Good video games based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been few and far between. The thing is, I am a huge fan of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. It takes a lot for me to really dislike something with them in it. That being said, there have still been a lot of mediocre titles. When Shredder’s Revenge came out, the turtles were thrown back into the limelight, and I so wanted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Thankfully, it’s a great spin on the franchise and works pretty well within the roguelike genre.
In a story that surprises no-one, Mater Splinter has been captured by the Foot Clan. It’s not the most exciting of stories, but the dialogue is light-hearted and fun. The turtles’ personalities shine through with each interaction, appearing at the bottom of the screen in a visual novel style. The cast of characters features everyone you expect, plus a few cool surprises as well. The DLC for Casey Jones introduces one of the gang’s closest friends, and he kicks ass just as well as the rest of them.
Each one of the turtles has a different skill set that works well in different situations. Mikey as fast, using quick strikes to attack enemies; Leo is a balanced warrior; Donnie can cover more ground with his bo staff; and Raph is great for intense, close-quarter encounters. On top of that, they all have a special ability that’s unique to each one. Being a roguelike, you have to stick with one character for each run through. Playing in co-op is by far the most enjoyable way to play, as working together to take out foot soldiers, mousers, and mutants is great.
Every run is different. The various locations across New York stay the same, although the layouts do change. You can never become familiar with different areas, and with so many ability modifiers and power-ups, each run feels different. Along the way, you’ll gain temporary elemental enhancers; modifiers that change different outcomes and bosses; and more. There’re also different currencies that can help improve your character permanently. Scrap is another currency that can be spent at shops during your runs, offering you temporary buffs or health recovery.
Hades set a bar for the roguelike genre, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate does share many of the different mechanics. The recently released Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is proof that it can be done successfully, and while this isn’t as smooth or as engaging, I still enjoyed playing. It does feel a touch repetitive in terms of the combat, though. You can’t change weapons, but new tools can be unlocked as you play. This does make things feel different, but it was the TMNT lore that kept me playing.
The story carries on with each run. There are also some great cameos like a personal favourite of mine in Slash. Whatever your reasons for playing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is well worth trying out, especially if you’re a fan of Hades. The voice acting is strong, and the stages are designed nicely. The visuals aren’t as strong as they could be on PS5, but it didn’t ruin the experience at all. It’s filled with humour and action, with the intensity growing in every new stage you encounter.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a solid attempt at the roguelike genre. There is so much replayability when it comes to the wide range of abilities. Artefacts are varied and offer permanent upgrades, as do the spending of the Dragon and Dreamer Coins. However, it is the action and chaos that comes with it that brings the majority of the enjoyment. Whatever your familiarity is with the turtles, it is still worth playing. It may feel a touch repetitive with its combat, but it doesn’t take away from the great writing and replayability.