I played a lot of this on the couch with friends and family. Everyone had a great time from the various skill levels and interest in the game's characters and genre.
I grew up with TMNT through playing the arcade games and regularly re-watching the TV show and movies in the 90's. As an adult, I don't feel any loyalty to a brand or franchise, let alone a comic adaptation that has had over 30 or 40 years or re-imagining.
In terms of nostalgia, Shredder's Revenge does an incredible job of capturing that 90's beat-em-up genre. This has the look and mannerisms of the arcade and NES games, as if the designers knew exactly what a direct continuation of those games would be. TMNT always had a strange way these ridiculous characters move through a city, and about 30 years later, there doesn't seem like much of a difference. A part of me would look at a parked car with caution, or suspected that its mechanic was a Foot Clan soldier in disguise, only to be assured that I was correct - these weird creatures are going to do weird things in this world. It's full of the charm and humour of the original series, while feeling fresh
It's such a great improvement on the original model of beat-em-ups too. The D-pads of the NES and joystick arcade games were sticky, forcing players to commit to directions as if diagonal walking didn't exist and were punished severely for it. That's replaced by smooth and comfortable controls, in a forgiving game with escalating difficulty.
Implementing what the genre has developed over the past 30 years is very welcoming. There's meters that fill up, new movesets to unlock, as well as challenges and progression systems that allow this game to be replayable.
Online multiplayer is a good feature, but really a mixed bag when the design allows for griefing - players being absent, ignoring revives, or pushing against the screen to prevent progression. There are such nice sound and level designs (the soundtrack is great!), there's definitely some memorable levels, while some are absolutely forgettable.
Overall this is an incredible game and I'm appreciative that the family will get together to play it. Also, there's upcoming DLC to be excited for.
I grew up with TMNT through playing the arcade games and regularly re-watching the TV show and movies in the 90's. As an adult, I don't feel any loyalty to a brand or franchise, let alone a comic adaptation that has had over 30 or 40 years or re-imagining.
In terms of nostalgia, Shredder's Revenge does an incredible job of capturing that 90's beat-em-up genre. This has the look and mannerisms of the arcade and NES games, as if the designers knew exactly what a direct continuation of those games would be. TMNT always had a strange way these ridiculous characters move through a city, and about 30 years later, there doesn't seem like much of a difference. A part of me would look at a parked car with caution, or suspected that its mechanic was a Foot Clan soldier in disguise, only to be assured that I was correct - these weird creatures are going to do weird things in this world. It's full of the charm and humour of the original series, while feeling fresh
It's such a great improvement on the original model of beat-em-ups too. The D-pads of the NES and joystick arcade games were sticky, forcing players to commit to directions as if diagonal walking didn't exist and were punished severely for it. That's replaced by smooth and comfortable controls, in a forgiving game with escalating difficulty.
Implementing what the genre has developed over the past 30 years is very welcoming. There's meters that fill up, new movesets to unlock, as well as challenges and progression systems that allow this game to be replayable.
Online multiplayer is a good feature, but really a mixed bag when the design allows for griefing - players being absent, ignoring revives, or pushing against the screen to prevent progression. There are such nice sound and level designs (the soundtrack is great!), there's definitely some memorable levels, while some are absolutely forgettable.
Overall this is an incredible game and I'm appreciative that the family will get together to play it. Also, there's upcoming DLC to be excited for.