Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a retro action fighting game set in a 2D environment. The developer is Tribute Games Inc. while the publishers are Dotemu and Gamera Games. The title launched for gamers on June 16, 2022, as a tribute to the arcade games of the 80s and 90s.
You can now play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge on your Windows PC, taking on Shredder, Krang, and all their goonies as the mutated heroes. There are plenty of easter eggs to enjoy, and it has more features than the original arcade games. Stay tuned as I share my excitement in this review!
Excellent campaign in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
It’s such a joy for me to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge appear at my age. I grew up with the original Turtles game in our local arcade center. My brother Clayton and I would save our coins, eager to hit the machines and defeat Shredder’s cronies.
Follow me on a nostalgic journey as I compare Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge to those memories.
Choose your hero
The first element that made me smile when I started the campaign mode was being able to choose which Turtle I wanted to fight with. I was pleased to see you can also choose April and Splinter. They have whole new combat arsenals, and April can help save the day as in the movies.
Saving the day, once again
The story in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge almost felt familiar, but it’s not the same. In the original arcade game, you faced Rocksteady in a burning building on the first level. This time around, you’ll try to save Vern the news guy from Bebop. So, while the developer makes me remember the good old times, it’s a new story to enjoy.
Of course, you’ll still have to travel the streets and buildings, kicking ninjas and robot butt along the way. Each level is a chapter in the campaign, giving it that storytelling element that this author thrives for in games.
Arcade mode
With the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge campaign mode, you have infinite lives. The arcade mode lets you play the same chapters but with limited lives. It’s like keeping your coins at hand just in case you don’t make it to the end of the level.
How long to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge?
The length of time it will take to complete Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge depends on you. If you only want to destroy your enemies and finish the game in no time, it will take you about 2 to 3 hours. For completionists like me that want to collect every item and achievement, you’ll go well into 9 to 10 hours.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge extended features
Have you enjoyed your taste of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge yet, or are you dying for more? I’m only getting started, as I’d like to share some of the gameplay mechanics with you. Here’s what my experience was like with the controls and features.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge tutorial
There are so many modern AAA titles today that don’t have a basic tutorial at the start. Somehow, this retro game managed to include one. There’s a video at the beginning that shows you about 21 moves you can do in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Just a pity you can’t practice them on a bot before you head out, like in Mortal Kombat 11.
New combat moves for the Turtles
For those who aren’t as old as I am or are part of the new generation, the original arcade Turtles game only had a few moves. If I remember correctly, it was jumping and striking. There was also a combination of the two buttons for a powerful attack.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge uses the same abilities, but adds more to the combat moves. You can dodge and strike, while you can quickly jump up after the Foot Clan knocks you down. You also have a power bar, delivering an almighty blow that hits everyone around you. There are a few other skills, but I’ll leave them up to you to discover.
Enemies making prop appearances
One aspect that made me laugh is how the developer made the enemies appear as props in some scenarios. For example, some of the Foot Clan were sitting by the telephones and desks in the news building pretending to take calls. As soon as you approach, they jump up and attack you. It’s a brilliant moment that will stay with me for a long time.
Using the environment
Here’s a nod to the original Turtles arcade game I enjoyed. You can once again use the environment to your advantage. Feel free to hit a hydrant for water to squirt in your enemy’s face or a parking meter to slam into their faces. I even tested what would happen if I fell down a manhole. Donatello actually said, “Who turned the lights out?”, which is exactly what I wanted to hear.
Completionist’s dream
If you’re a fan of GTA V and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you’ll know exactly what I’m about to say. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge lets you find collectables in each stage, and there are achievements to attain. You can go back to levels to tick the items you’ve missed off the list, which is why the game can take so long to complete.
Local and online multiplayer
To give you that feeling of standing at the arcade and playing with friends, the latest action title lets you play up to four players. You can use four PC or Xbox controllers on the same computer or join up with others online to combat Shredder and his minions.
It’s fun watching others join you as you battle the Foot Clan. The only issue with the online mode is you sometimes wait a while for the other players to get done with whatever they’re doing.
Other games similar to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
It’s challenging to find modern retro games that hark back to the good old times like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge does. Most of them are remade with modern visuals, losing that nostalgic feeling. If you’d like to go down memory lane with some arcade games, you can try Street Fighter 2, Sonic the Hedgehog, or Deluxe Pacman.
What you’ll need on your PC
There aren’t demanding requirements for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. The storage needed is low, and you won’t need an expensive graphics card. Here are the minimum requirements for this retro action game.
- OS: Windows 7, 64-bit
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD FX-4300
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 320, 1 GB or Intel HD 4600 or AMD Radeon HD 5570, 1 GB
- Storage: 1 GB
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge goes back to retro effects
Let’s get to the part that really counts. In this section of my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge review, I’m going to discuss how the graphics and sound effects live up to the original game.
Beautiful retro environments and characters
If anything, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge improved on the original retro design. You have similar visuals with completely new environments. The colors pop on the screen, and you’ll want to take a moment to take some of the scenes in before you battle. I also loved the character designs of allies and enemies.
Fast-paced effects and interactive maps
Even though it’s a retro arcade game, the action is fast, and you’ll need to be on your feet, so to speak. There are some stages that move incredibly quick, such as the one where you’re on a skateboard. I also love the map design where you can select your level.
Bringing back the glory of the Turtles’ arcade sound
There was joy in my heart when I heard each of the Turtles speaking. Michaelangelo’s “Cowabunga!” is back, and they’ll sometimes have some snarky comments when you do something wrong. The music is just as energetic as the battles, and you can actually hear them singing about Turtle themes if you listen closely.
Final Verdict of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
As you can tell from my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge review, I utterly love this game. It’s exactly the fix I need when I’m heading down memory lane. Sure, it’s easier to play now, except when the Foot Clan are all over the screen and I’m waiting for my power bar to max out. It’s a thrill of a ride, and I can’t wait to head back in.
Before you leave, please go check out some of my more recent reviews, namely, Starship Troopers: Terran Command and Dune: Spice Wars, both of which also sent me back to my childhood.
Pros
- Stunning retro graphics and sound effects
- Brilliant storyline with chapters
- Plenty of easter eggs
- Excellent items for completionists
- Nostalgic combat and scenes
- Fun to play online together
- Includes arcade mode
Cons
- Online multiplayer lobby makes you wait for other players
Developer: Tribute Games Inc.
Publisher: Dotemu, Gamera Games
Game Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer, Arcade
Platform reviewed: Windows 11 – Steam
