Game Review: TMNT

By Chris Jozefowicz

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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this game is basically a running and jumping "platformer" with some simple fighting scattered throughout. The controls are easy, with many acrobatic moves controlled with a single button and fighting controlled by motions of the Wii remote, which may allow younger players to enjoy the action in this relatively short adventure. The violence is never graphic, but ninja weaponry, guns, bows and arrows, and bombs all come into play. Although the game is for one player only, the story line stresses teamwork and family bonds.

Families can talk about the themes of vigilantism present in the game. Is it OK for heroes to take the law into their own hands, disregarding the authority of the police? Families can also discuss the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phenomenon. Do you think it's only natural for them to churn out games, snacks, action figures, and more to accompany a movie with kid-friendly characters? If you bought a movie ticket, this game, the figures, and Turtle snacks … how much money are you giving to this franchise alone? Are clever marketers overdoing the tie-in products or do you want to see more Turtles? If you don't see a TMNT sequel in the next year or two will you still like the Turtles as much?

Common Sense Media Review
Although they started as smart-aleck comic book satirists, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are today fully part of the entertainment establishment, which means the heroes can be found in toys, movies, TV shows, and, of course, video games. Their newest video game adventure, TMNT, accompanies the movie of the same name. Although Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo have the potential to be a great action-game team, TMNT is a short and simple game that seems little more than a quickie tie-in to the film.

The game does start well. Players take control of one of the four very acrobatic Turtles and in no time they are running along walls, clinging to ledges, and jumping over yawning chasms. Most of this action is controlled with the thumbstick and buttons. The Wii motion controls are used to fight criminal toughs and evil ninjas scattered throughout the game world.

But after 16 such levels -- following the Turtles through sewers, cityscapes, and buildings -- the play gets repetitive and even tedious. Each level has lots of jumping, running, and a bit of climbing, with a few interruptions to take on a squad of baddies here and there. Mastering the acrobatics is simple unless the camera angles get bad. Combat is quite easy too -- just shake the remote over and over.

The main quest should take players only about five hours to get through. Most levels last around 15 or 20 minutes and there is no real penalty for falling off of a level or getting beaten in combat; players simply pick up from an automatic save point a little before the place at which they faltered.

Completing levels with some skill (with a quick completion time, without getting harmed much in battle) unlocks some minigames and challenges to increase the game length. These bonuses have lots of running and jumping puzzles, but also mix up the style of play and ask players to do things like throw ninja stars or fly through a cave using a Turtle's nunchaku as helicopter rotors.

But these bonuses are not enough to save TMNT from its mediocrity. It's a shame that a game that features a crime-fighting foursome and pays so much lip service to teamwork feels like such a solitary adventure. But TMNT suffers all around from offering less than gamers might expect. The simple controls make the game accessible to young players, but kids with some gaming experience will likely find themselves wishing for more after a couple hours of play.

As such, TMNT is a good choice for a weekend rental, but only die-hard fans of the wise-cracking heroes will enjoy having it in their collections.

Fortunately, the world of video games does not suffer from a lack of heroes. Fans of comic book heroes might want to check out Marvel: Ultimate Alliance , which supports multiple players. Another good choice is LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Triology .