Entertainment

Games: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan

Despite capturing the spirit of the franchise to a tee, Mutants in Manhattan is hobbled by technical farts and samey gameplay
Despite capturing the spirit of the franchise to a tee, Mutants in Manhattan is hobbled by technical farts and samey gameplay Despite capturing the spirit of the franchise to a tee, Mutants in Manhattan is hobbled by technical farts and samey gameplay

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan (Multi)

By: Activision Blizzard

IT AIN'T easy being green as far as turtles videogames are concerned, with the last truly great effort used to flog Nintendo's NES in 1989.

The latest gasp for our salmonella-riddled sewer dwellers at least has pedigree, with Japanese darlings Platinum Games at the helm and a script from Tom Waltz, co-writer of the current TMNT comic series.

Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman’s sewer dwellers will be back in the fleapits as I write, with a sequel to 2014's unfairly maligned actioner, but ignoring such silver screen antics, the latest game instead takes its inspiration from the original comics, where Shredder has teamed up with Krang to take over New York in a boilerplate plot where the turtles must save the Big Apple.

Developed by the cult Japanese team behind Bayonetta, Platinum's signature fast-paced combat is present and correct, with the same 80s-inspired lickety-split action as their recent Transformers Devastation as our temporary pets-cum-long-term ashtrays engage in some flipper-based fistcuffery over nine levels of open arena brawling.

The oft-repeating drill involves April O'Neill guiding players to Foot Clan crimes, with tasks ranging from general beating dole-outs to pizza-stand protection, disarming bombs and tedious fetch-quests – and after completing enough mini-missions, the inevitable end-of-level boss rears its head.

The combo-rich savagery involves chaining light and heavy attacks, dodging and blocking enemies, while players can switch turtles at will. With three mates, the games also invites four-player co-op, though the slog remains the same.

While its premise is sound, technical bugs hamper progress more than any cartoon ninja, with dumb-as-a-doorpost AI and myriad glitches that often see your amphibious compadres imprisoned behind obstacles.

With lashings of visual flair, a cheesy sense of humour and more references than fans can shake a nunchuk at, the Turtles' latest offers plenty of half-shelled nostalgia, yet despite capturing the spirit of the franchise to a tee, Mutants in Manhattan is hobbled by technical farts and samey gameplay.

There hasn’t been a truly great game based on the iconic 80s phenomenon in over a quarter of a century, and the half-ar**d heroics on show here are hardly worth shelling out for. Whereas Platinum's work on Transformers delivered Prime action, this cowabungled effort is the proverbial turtle's head.