New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game | Comic Years
Comic Years Logo

New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game Embraces Arcade Nostalgia

author img
BY March 12, 2021

If Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans from the 80s and 90s wanted a new game, then what would it look like? It would probably embrace the classic arcade graphics from the Konami cabinets. I bet it would also probably rely on beat-em-up mechanics you could enjoy with friends. Overall, it would be a new take on the old spirit one of the most iconic franchises of days past. In a rare twist of diehard fans getting exactly what they want, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game appears to be fit for older fans. In short, this game has the making of something truly special. Here’s what we know about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

Shredder’s Back in the New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game

new teenage mutant ninja turtles game Image Credit: Dotemu

The goal of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge appears to be a nostalgia trip. In the new trailer released today, everything you’d want from a TMNT game is here. The beat-em-up experts at Dotemu, notably the team behind Streets of Rage 4, and Tribute Games are at the helm. Pixel art and arcade stylings appear to be king in this recreation of the iconic games from the 80s and 90s. With new combos and abilities, the same turtles we know and love today are back in a classic fashion.

Younger fans might not recognize the art style of this game, but they know the turtles well. Nickelodeon acquired the rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back in 2012. Since then, they’ve launched two shows starring the superhero quartet. From 2012 to 2017, a CGI series ran on the channel. In 2018, a new show debuted called Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Still ongoing, the newest series is 2D and focuses on the turtles in their early teens as they learn to better understand their powers.

This latest game doesn’t draw on the newer series, but rather the original 1987 games and TV series. In a new story mode, players will take on familiar villains in the series. Most notably, Shredder appears to be the main bad guy around which the game’s plot is centered. Unlike Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection (review here), let’s hope the latest imagining of the series doesn’t aim to punish the player with insane difficulties. Just give the people some pizza-loving Turtle action.

A Brief History of TMNT Arcade Games

We can dive into the full history of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games at another time, but here’s the brief overview. In 1984, Mirage Comics began printing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The series was a hit, especially with younger audiences hungry for action. When toy manufacturer Playmates Toys worried that merch might not sell all that well if only connected to a comics series, the company only agreed to work on toys for the series if a TV show got the green light. The TV series began in 1987, and in 1989, Konami debuted the first arcade game for the series aptly titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The game launched on the NES later that same year to wild success. In 1992, Konami brought a sequel to arcades titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. By the time this game reached home consoles, two other NES games starring the Turtles had released. Therefore, the second arcade game launched on SNES as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time. On top of the arcade co-op combat featured in the cabinet version, the SNES game included a time-trial mode and a two-player versus fight mode.

The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is going to essentially be a 30+ year follow-up to the Turtles in Time game. It’s incredible to see the stylings of this run of games mimicked so earnestly for fans of the series. Other TMNT games have released since 1992, but none have quite earned the same love from diehard fans. For a series on the cusp of another huge run at mainstream success, the game could help put the Turtles are back in style.

Featured Image Credit: Dotemu

Pop Culture

Taylor is the Gaming Editor of Comic Years and a lifelong fan of video games. He holds two degrees in Political Communication and wrote a Master's Thesis on resistance movements, race, and the exploitation of college athletes. His wife and two Toy Australian Sheppards keep him sane.

          

Related Posts

Pop Culture
Jake Gyllenhaal Reflects On Losing Batman Role: Christopher Nolan’s Call Was “Pretty Cool” And Motivating
Pop Culture
‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Filming Postponed; Cast Given Chance To “Explore Other Ventures”
Pop Culture
The Penguin Trailer Offers Glimpse Into Next Chapter Of Matt Reeves’ The Batman Saga
Pop Culture
The Sun Reveals Next James Bond: Successor To Daniel Craig Has Arrived!
Pop Culture
New Explosive Trailer for ‘Fury Road’ Solidifies Its Position As The Ultimate Action Movie of 2024
Pop Culture
J.K. Simmons, Spider-Man Star, Discusses Viral Workout Photo And Reveals He Didn’t Bulk Up Specifically For Justice League

Leave a comment

error: Copyright Protection