Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (2022) Video Game Review

Beat-em-up games peaked in the early 90s, then mostly disappeared as 3D graphics took over the entire gaming sphere. Occasional revivals tried recapturing that classic 2D magic but most felt either too modern or trapped in pure nostalgia without understanding what made classics like Final Fight and Streets of Rage actually work.

This review breaks down why Shredder's Revenge succeeds where so many retro-inspired games fail. We'll be exploring how Tribute Games managed to create something authentically retro while incorporating modern sensibilities.

Set in the classic 1987 animated series universe, the story opens with Krang and Shredder unleashing a new diabolical scheme to take over both dimensions simultaneously. The plot kicks off when the notorious villains steal the Statue of Liberty and somehow fragment it across multiple hidden locations throughout New York City.

The four turtle brothers must work together to recover the statue pieces while battling through familiar locations like the sewers, Coney Island and Technodrome itself. Each location presents unique challenges and nostalgic encounters for longtime fans.

The campaign brings back classic villains like Bebop, Rocksteady, and Baxter Stockman from the animated series while introducing deeper cuts like Leatherhead and Tempestra that will delight longtime fans with their authentic characterizations.

While the game draws primarily from the 1987 cartoon series, it incorporates visual elements from multiple TMNT media sources. Character designs blend cartoon aesthetics with comic-book detail, creating versions that feel familiar yet more dynamic than their TV counterparts.

The roster includes characters from various TMNT iterations, including Casey Jones and April O'Neil as fully playable fighters alongside the core turtle team. Boss encounters pull directly from classic cartoon episodes while adding sophisticated mechanical complexity that works seamlessly within the usual beat-em-up framework.

Environmental storytelling references span decades of TMNT lore, from graffiti tags featuring character names to background details that callback to specific comic storylines and cartoon episodes that shaped the franchise's identity.

The narrative keeps things appropriately simple for the genre while delivering enough character moments to justify the adventure. Each turtle maintains their distinct personality through combat animations, victory poses and brief dialogue exchanges.

Pacing strikes an excellent balance between action sequences and brief story beats. Cut-scenes remain short and punchy, never interrupting the gameplay flow for extended exposition dumps. The writing captures that perfect Saturday morning cartoon tone without feeling overly childish or pandering too much to adult nostalgia.

Character interactions feel natural within the beat-em-up context. The turtles comment on situations, celebrate successful combos and react to environmental hazards in ways that reinforce their individual personalities throughout the entire campaign experience.

Combat feels immediately familiar to anyone who played classic arcade beat-em-ups but with modern refinements that eliminate the most frustrating aspects of older games. Each character has completely distinct movesets, special attacks and combo possibilities that encourage experimenting with different strategic play-styles.

The control scheme responds precisely to inputs without the sluggish feeling that plagued many 90s beat-em-ups. Combos flow naturally from basic attacks, and the special move system balances powerful abilities with smart resource management.

Exploration remains limited but purposeful. Hidden items and secret areas reward thorough investigation without breaking the linear progression that defines the genre. Collectibles feel meaningful rather than arbitrary padding scattered throughout levels.

Difficulty scaling accommodates both casual players and beat-em-up veterans. Multiple difficulty settings adjust enemy aggression and damage output while maintaining the core combat feel across all options, ensuring accessibility without compromising challenge.

Technical performance remains rock-solid across all platforms. The pixel art-style runs smoothly at 60fps without drops during even the most chaotic six-player battles with screen-filling special effects and multiple enemies attacking simultaneously.

Loading times between levels clock in under five seconds on most platforms, maintaining the arcade-style momentum that keeps multiplayer sessions flowing smoothly. The game rarely suffers from technical hiccups or stability issues during extended play sessions.

Visual presentation captures the 1987 cartoon aesthetic perfectly through detailed sprite work and fluid animations that bring each character to life. Environmental backgrounds feature multiple parallax layers that create convincing depth without overwhelming the action.

The soundtrack by Tee Lopes deserves special recognition for perfectly capturing both retro gaming music and the TMNT cartoon theme energy. Each level features memorable tracks that feel like they could have been ripped from classic arcade cabinets.

Voice acting brings back several original cartoon voice actors, including Cam Clarke as Leonardo and Barry Gordon as Donatello. Their performances recapture the exact tone and delivery that defined these characters for an entire generation of fans.

Sound effects hit with satisfying impact during combat encounters. Every punch, kick and special attack provides proper audio feedback that makes successful combos feel genuinely rewarding. Environmental audio creates convincing atmosphere across diverse New York locations.

The main campaign provides approximately six to eight hours of content depending on difficulty settings and exploration thoroughness. Six playable characters offer substantial replay value as each turtle plus Casey and April play completely differently from each other.

Local and online multiplayer support up to six players simultaneously, creating the definitive couch co-op experience that the genre was designed around. The ability to drop in and out of sessions seamlessly keeps multiplayer flowing without technical barriers.

Additional game modes beyond the main campaign extend the experience significantly, including arcade mode and survival challenges that test combat skills in different contexts than the story progression, providing substantial extra content.

Technical stability remains excellent with minimal bugs or glitches reported across platforms. The game maintains consistent performance even during maximum chaos with six players unleashing special attacks simultaneously against crowds of enemies.

Multiple difficulty levels and character variety provide natural replay incentives. Mastering each character's move-set and discovering optimal combo strategies keeps the combat engaging across multiple playthroughs of the campaign.

Collectible hunting adds optional objectives for completionist players. Hidden items unlock concept art, music tracks and other bonus content that rewards thorough exploration without making completion feel mandatory for enjoyment.

Online multiplayer functionality works smoothly with minimal connection issues. Cross-platform play allows friends on different systems to team up, expanding the potential player base for multiplayer sessions significantly.

Shredder's Revenge represents everything a modern retro revival should be: respectful to its source material while incorporating design improvements that eliminate the frustrations of older games. Tribute Games understood that nostalgia alone isn't enough to carry a game.

Perfect for fans of classic beat-em-ups, TMNT enthusiasts and anyone seeking excellent local co-op experiences. Less suitable for players expecting deep RPG mechanics or those uninterested in straightforward action gameplay without complex progression systems.

The price point offers exceptional value considering the quality presentation, multiple characters and substantial multiplayer replay potential. This stands as the definitive TMNT gaming experience and one of the finest beat-em-ups ever created.

A masterpiece of retro game design that proves classic genres can thrive with modern sensibilities, delivering pure arcade joy that respects both nostalgia and contemporary gaming expectations while setting new standards for revival projects.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is available digitally on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with Xbox Game Pass support at launch. Physical editions for Switch and PS4– Standard and Limited Collector's– are also available at retail.