There have been events in 2024 the place I needed nothing greater than for the frequency of TMNT recreation releases to decelerate somewhat. We bought three new online game outings, and whereas some opted for giant swings, I could not assist however really feel that the sewer-dwellers’ saturation was turning into an excessive amount of — it is humorous how a success like Shredder’s Revenge and a extensively in style film like Mutant Mayhem will do this.
So, it was with some trepidation that I went into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, a turn-based reimagining from developer Unusual Scaffold that launched on PC earlier this 12 months promising one more “new” tackle the brothers’ beat-’em-up formulation. It is a promise that I have been stung by too many occasions up to now, and I anticipated nothing however the identical once more. Expensive reader, I used to be improper.
Tactical Takedown is a recent tackle what a Turtles recreation can be. The restraints and rigidity of a turn-based board should not match the fluid movement of a beat ’em up, however someway, right here, they do. It is a bite-sized expertise that is not with out flaws, however for those who’ve grown bored with the IP’s persistent punching in recent times, that is the reinvigorating pizza slice you have been ready for.
Let’s begin with that massive promoting level: sure, it is turn-based. Tactical Takedown takes the Turtles’ common combo-focused fight and interprets it into the world of technique. Every hero has six Motion Factors per flip, which can be utilized to maneuver across the enviornment or tackle members of the Foot Clan. With all of them spent, it is the Enemy Flip, and you may see whether or not your strategic planning paid off, or in case your Turtle goes to take a beating.
This format is not particularly new, however it is new for the Turtles. The beat-’em-up trappings are nonetheless there (large ‘GO’ indicators nonetheless crop as much as information you thru the levels, don’t be concerned), however Unusual Scaffold has impressively folded them into the turn-based construction to create one thing that can really feel immediately acquainted to Turtles followers, even for those who’ve by no means touched a technique RPG earlier than.
Take the brothers’ 4 distinct playstyles, for instance. It is a elementary a part of any good Turtles recreation, and it is well-translated to the turn-based enviornment. Mikey is all about manoeuvrability, Raph jumps straight into the motion and offers heavy hits, Donnie assaults from vary and has entry to techy traps, and Leo chains collectively KOs to slice up foes with precision. You should buy new strikes and change up every Turtle’s ‘loadout’ earlier than every degree, however on the entire, Tactical Takedown nails the texture of every character with none tweaking wanted.
Traditionally, such differentiation has meant there’s objectively a ‘finest’ character to play as (and let’s admit it, it is Donnie), however the 4 Turtles really feel properly balanced right here, with every degree highlighting their execs and cons in isolation.
Wait, “isolation”? Yep. Chalk it as much as one other methodology of standing aside from the TMNT massive hitters which have come earlier than it, if you’d like, however Tactical Takedown’s four-storyline plot means you may solely ever be controlling one Turtle at a time. I had no points with this off the bat, the place it is useful to play every hero individually to get used to their distinctive moveset, however the bros are finest once they’re collectively, so it might have been good to see how these totally different playstyles and techniques might intertwine in later levels.
That is significantly true contemplating how good the entire thing feels to play. It took me a few levels to get my bearings, however I used to be quickly chaining collectively combos to get out and in of the motion like a real ninja, and I can solely think about how satisfying that will really feel if I might set the brothers as much as bounce off one another. There isn’t any choice for contact controls, which I usually wish to see in small-scale technique like this, however the button inputs are easy sufficient that I did not discover myself longing to wipe my greasy mitts throughout the display screen.
The brothers’ separation apart, that is clearly a crew that understands its supply materials. The story itself looks like a basic cartoon plot (Karai and Baxter Stockman are wreaking havoc within the metropolis after Shredder’s loss of life, what a shocker!), and the brothers’ distinct personalities shine via within the charming writing — Raph’s hothead-to-loving-brother arc is especially properly dealt with.
Visually, it strikes issues in an fascinating path, too. Completely matching the turn-based tone of the gameplay, Tactical Takedown all appears as if it is a tabletop board recreation. Sections of town pop up in isolation as you progress via the stage (leaving loads of room for punting enemies off the aspect of the map), and every character is represented by a miniature standee, which modifications its pose based mostly on its final motion. Its simplicity feels proper at house on Swap, and whereas the pared-back character of the Turtles’ look won’t swimsuit everybody (I, for one, missed an excellent idle animation), it is good to see the heroes in a half-shell reimagined in one more new type.
It is price flagging that even when these visuals are utterly up your avenue, you aren’t getting to soak them up for all that lengthy. Tactical Takedown is a bite-sized expertise (I completed my preliminary playthrough in round 5 hours), and whilst you can head again into the degrees with a brand new loadout or to beat your excessive rating, it is nonetheless the identical construction with the identical issue, which is somewhat simple.
Remix Mode, a brand new addition for the Swap launch, alleviates this considerably… however solely considerably. This optionally available additional allows you to replay every degree at a better issue with extra selection within the enemy sorts. The issue bump is a noticeable one — I died as soon as on my preliminary playthrough, however I used to be fortunate to get via the opening levels unscathed in Remix — and the brand new enemies carry their very own serving to of challenges, however it does nonetheless really feel like the identical outdated degree with the identical outdated Turtle. Which, in equity, it’s.
So, replayability is not the secret in Tactical Takedown, and that is okay. I do want that the principle marketing campaign had lasted for somewhat longer, however I might all the time somewhat be left wanting greater than see a gameplay loop outstay its welcome.
Conclusion
The mix of turn-based technique and beat-’em-up gameplay felt like a little bit of a sq. peg, spherical gap scenario, however Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown melds the 2 to ship one of many freshest takes on TMNT that I’ve seen in a very long time. It is a short-but-sweet expertise that may not gel with everybody, however after 35 years of beat ’em ups and brawlers, this showcases the Turtles such as you’ve by no means seen them earlier than. And are available on, that is fairly radical, dude.
