TMNT: Man, I kinda-sorta-maybe-perhaps love being a turtle!
mrhammer
65% score
Most gamers know perfectly well that video games that are released as tie-ins to movies - Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean, and, natch, TMNT - aren't very good. Their main purpose, nine times out of ten, is to boost the franchise's moolah intake. Gameplay? What's that? TMNT isn't a bad game, per se, but rather one of those games that is tolerable as long as it's rented. This game is good for maybe one run-through, then it's time to move on. The storyline is supposedly - "supposedly" because it would take the studio paying ME to go see the movie - the same as the movie it ties in with. So don't expect any Halo-style cutscenes. Of course, because they're ninja turtles, and not just ordinary store-bought turtles, there's a mix of action and stealth. You alternatively cut down hordes of da Foot or platform-jump, wall-climb, and otherwise evade your way out of sticky situations. And yes, you can control all four turtles, switching back and forth right in the middle of the action with not much trouble. The action is okay. Just okay. Taking out wave after wave of bad guys is fun, no question, but it gets awful repetitive, awful fast, especially since your average enemy isn't nearly smart enough for you. Not dumb, just not smart enough. The controls are responsive, but more often than not, you can just button-mash your way out of a battle, no problem. Outside of battle, the controls are slightly more difficult to negotiate. Jumping from one platform to another is tricky - you always seem to feel like you're going to jump clear over it. For extra-long jumps, you can press a button to have another turtle help you clear it, which is supposedly good for your "Teamwork Meter." They tell you not to abuse stuff, but you should abuse that move. TMNT isn't the worst game I've ever played by far, but I wouldn't have it in the house unless I was getting rid of it soon after. It's not at all a worthy $60 investment, but then these games rarely are. And you knew it wasn't all along, right?
