Three Reasons Why We’re Ready for ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan’

Matthew Hadick
Games
Games

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, based on the popular 1984 comic, blends stylized action with slapstick comedy, offering an absurdly anthropomorphized and wacky take on classic martial arts tropes. The recipe translates surprisingly well to games. I have very fond memories of multiplayer brawls in the TMNT arcade beat-’em-up and time-travelling in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time for the SNES.

You can imagine my excitement when rumors began circulating a couple of weeks ago about action game aficionados PlatinumGames working on a new TMNT title. The rumor was confirmed today with an announcement trailer for the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, currently slated to release this summer. Based on the currently running IDW comic series, the game looks like it’s going to clean out the bad taste left over from 2013’s disappointing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the ShadowsCheck out the trailer below:

This bodes incredibly well for fans of both TMNT and PlatinumGames. Here are a few reasons we’re excited to play Mutants in Manhattan.

Platinum Knows Action

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PlatinumGames, the Japanese studio responsible for cult classics like Bayonetta 2 and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, knows how to make thrilling action games. They consistently design intricate combat systems that rely on impeccable timing. In Platinum’s Wonderful 101,  combat can feel more like a rhythm game than a beat-em up. This reliance on timing also makes for some brutally difficult games. Ask anyone who’s played through MGR on its hard setting: Getting through these games unscathed requires mastery and patience, the likes of which are tracked and reported in itemized results screens. All of your hard work is not in vain; these games reward unwavering persistence with screen-illuminating graphical flourishes, oodles of bonus content and, of course, bragging rights.

The Comic Source Material is Awesome

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IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a decidedly awesome take on the TMNT. Its aesthetic resembles the original comic series more than its cartoon counterpart. The comic is dark, funny, and brimming with attitude.  Platinum’s new game should be equally compelling with long-time series author Tom Waltz penning the story.

TMNT’S Gaming Legacy

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Sure, there have been a few notable flops, but most of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games have been surprisingly good. From the original NES action-platformer, to a surprisingly robust Metroidvania for the Game Boy, to the much-adored arcade beat-’em-up, developers have proven time and time again that the TMNT Franchise makes for quality video game experiences.

Check out Turtlepedia for everything you need to know about TMNT, and stay tuned to Fandom for the latest on Mutants in Manhattan.

 


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Matthew Hadick