Playable characters plagued?
Yesterday saw publisher Dotemu jump out of the sewer (er … no offense) with the announcement of a brand new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade fighter.
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is in development for PC and consoles at Tribute Games – a studio not only responsible for the fun Mercenary Kings, but which also houses developers who worked on Ubisoft’s great 2010 brawl Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The GamePowered by this trinity of brand, studio, and insane fan nostalgia, it’s fair to say that much of the internet lost its collective mind when the trailer dropped yesterday morning.
This is evident from the short gameplay teaser TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge hopes to capture the awesome multiplayer action from Konami’s 1989 arcade classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its 1991 sequel, Turtles in TimeSince fans suffered from severe shell shock at the announcement, there are a few details in the trailer that may have passed them by.
Thrillingly, the animated prologue features a sequence in which April O’Neil devastates two Foot Clan suckers, with the Channel 5 news reporter getting a sweet, jumping side kick. This is then followed by a shot of the Turtles’ tutor, Master Splinter, ninja running through a sewer tunnel, brandishing his walking stick like a maniac. These scenes imply – although this is pure speculation – that both characters could be playable in the new brawler. After all, it’s rare for Miss O’Neil to be portrayed in such a way kicking her ass. I certainly hope these icons join the selection, and I’m sure many of you will agree.
In terms of villains, we get to see The Shredder and his Foot Clan, as well as the gruesome pair of Bebop and Rocksteady. The prologue also features the doomed scientist Baxter Stockman, a Triceraton and a destroyed “Mouser” – Stockman’s tricky, sharp combat droids. Most notably, during April’s close-up, we can see the creepy face of Dimension X ruler Krang, briefly captured on a TV screen behind her.
Perhaps the most surprising appearance of all is from Faith No More singer and avant-garde musician Mike Patton, whose performance of the TV show’s iconic theme makes the trailer sound. While TMNT is definitely a far cry from the works of Mr. Bungle of Fantomas, the addition of Patton adds a delightful element of … well … insanity for the whole thing.
Dotemu’s work with recent releases such as Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap and the excellent Streets of Rage 4 has earned them the reputation of retro remake masters. Affordable in-depth combat mechanics, fun features, a solid character roster, and lots of fan-pleasing cameos and Easter eggs (Casey Jones, anyone?) TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge could turn out to be the best digital Turtles release since 1993 Tournament fightersOne thing is for sure … it will be a long wait …
If you don’t mind, I have to start my online petition for Irma DLC.
