game.
As you proceed through the levels your enemies will require more of a beating to make them disappear. Also more enemies will use weapons such as stones, baseball bats, swords etc.
Any weapon an enemy drops is yours for the taking, however you can only give single whacks – rather than perform combos, which is a shame.
Is that it?!
Well yes. But it’s always the little details that add so much to a game and with this, Ubisoft have thrown a few extras in to keep you motivated:
As you successfully inflict deadly combos on your enemies, you will earn co-op mode energy, which is displayed on a bar on the top right of your screen.
When this bar is full you will have the option to call for support from one of your green brothers when things get extra tough. You will also eventually be able to learn co-op special moves for when you are feeling especially fancy.
On completion of each level you are given a ‘Red Steel’ stylee stats scorecard and have the option to replay a level to better your score. You will also earn experience points for the Turtle you played with which will thus increase his power, stamina, speed and defense abilities.
Ubisoft have also introduced tasks which when successfully completed will earn you trophies. For example; when you perform a 10 punch combo you will be reqarded with a trophy. A shallow attempt to increase the life-span of TMNT? Well, I like it - as do countless other gamers - and as it’s a feature you see in so many games I can’t be that wrong can I?
When you defeat the ‘Baddies’ they will sometimes drop cash which can be used to play mini-games, purchase health, extra lives, weapons or more advanced abilities (such as improved combos). My thoughts are, don’t bother with the weapons as if you drop them during a level, it’s possible for them to disappear forever. Better to spend the your hard earned cash on lives and increased abilities!
Dead good, or dead in the water? Portable games are something of an odyssey because to be good, they don’t always have to be that good. They are for when you are on the move so really they need to have that something that makes you want to pick them up again and again. Although it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, the scoring system, integrated tasks and opportunity to purchase things throughout the game really does strengthen TMNTs life-span, although if playing longer than an hour at a time things do get tedious.
Like most portable games the sound effects are utter pants and the graphics are just ok . Also there’s no multiplayer (although if there was, I can envisage it would be pants as well).
My little boy is addicted to this game and has got further into it in one day than I could in a week (embarrassingly).
Like many games licensed with a film or television program, if you are a fan – or have kids who are fans – then you can’t go wrong. However, if you are looking for something revolutionary, then forget it.
I wouldn’t have ever even considered playing this game but I’m glad I did as it’s a healthy reminder that sometimes brainless retro fun is just what the doctor ordered. In moderation only…
Scores:
Gameplay 6 / 10 – It’s very much a dejavu all the way through this game; all the levels are very similar.
Lifespan 6 / 10 – There’s nothing new or fantastically complex here. But what there is isn’t as bad as you might expect.
Graphics 7 / 10 – Again nothing that great, but nothing you will cry about.
Sound 4 / 10 – Hey, it’s a portable so I can’t give it 1. Mute buttons on the ready though…
   
This one will fair well as an Easter present for the younger ones… (You’ll find it in the pre-owned section!)
Reviewed by: BenCubed |
