Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Review (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, iOS, TvOS, Xbox Series X|S, & PC )

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ adventures shaped our childhood memories thanks to their action-packed experience and memorable characters. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate takes the beloved TMNT universe and mixes it up with roguelike gameplay. It’s a fresh spin on the classic beat ’em up genre. 

The game brings a different vibe from its predecessors like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge and TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan. Instead of focusing on straightforward action, Splintered Fate spices things up with procedurally generated levels. Now, does this latest entry outshine its predecessors? Let’s jump right into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate review and find out.

The Starting Point

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate begins with a compelling hook as Leonardo is ambushed on the rooftops, setting a dramatic tone for the narrative. The narrative escalates when he returns home to find Master Splinter kidnapped by Shredder, throwing players into a high-stakes mission. 

This narrative setup effectively captures the excitement of the franchise. Moreover, the drama characteristic of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise makes it an engaging starting point for the game. The game’s story progresses in a unique manner, as it unfolds regardless of player success or failure.

Interestingly, characters acknowledge both victories and defeats, which encourages continuity, which is often missing in rogue-like games. Now, this persistent storytelling style ensures that players remain invested in the narrative, as each run contributes to the overall plot development. It makes the journey feel meaningful, even if a run ends in defeat.

However, the storyline, while engaging, does draw heavily from familiar Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon and film plots. The recurring theme of Shredder as the antagonist and the rescue mission might feel a bit predictable for long-time fans. Despite this, the dynamic narrative progression and character interactions keep the story interesting and enjoyable. It captures the essence of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle universe effectively.

Splintered Fate or Splintered Hades?

Splintered Fate delivers a gameplay experience reminiscent of the acclaimed roguelike Hades. The game features thrilling action where players must clear areas of enemies before advancing. Some players consider it a Hades clone with a TMNT twist. 

Similar to Hades, Splintered Fate, each run consists of four levels. The sewers, docks, streets, and rooftops. The structure of these runs keeps the gameplay loop engaging, bringing to the gameworld the TMNT adventures from the cartoon. The game rewards players with perks and abilities that enhance their current run. For instance, you can get elemental powers and sub-weapon upgrades.

The game also introduces a robust meta-progression system with two types of permanent currencies: Dragon Coins and Dreamer Coins. Dragon Coins are used to enhance your character’s stats across all runs. 

On the other hand, Dreamer Coins increase the chances of receiving specific powers or health pickups during runs. Now, the interesting thing is that obtaining artifacts from bosses or completed runs offers additional powers. They can be further enhanced with Dreamer Coins, enriching the replay value.

Despite its strengths, Splintered Fate can sometimes feel repetitive, a common issue in the roguelike games. The four-level structure, while well-designed, may begin to feel monotonous after multiple runs. However, the variety in perks and the adrenaline pumping combat system help mitigate this. 

The Power of a Ninja

The combat in Splintered Fate is fluid and dynamic, requiring players to dash skillfully between enemies. As they do so, they must mix attacks and upgrades. Basically, the game emphasizes on skill over random number generation. It ensures that even less powerful builds can succeed with proficient play.

The game strikes a fine balance between challenging and rewarding, encouraging players to refine their strategies and improve their combat abilities. Amazingly, each Turtle comes with unique weapons and special abilities, making the combat experience more appealing. This variety allows players to experiment with different playstyles, finding the character that best suits their approach. The game’s balance ensures that no single Turtle is overwhelmingly stronger than the others. That’s the true definition of fair and enjoyable gameplay.

However, some players might find the combat system occasionally unforgiving, especially during the initial runs when upgrades are scarce. The difficulty curve can be steep. Notably, beginners might struggle until they acquire enough permanent upgrades to level the playing field. Nevertheless, the satisfaction of mastering the combat mechanics and overcoming tough enemies makes the challenge worthwhile.

The Turtles’ Cooperation

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate supports both local and online co-op, enhancing its replay value. While the online mode couldn’t be tested pre-launch, the local multiplayer experience is smooth and enjoyable. Each Turtle’s unique weapons and specials bring variety to co-op play. Consequently, players complement each other’s strengths and strategize together.

The game’s co-op mode shines in its ability to create shared moments of triumph and challenge. Coordinating attacks and strategizing with a partner adds a new layer of depth to the gameplay, making victories feel even more rewarding. The cooperative experience is well-designed, with the game accommodating different playstyles and fostering teamwork.

A minor bug was noted in the multiplayer mode, where player two received double rewards. Although this issue was not consistent, it could potentially impact the balance and fairness of the game. Hopefully, this will be addressed in future updates to ensure a seamless multiplayer experience. Despite this minor hiccup, the multiplayer mode remains a strong addition to Splintered Fate.

A Visual Delight

The developers did a commendable job with the visuals and audio. Splintered Fate boasts vibrant visuals, featuring an isometric viewpoint and real-time shadows that enhance the game’s aesthetic appeal. The game runs smoothly at 60 frames per second, ensuring a fluid visual experience. For those seeking enhanced visual fidelity, a cinematic mode is also available.

The game’s soundtrack, while fitting for the fast-paced action, can become repetitive over time. The high-energy music complements the gameplay but lacks variety, which might diminish the overall audio experience during extended play sessions. However, the high-quality voice acting significantly enhances the narrative. It brings the characters to life and adds emotional weight to the story.

The visual and audio design of Splintered Fate effectively captures the essence of the TMNT franchise. The attention to detail in the character models and environments, combined with the engaging voice work, creates an immersive experience. While the soundtrack could benefit from more diversity, the overall presentation is polished and appealing.

Is It Worth Your Penny?

Priced at £26.99, Splintered Fate offers substantial value, with 15–20 hours of gameplay required to reach the true ending. The game’s length ensures that players get a lot of content for their money. Plus, the additional content and multiplayer modes extend its replayability. 

Additionally, the game’s clear display of various in-game currencies on a single screen is truly impressive. It simplifies the player’s understanding of how to earn and manage these currencies. This promotes a more streamlined and enjoyable gaming experience. 

This approach encourages players to engage more deeply with the game’s economy and strategic elements. It’s a feature that sets a positive example for other games, showing how effective and player-friendly User Interface and User Experience design can significantly enhance gameplay satisfaction.

Furthermore, the subscription model offers great value, providing access to a wide range of games with no additional purchases. Whether you’re a long-time TMNT fan or new to the franchise, Splintered Fate delivers a fun and immersive experience that is well worth the time and investment.

Verdict 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a thrilling action game sure to entertain TMNT fans. The game perfectly blends intense combat, cooperative gameplay, and a story-driven experience to keep players engaged. 

Similarly, its roguelike elements and unique abilities for each turtle make every run feel fresh and exciting. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, the game’s mechanics and level design offer a satisfying challenge.

The game’s graphics and sound design are top-notch, capturing the essence of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. It’s amazing how the game’s vibrant colors and dynamic animations bring the world to life. Thumbs up to Viacom International for the top-notch voice acting and soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. 

We cannot fail to mention the controls and user-friendly interface. They make it easy for players of all skill levels to jump in and enjoy the action. Additionally, the in-game currencies are a highlight making the game standout in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Despite a few drawbacks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a must-play for fans of action games and the TMNT series. 

In conclusion, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a worthy addition to the TMNT game library. Fans of the franchise and roguelike enthusiasts will find much to enjoy in this game. With the excitement from the community, it is clear that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate delivers a high-quality and enjoyable experience.