This game could have been so much better if they actually used more original characters and TMNT source material.
The gameplay seems a little stiff at first but grows on you. Jumping is probably the main problem, your player will be in the air forever when you jump. The CPU uses alot of jumping downward thrust attacks that just annoy you as well. But the gameplay is slightly below smash brothers standards and I'm fine with that.
The presentation is a total letdown. I ask this question: Why go through the trouble of using the original series logo, but not use any source material from the original series? The Turtles, Casey Jones, April, Splinter, Karai, and Foot Soldier are all exact models of the 2007 TMNT CGI movie. There is no original music, no original voices (except the TMNT movie voices). This game is supposed toi be a part of the 25th Anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and nothing in this game does it justice. They do use Eastman and Lairds style drawings in a comic book style storyline which looks good but seems a little cheesey due to the poor storyline. The storyline lasts about aq half hour and slightly changes the end depending on who you beat it as. There is mission mode where you have to complete certain objectives to advance, survival mode, tag team mode, battle royal and tournament mode. The unlockables are pretty dull, concept art, alternate costumes, the games trailer etc.
Now I will state that I absolutley LOVE the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, ever since I was old enough to know what they were. (I'm a 90's kid so I grew up at the peek of thier popularity). I had all the action figures, the sewwer playset, Turtle Van, Technodrone VHS movies, clothes etc. It was basically my religion.
So I ask myself everytime I play a new turtles game. When are they going to make a game based off the original series? The TMNT IV Turtles in Time: Reshelled was great in my opinion but we "REAL, LOYAL" Fans need something new that brings back the old nostalgia.
As you play this game you will wonder: Where are the 1987 TV series turtles or the1984 comic turtles? Where is Baxter Stockman (normal or mutated Fly), Beebop, Rocksteady, Rat King, General Traag, Krang, Leatherhead, Usagi (the samurai rabbit)?
Where are any of these characters? They could have at least added staples to the series and franchise like Krang and Beebop and Rocksteady.
Instead we get a glimpse of the Technodrone which was cool but besides that, there isnt much nostalgia:
Look at this huge list of characters (sarcasm) ready? Here it goes: Leonardo, Donnatello, Raphael, Michaelangelo, Master Splinter (the one that looks like Chester Cheetoh) Casey Jones, April O'Neil ( who can fight? Thats just rediculous) A Foot Ninja, Karai, Utrominator ( A wannabe Krang) The Shredder, Night-Watcher (Raphael) and I think you can play as the Fugitoid? So thats 11 playable characters. Pathetic especially when I just named 8 possible characters that could have been in this game and actually helped make it great.
Thats my whole beef with this game, they just got lazy and capitalized off the 25th Anniversary. This game in NO WAY has any implications of commemorating the Ninja Turtles franchise from 1984-2009. You get no ties to the original series execpt a stage with the Technodrone in the background, very limited characters all with modern looks that are based of the 2007 CGI movie, no original music, just dissapointment. It's a solid game as far as a game goes. But for a true TMNT fan like myself it just dissapoints in so many ways.