The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in Mutants Unleashed, an action-packed adventure that continues the Turtles’ quest to protect New York City. This time, the stakes revolve around the discovery of mutagenic ooze that’s contaminating the city and has resulted in the creation of new mutants, or “Mewbies.” While not all of these creatures are harmful, many have gone rogue, putting the city’s residents in danger. It’s up to the Turtles, with help from April O’Neil and Splinter, to restore order and fight back against the chaos.
Mutants Unleashed offers a straightforward narrative that fans of the franchise will enjoy. It draws heavily on the charm of the Turtle brothers and the recent film, with each of the brothers bringing their distinct personality to the forefront. The dynamic between the four of them remains as entertaining as ever, with their banter and camaraderie giving the story a fun and lighthearted tone. However, the narrative doesn’t go too deep, relying on familiar tropes to drive the action, which might leave those hoping for more narrative depth a bit disappointed.
In terms of gameplay, Mutants Unleashed sticks closely to the beat ’em up formula that has long defined the TMNT games, but it also includes some modern twists. Players can choose to play as any of the four Turtles, each offering slightly different combat styles. The fighting mechanics are simple yet satisfying, making the game accessible to players of all ages. The relative simplicity of the combat system might be a double-edged sword, as it lacks the depth that seasoned gamers might expect from a modern title, but it’s one of the best examples we’ve seen where parents can play a beat ’em up with their kids. The addition of co-op play, where a second player can jump in for couch co-op, adds a layer of fun that makes the experience more engaging when playing together.
One of the best aspects of the game is its variety of objectives. Beyond the usual fighting sequences, Mutants Unleashed tasks players with delivering pizzas, rescuing citizens, and even building up their graffiti collection, adding a sense of variety and ‘turtle personality’ to the gameplay loop. These moments provide a nice break from the combat and help flesh out the city as more than just a battleground. However, these activities are a bit less polished than the actual beat ’em up core, and some players might find them repetitive after extended play sessions.
Visually, the game does a great job of capturing the style and energy of the recent TMNT movie, which clearly inspired the game’s art direction. The bright, colorful visuals and expressive character designs make the game appealing, especially for younger audiences. However, while the game runs smoothly on the PlayStation 5, the environments themselves can feel somewhat lacking in detail. The cityscapes and sewers that you explore, while functional, don’t always evoke the rich atmosphere of New York and its crowds and noise, feeling more like a backdrop than a living, breathing world.
On the audio front, the voice acting is lively and fits well with the playful tone of the game, with the Turtles’ personalities shining through in every interaction. The sound effects during combat are punchy, and the music complements the action without being overly intrusive. However, the game doesn’t break new ground in terms of its audio design, sticking to familiar beats that are enjoyable but not particularly memorable or catchy.
Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed delivers a fun, albeit uncomplicated, experience for fans of the franchise. It nails the nostalgic appeal of the Turtles, with vibrant visuals and enjoyable co-op play. While it doesn’t push the boundaries of the genre, it serves as an accessible and entertaining beat ’em up that younger players and families will appreciate. Where many of Outright’s games are more geared towards younger players, this one bridges the gap between different generations of TMNT fans well.
Score: 7.8/10
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