Shredder’s revenge, ninja torture of nostalgia?

Turtles in Time 2.0

From the first pictures of TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge It was launched to the public, and there was no room for doubt: the app was going to become a real-time travel machine. The concept of the app couldn’t be simpler: Create A successor to what is exceptional TMNT IV: Turtles in Time By Konami, it was released in arcades and on the Super NES in 1992. This ignores the entire licensing history between that golden age of big-pixels and the modern age of ray-tracing-saturated HD smoothing ever.

Behind the project, the French of Dotemu officially crowned kings with a fun nostalgic revival of their country after publications Windjammers 2 Based on SOR4, and Quebecers of Tribute Games, a studio founded by former Ubisoft employees who worked on excellent hits with cool pixel art aesthetics Scott Pilgrim VS. world: the game. With these parents, the promise of a title with chiadé design and effective gameplay was almost self-explanatory.

to meSnatch clothes in the way of the structure

Unsurprisingly, after a few minutes of play, Baby Dotemu and Tribute already make you want to scream “Cowabunga!” in front of the world. technically TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge It is an undeniable success. The program shines with a thousand lights thanks to its artistic direction strongly inspired by the animated series Ninja Turtles from 1987. TMNTSR It’s a feast for the eyes: its pixel art graphics are a one-way trip to the ’90s, colors explode in players’ faces, animations are rich and detailed, and every level is brimming with fine detail.

Everything has been cut out to please older players and license fans TMNT : Story mode map Echo TMNT Beginning in 1989 on the NES, there is almost the entire cast of the TV series, including seven playable characters (Leo, Mikey, Don, Raph, Splinter, April and Casey Jones). TMNTSR He allows himself a few nods to the comics, and offers a great soundtrack written in 16-bit by Tee Lopes (sonic mania), including the credits performed by Mike Patton, and an unreleased song by Rykwon and Justvis Killah.

The result of this cocktail: a great game, incredibly refreshing, with impeccable gameplay andDelicious retro atmosphere. The pure happiness of the fans.

sBack to 1989 on NES

lost illusions

TMNT Hacking revenge It is an ode to stepping back, to arcade lore, smoky rooms that smell of cold beer and tobacco, that spend their time shoving players’ ribs into full syndrome Something stranges : “Did you see how cool the ’90s were?”. But after the splendor of the first game sessions, once you’ve completed the story and arcade modes (solo or up to six at a time), it gradually settles down Uncomfortable feeling of bitterness and very little taste.

Although the story mode was clever enough to inject some light RPG elements, with a points system obtained to unlock more hit points, more Ninja points (useful for special moves), or collect more lives, the Arcade mode remained In the purest tradition of ’90s arcade games: a few lives, a few “goes on,” and levels are sequential until you end up defeating Shredder. And all this will be before the curtain falls.

“IRun away with content! “

TMNTSR Sins on its own remain a nostalgic candy, and above all a pure arcade product. In less than 5 hours, the full adventure (Arcade and Story) is complete. The story mode deserved more scope and ambition, as the RPG aspect was completely underdeveloped. Tribute Games suffers fromSevere lack of content. Two lean game modes aren’t enough to deliver the expected satisfaction of Beat’em up released in 2022, even if it’s a standalone game.

There is no corresponding mode in sight, not even a training mode, no time attack, no survival… TMNTSR Satisfied with minimal union, including with regard to game design, which was very rooted in the 1990s. It seems that the developers chose accessibility at the expense of game depth. Rare new gameplay features compared to Turtles in time Consist of a ninja super power bar and an evasive presence. Thin additions that fail to lift shredder revenge at the height of mr Streets of Rage 4.

Fight to become the arcade master

inheritance weight

comparison with Streets of Rage 4 It was inevitable, and it hurts shredder revenge. Two of the hits are produced by DotEmu, the first made by Dotemu itself, and the second by Tribute Games. SOR4 overflowed The content, with plenty of characters to unlock, and the deep gameplay that borrowed heavily from the fighting scene ensures hours of fun. TMNTSR It pales in comparison to this. Furthermore it, It is in the philosophy of the game and in the same approach to the concept of revival that there is a gap between them SOR4 And the TMNTSR.

Streets of Rage 4 Aiming to present an heir to Streets of Rage 3license revocation or in the 21st century. Dotemu took a big risk to do so: the characters got old, Mr. X died, giving way to his children, and two new heroes stole the spotlight from the old ones… The studio was drawing a line under the past, not without its history, allowing it to evolve. SOR4 He manages to nearly extract the essence of the saga to place it in a state of modernity sculpted in meticulously engraved gameplay.

to me More is better right away

On the contrary, TMNTSR Very wise and respectful Turtles in time. The Tribute Games studio seems to have had enough of wanting to pique the nostalgia of gamers, without risking offending them. The result is a title that hasn’t managed (or wanted) to cut the umbilical cord that ties it to its illustrious model, the fault of a nostalgic craving, which has become almost an obsession that limits the possibilities of its game development.

In fact, TMNTSR Not a sequel, but Disguised remake of Turtles in time. By entrenching themselves too much in tribute, by facing the same enemies, the same levels, and the same bosses raised to pixel art, the Tribute has closed TMNTSR In a semi-permanent impression of deja vu for those who have already had the opportunity to lay their hands Turtles in time. Between loyalty and remaking that do not recognize themselves as such, the boundaries are fine, and shredder revenge It seems to be lost there.

like deja vu

Against a new guard of 2D strikes with nuggets like SOR4And the young souls (from studio 1P2P, also produced by Dotemu) or River City Girlsand revive the 3D genre using Sevohard to recommend shredder revenge for the general public. It will please fans of 2D hits, thanks to its fresh, fun and straightforward character, but it’s too light to claim its place in the genre’s Pantheon.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge will be available on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch from June 16, 2022. This test was conducted using the Steam version provided by the publisher.