Forgiveness is a virtue, but when it comes to late deliveries or subpar gaming experiences, you might want to think twice before shelling out the full price.
The 2023 animated flick, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, was a smash hit in my household. It captivated not just me, but also my two young sons. So, when Outright Games announced the release of a companion video game, TMNT Mutants Unleashed, my hopes were sky-high. The idea of prolonging that turtle mania in the form of a game was thrilling. Unfortunately, my excitement quickly fizzled out. Despite some promising concepts and an art style reminiscent of the movie, the game’s execution is a bit of a mess.
Mutants Unleashed kicks off with a surprisingly intricate plot, picking up right where Mutant Mayhem left off. It explores the turtles’ newfound recognition, as more mutants—or "Mewbies," as our green teen heroes term them—emerge. They primarily serve as punching bags in the beat-’em-up gameplay. New characters enter the scene, including a group of teenage human friends, adding an interesting dynamic. True to Outright Games’ child-focused approach, the voice acting is extensive and connects well with younger audiences. The dialogue captures the essence of the film beautifully. While the story takes a backseat to the main narrative, it still offers an engaging sideline adventure.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise is synonymous with beat-’em-up games, so I was eager for some classic co-op brawls. However, the combat systems here feel half-baked. The game leans towards character action rather than the vintage brawler style, which would be fine if it were executed with precision. Each turtle has unique abilities, though the multiplayer only supports two players. While I didn’t find the fighting particularly gripping, the game is easy to pick up, which broadens its appeal for players of various ages. Unlike Outright Games’ toddler-centric titles like Bluey and Paw Patrol, this game targets an older demographic. The lack of depth and complexity in the combat is, therefore, a letdown.
A surprise to me was the inclusion of interactive social elements, seemingly taking cues from games like Persona and the recent Fire Emblem series. You can take your turtle on outings with friends. However, these segments are tediously slow and lack sufficient voice acting, which slows the game pacing to a crawl. The co-op aspect doesn’t shine here, further dragging out the game’s playtime unnecessarily into the double digits—something the content can’t really support. As if that wasn’t enough, the Switch version is hampered by technical issues and long load times. My initial foray into the game was so sluggish I feared it had glitched out on me.
TMNT Mutants Unleashed showcases some intriguing ideas, but they don’t quite blend into a solid gaming experience. The combat is adequate, yet unremarkable. The concept of a social RPG is innovative, but poorly implemented. It’s especially frustrating because the plot and writing are arguably the game’s strongest elements. I can’t help but feel that with more polish, this game could have been something special—perhaps even radical. But, alas, it never quite escapes the depths of its underdevelopment.
