Why are all the good franchises easy targets?!
GAMEPLAY
Right away you notice the one thing that drives this game, and that is the timer. You can play from the start of the game and thru all 16 levels in literally a few hours with minimal challenge. Thanks to the checkpoint system that pops up every other corner, falling or missing your mark doesn't feel so bad, and trust me when I say you'll do lots of falling. Even in combat, when your turtle is shell shocked he doesn't get the all to familiar gameover screen, no sir! You simply tap a button to regain your composure and BAM! Back in the action. Many would claim this more of a childrens game due to the simplicity, but let me protest that any person who gets this for a child will see pure rage and frusteration unleashed.
VISUALS
The team who worked on this title shows their past experience with Prince of Persia in many more ways than one. With immense level design and a camera system that follows the turtle rather than allow the gamer to adjust it works with you AND against you. After treading thru half the game you'll notice levels are being reused and areas are sometimes difficult to time or judge for jumps. The animation and art style resembles the movie in a simple form which is a plus cause whenever they did show clips from the movie it was grainy and choppy. It may be a kids game, but I at least want textures that don't look like stretched out blobs of color.
AUDIO
So I'm a big fan of the old TMNT, especially the comics where they were all about swearing and chopping up the baddies with no remorse. And then came the cartoon which blew kids away cause now our favorite mutant teen ninjas had voices and ones that will always be remebered. All nostalgia aside, those voices are back reprising their roles and using the same hilarious quotes like COWABUNGA! Take heed in my words when I say that if you become annoyed easily don't be surprised when you hear those charming voices over and over and begin to wonder if turtle can live without speaking.
EXTRAS
This game lacks satisfaction, plain and simple. You play thru a level and its done, and since everything is based on time attack style gameplay your only concern could be getting the best time or finding all the hidden items and such. Sadly, there is no point or motivation to this because the only achievements you can gain are from training with each turtle (which is mandatory) and finishing a level (even if you sucked doing it)
OVERALL
As much as I don't mind easy achievements and a decent sit down experience that lasts only a few hours, TMNT was made for kids, possibly ones that never played a good game and have no prior knowledge of one. Ubisoft is golden for making good games, but I have the deep dark feeling that this one suffers from the common mistake most companies make when they get a good franchise and turn it to poop. The biggest drawback would have to be the lack of multiplayer which makes NO sense when you have 4 playable characters who all kick butt. Even worse is the fact that since all you do is complete levels as fast as possible, some sort of 1on1 would have been acceptable but instead you get a big fat nothing. Kind of the running theme for the game... shame for any fans out there.