PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

I had a wonderful time with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed and its enjoyable co-op gameplay with memorable characters that all have top-notch voice actors. The pizza did come out of the oven a bit too early, though.

TMNT: Mutants Unleashed has the makings of a good game for those able to sift through the grime of the early hours, but ultimately attempts to do too much, while never mastering any of its ideas. It is not the beat ‘em up we’ve come to expect from the turtles, but is a serviceable light RPG with an in-depth, though not complex, story, a robust ability tree to unlock, tons of collectibles, and a unique ally system which rewards players who are willing to invest in helping the Turtles’ friends succeed. Despite my initial hesitation and the abysmal camera, I found myself giving in to the game’s eternally optimistic story and characters, and that was enough to compel me to complete the nearly 15-hour adventure.

Despite its combat and platforming only being serviceable and the overall package needing a bit more polish, Mutants Unleashed still managed to be a turtle surprise because of how much love and understanding it has for the source material. It may not reach the same gameplay heights of Shredder’s Revenge or Splintered Fate, but it has one of the best tales to tell of any TMNT game.

If you're a fan of the series and especially the newer movie, you'll probably like it, but you'll soon realize that it's unnecessarily long, which is why I recommend playing it in short sections. The attempt to develop a deeper game is not detracted, but it needed to include a little more versatility.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is undeniably a mixed bag, with solid combat and some inspired art direction being hindered by a monotonous soundtrack and budget graphics.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed offers a visually appealing and accessible experience tailored to younger fans. While the RPG system adds a fun layer, it lacks depth for older players, and the fixed camera can be frustrating during platforming sections. It’s a solid choice for a younger audience, but veterans might prefer Shredder’s Revenge for a more challenging and refined Turtles experience.

Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello, aka the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, are back on track. Mutant Unleashed is a game that remains in the comfort zone of third-person action, trying to offer a minimum of depth in the off-stage phases but falling into repetitiveness when it comes to taking the field, play the hard way and above all entertaining.