Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have a long history of great beat ’em ups, such as the classic games by Konami and more recent ones like Shredder’s Revenge. One that isn’t talked about a ton is Raw Thrills’ 2017 brawler, which has now been enhanced by Cradle Games with three new stages and six additional boss fights. While this deluxe arcade port, now called TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants, doesn’t live up to the series’ past highs, it still offers a great time for fans of the 2012 cartoon.
Thanks to its arcade roots, Wrath of the Mutants is easy to pick up and play. There are only two buttons to worry about most of the time: one that attacks and the other that jumps. While this does limit its depth a bit, you do charge a gauge that allows your turtle to unleash a massive screen-clearing super attack as well. Plus, there are some nice touches with timing and button combinations that can allow for some pretty fun combo attacks, so it isn’t simple to a fault, even if this isn’t exactly Streets of Rage 4 in terms of in-depth brawlers.
Adding some spice to the experience of beating up Foot clan soldiers are an array of power-ups. There are more standard ones, such as pizza that restores health and shurikens you can throw at enemies, but there are also assist summons that feature some fun guest appearances. For example, you can summon Leatherhead and Metalhead to clear a screen in select spots. There are also smoke bombs that stun foes and even Ice Cream Kitty’s cooler, so fans of the 2012 series will get a kick out of the many creative references.
There are six levels in total, although you’ll have to beat the first five before you can challenge Shredder in his hideout. These are all pretty fun, and there’s even a vehicle section at the sewer level that will trigger a lot of nostalgia. The new amusement park (which has a really fun haunted house section) and Dimension X levels are just as creative as the original ones, so you won’t feel any quality dip as the new content meshes well with the arcade original.
The bosses are quite fun to see, with more obscure characters such as Fishface, Tiger Claw, and The Creep getting added in Wrath of the Mutants. These battles aren’t the most thrilling brawler fights, as they typically only have a few patterns to memorize and then a powerful attack that players will have to jump to avoid. Still, there are some cool versions of Krang included, and the fight against Shredder feels like a proper finale and high point for the game to end on.
One thing that is worth noting is that this multiplayer-centric game doesn’t have online play, which is disappointing after recent TMNT games have had online options. While it is fine solo, you’ll have a better time if you can grab some friends to play locally. Another disappointment is the overall presentation as there isn’t much in terms of a celebration when you finish the game or a great introduction cutscene setting up the game either. Other than the new content, this is on the bare bones side of overall content.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants is a colorful romp that never bores or overstays its welcome. The brawler is held back by its lack of online play, but if you can gather some friends locally then you’re in for a really fun time. While not riveting solo, it’s still fun to see the wide range of TMNT references and is an enjoyable enough time thanks to its solid combat and wide range of power-ups.
SCORE: 7.5/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 7.5 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Disclaimer: Our TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants review is based on a PS5 copy provided by the publisher. Reviewed on version 1.000.001.
