Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Review – Shell yeah!

Since the 1980s, every generation has grown up with two constants in their lives: The threat of nuclear annihilation by the hands of some trigger-happy superpower, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Whether you’re old enough to remember the original half-shell heroes debuting during a bodacious bygone era, managed to live through the live-action TV series phase, or your first taste of the green quartet was through the recent–and superb–Nickelodeon animated series, those mutant shinobi named after Renaissance greats have always been around.

This year, the latest TMNT revival is one of an arcade-style nature. Taking a page from a gaming era that greedily gobbled up coins in exchange for some of the best co-op fun you could have in a dark, dingy place that reeked of cigarettes and Fresca, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a blast from the past… that cleverly incorporates a few modern elements into its frame. The end result is a colourful and nostalgic trip down memory lane that makes for a shell-raising experience.

Anyone who lost a chunk of their pocket money to Turtles in Time will be right at home here, as Shredder’s Revenge plays like a sequel to the classic 16-bit beat ’em up. Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello are sporting their classic ninja looks, hordes of Foot clan soldiers stand in your way, and the gameplay is largely lifted from the 1992 game to form a solid foundation. If that old-school action is the bedrock, then Shredder’s Revenge feels like a luxury home built on top of it thanks to its subtle but clever enhancements.

Turtles in Time was a combo-heavy title, but Shredder’s Revenge adds a sense of fluidity to each blow that you throw out, allowing for more elegant and precise chains while you perform signature moves from the TMNT playbook. Every Turtle has a unique combo thanks to their weapons, but they’re still able to do dive-kicks, room-clearing super moves, and throws that send an unlucky goon headfirst into the fourth wall.

Because Shredder’s Revenge isn’t designed to consume an entire silver mine worth of coin from your pocket, the gameplay is also much more balanced throughout the adventure. There’s a challenge to be had: increasing the number of players throws more Foot clan ninjas at you, and aggression is definitely amped up during multiplayer, but the game never feels unfair in its application of these ideas. Much to the relief of anyone who had to explain to their parents how they blew their allowance within a single day.

An example of this can be seen in the super attacks, which require a constant flow of fisticuffs so that they can be charged up, and unleashed at a key moment when the odds are stacked against your chosen hero. This meter can also be filled up with a few hilarious taunts when there’s a gap in the action, and if it’s not filled up, you can use an optional charged heavy attack that’s useful against shielded enemies. Other quality-of-life improvements include health-restoring high-fives in co-op, and reviving downed teammates with pizza first aid.

Co-op can be manic with the amount of action on the screen, as up to six players can unleash Turtle power at the same time. Four players hits the sweet spot, especially when each player grabs a Turtle, but the roster also includes April O’Neil as she unleashes journalism jutsus, Master Splinter with his rat-attacks, and everyone’s favorite maniac in a hockey mask, Casey Jones. Goongalah!

Each level is also a treat for the eyes, and happens to be filled with some of the best Easter eggs and pixel art that you could hope for in a TMNT love letter. From seeing Bebop crash the Channel 6 news station, to raiding a mall that’s crawling with Foot soldiers having a great time, the team behind Shredder’s Revenge clearly embraced the goofiness and charm of old-school TMNT.

It’s the short runtime that makes Shredder’s Revenge so appealing, because with roughly just over two hours until you ding the completion achievement, the game never outstays its welcome. Considering that Shredder’s Revenge never breaks from its tried and true template of go-here-punch-that, this length ensures that the game never outstays its welcome. There are plenty of reasons to come back for more than just a single playthrough though. The amount of love and respect for the franchise that developer Tribute Games have poured into this project makes for a fun romp that takes players back to a more innocent time.

Shredder’s Revenge wears its arcade origins proudly on its sleeve and the modern touches succeed in improving the 16-bit charm without diluting what made its special in the first place.

Play it now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, as well as with Xbox Game Pass.