Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hands-On Impressions

We played through a couple of levels in the GameCube version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the brawler from Konami based on the new cartoon show that draws from the venerable old action franchise. The game is very much in the spirit of the old arcade game of the same name--you'll pick your favorite turtle and then slash your way through level after level of street toughs and representatives of the Foot Clan. Of course, old favorite villains like Baxter Stockman and Shredder will be on hand to make your life difficult as well. Despite the four-player capability of the GameCube, only two players can play the game at once, which is a bit disappointing. Still, there's lots of arcade-style beating and brawling to be had.

In the two levels we played, we traveled through a sewer and a nighttime city street, fighting off both petty criminals and the mouser robots that TMNT fans will instantly recognize. Each turtle has a light and heavy attack, and these can be using in varying sequences to create some fairly complex attack combinations. A projectile attack, using weapons like shurikens, is also available, and you can also find various power-ups scattered around the levels. A pizza, as you'd expect, will refill your life bar, and attack-up and defense-up items can also be found.

The game is looking pretty sharp on the GameCube. Though the backgrounds are a bit sparse, the character models look very detailed and animate nicely. They also sport a subtle cel-shaded effect, making them appear very similar to their cartoon counterparts. Further enhancing the cartoon feel are cinemas from the television show, and the TV voice actors are also reprising their roles for the game. Hardcore fans of the new TMNT show will certainly find their game here.

Obviously, it doesn't take a lot of brain power to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which is exactly the point of this genre. You'll be able to beat up scores of thugs with abandon as you make your way through the game's levels. Look for the heroes in a half-shell to hit all the major platforms around the end of October.