Great platforming but horrible combat
TMNT for Xbox 360 is based on the feature film that was released in 2007. It features all 4 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Leonardo, Raphael, Michaelangelo and Donatello. Splinter will serve as your guide throughout the game. All of the characters are voiced, but I'm not sure if they are the voice actors from the movie, or from the current cartoon on Kids WB. Either way they sound quite good. TMNT is a 3D platformer/adventure game developed by Ubisoft Montreal. The game is divided up into 16 stages where you are rated on how well you fight, how fast you complete the mission, and how many coins you collect. The first 5 or so missions you use only one of the Turtles, but as all 4 meet up again (plot point from the movie) you may switch between them during combat or just during the level itself. The turtles all have different co-op attacks in battle as well as during the platforming sequences of the level. For example you can call for help from another turtle when you need to make a very long jump.
The platforming sequences in the game are absolutely fantastic. The turtles feel like actual ninjas when they're running, swinging, climbing, and jumping all over the rooftops. The coolest thing about it is that the turtles are really fast. They are as fast as you'd think a ninja would be, yet they are graceful as well. I do not like platformers at all, and I don't play them but I enjoyed the platforming in TMNT quite a bit. The combat, on the other hand, is really bad. Basically you do the same 5 hit combo with just one button, over and over and over and over. The combat is very boring, the enemies are cheap and I found myself loathing the beginning of every fight and hoping to get back to the platforming right away. Sure there are some interesting co-op attacks you can do with the turtles but those take too long to pull off. You have to hold the x button down for a few seconds and then release it for the attack to work but by the time it's powered up you most likely will get hit by an enemy. The one cool thing about combat is the "rage" mode. Once you've defeated enough enemies and filled up a meter you unleash very powerful attacks that kill enemies in one hit and the game slows down to "bullet time." It's kinda neat and makes quick work of your enemies.
Even with the crappy combat system the game might be worth a purchase if it were longer. I finished the game, and got all 1,000 achievement points in about 5 hours tops. The game is extremely easy and way too short to warrant paying money for it. I had no desire to continue playing the game to unlock the bonus content after I got the achievements. That said, be sure to rent this game for easy points and an afternoon's worth of fun.
