Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed

Forgiveness might be a virtue, but getting a full refund for a late pizza—or a game that doesn’t quite hit the mark—feels just as essential.

I was in for a treat when the 2023 movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem turned out to be a hit in my household. My two young boys and I were all fans. So, when Outright Games announced a new video game, TMNT Mutants Unleashed, inspired by the movie, I was genuinely excited. I hoped to see this turtle-powered enthusiasm translate into an entertaining gaming experience. However, as it turns out, Mutants Unleashed struggles with its execution, even though it has some promising concepts and succeeds visually in capturing the film’s unique style.

Mutants Unleashed offers a surprisingly intricate storyline that picks up right where Mutant Mayhem left off, exploring the aftermath of the turtles’ victory and newfound acceptance. New mutants, humorously dubbed “Mewbies” by the turtles, emerge primarily to serve as fodder for the game’s beat-’em-up mechanics. The plot brings in fresh characters, including a human teenage crew that the turtles befriend. Staying true to Outright Games’ focus on younger audiences, the game delivers ample voice acting—a definite plus for kids. Although the narrative leans more towards a side story than a main event, it manages to remain engaging and successfully keeps the spirit of the movie alive.

Given the history of TMNT with beat-’em-up games, I was eager to dive into some cooperative brawling action. Unfortunately, the game’s combos and systems seem half-baked. It leans towards character action more than the old-school brawler vibe, which might have worked if the action felt more polished. Each of the four turtle heroes has unique skills and abilities—even if multiplayer only allows two players at a time—which makes the game accessible to all ages. Yet, it feels like it misses the mark in depth and complexity; this can detract from the fun, especially since Mutants Unleashed caters to an older age bracket compared to Outright Games’ toddler-friendly titles like Bluey and Paw Patrol.

I didn’t realize that Mutants Unleashed also features interactive social segments inspired by games like Persona and Fire Emblem, but these are slow and lack voice acting, making the game’s pacing sluggish. This aspect of the game isn’t really cooperative either, adding to its lengthy 15-20 hour playtime, which it struggles to sustain with its content. The Switch version, in particular, encounters a few technical issues, including long loading times that made me worry the game wasn’t functioning correctly at first.

With TMNT Mutants Unleashed, there are definitely great ideas present, but they don’t quite blend well into an unforgettable game. The combat is serviceable but unremarkable. The social RPG aspects show potential but fall short in execution. It’s particularly frustrating because the story writing is captivating. One part of me wishes this game had more time to simmer, as there’s a foundation here for something totally radical. Alas, it doesn’t quite manage to crawl out from the sewers.