TMNT

 DS
Metascore
42

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 5 out of 10
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  1. Nintendo Power
    55
    Success gives you a feeling of accomplishment, but the path is paved with frustration. [Apr 2007, p.87]
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  2. IGN
    55
    It's certainly not terrible and the rhythmic jumping action has some fun and energy, but the fact remains that the game just ends up feeling inconsistent due to sloppy storytelling and, more importantly, an absolutely awful fighting engine.
  3. GameSpy
    20
    In stark contrast to my experiences with the console and PC versions of TMNT (not to mention the shockingly awesome GBA version), the DS version managed to disappoint at every opportunity. It wasn't fun for a second and I would strongly caution any gamer tempted to even rent this one.
  5. GameSpot
    31
    The environments are no fun to get through, fights are infrequent, and the simplistic combat is unfulfilling.
  6. Game Almighty
    53
    When it comes to a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, fans expect one thing: fighting. That's what the Turtles do. So why come out with a game on an extremely popular platform that treats fighting as third-rate while boring and linear jumping is its central theme? The mind boggles.
  7. GamePro
    40
    Coupled with the terrible combat, the game is only 2 hours long.
  8. Games Master UK
    56
    Middle-of-the-road DS gaming that's not offensive or horrible - just not very good. [May 2007, p.83]
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  9. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    31
    Quite simply a rotten game with woefully little variation in gameplay and turgid mechanics. There's very little fun here an dit's cetainly a long way from 'cowabunga', dude. [May 2007, p.78]
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  10. GamesRadar+
    20
    If you have some disease that forces you to buy everything green and ninja-like, go for it. But then get help, man - digging this disaster is the gaming equivalent of eating donuts out of the garbage can; it just isn't healthy.
  11. Nintendo Gamer
    59
    Basic, derivative, monotonous; but dressed up with some stylish visuals and the odd good bit, TMNT is impossible to entirely dislike, but equally impossible to recommend. [June 2007, p.57]
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Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Most Discussed DS Game of 2007
75
#75 Most Shared DS Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
2.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 10 out of 13
  1. cartoontake0ver
    Nov 17, 2016
    0
    Yesterday, some random kid on the bus gave me this game. I instantly had low expectations just looking at the sad, uninspired cover art forYesterday, some random kid on the bus gave me this game. I instantly had low expectations just looking at the sad, uninspired cover art for the cartridge. Seeing the Ubisoft logo made it worse, since they've already left a bad taste in my mouth with some of the games they've made. I was going to trash it, but then I thought, "You know what? Let's play it for a laugh." So I popped the game into my 3DS and prayed that it was only going to be mediocre.
    To my chagrin, it wasn't. It was FAR worse.
    The main menu is extremely bland. I know that the main menu shouldn't be a selling point in your game, but still, at least make it look somewhat cooler than three text boxes giving you options. Not only that, the main menu loops an eight second cliche ninja soundtrack.
    I started the game and deleted the first save file to start a new one. The game threw me straight to the world map. No background of what I'm doing, or why I'm doing it, or what is even going on.
    "Whatever," I said as I pressed the A button to select the mission. THEN it gives you the backstory. I honestly would have rather known what was going on before the game threw me into the world map.
    The story setup is uninspired. Awesome dude comes home after being ninja trained or something, and he doesn't know that he's part of some great destiny. Woohoo. Cliches.
    The game finally starts. Now, here's where the game really starts to stink. The tutorial guru guy, as I like to call them, is none other than master Splinter. One question. If Leo is a fully trained ninja, why is Splinter giving the tutorial? Shouldn't he know how to do this stuff? It would've been better in my opinion if Splinter just minded his own business then and just let the game tell you, instead of having a character pop in where it doesn't make sense.
    Very quickly, I learned that you couldn't jump freely. Instead, you go to random shiny spots on the ground and press X to jump forward, Y to jump left, and A to jump right. That doesn't EVER get confusing. *sarcasm*
    What must have been intended for fast, fun, and action packed jumping sections just feel like half-baked excuses for quick time events. It also makes the game extremely monotonous because every single stupid level is filled to the brim with stupid "QTEs."
    After pressing a bunch of buttons to advance through the level, I FINALLY got to fight. And that was more disappointing than the previous ordeal. Combat is essentially, "Press B to Win," especially during boss battles. Y is to block, but you really have no need for that, because unless you just sit there and not press buttons, it will be surprising if you even get hit once. Also, at the beginning and end of combat, the game plays a three second animation of your turtle taking out or putting up his weapon respectively. What seems like a short, innocent way to immerse you into the game more just makes the game last that much longer than it should.
    After combat, you're thrown right back into the QTE gauntlet. Do the same thing you did before, and hooray! You win and the turtle you're playing as screams and just blasts through your DS speakers.
    Throughout the running sections, you collect tokens that have pizza drawn on them. Splinter doesn't explain what these do until after you collect a million of them. Thanks, sensei. Really helpful there.
    And that isn't the first time Splinter is late to the party on explaining something you need for gameplay. He forgets to tell you a CONTROL until after you figure it out. It's so dumb, it gives me a headache.
    Know what else gives me a headache? The soundtrack. The soundtrack is the most repetitive, boring, cliche piece of music I've ever heard in a video game.
    The plot is stupid and confusing, and if I were to explain it, it would give us all a headache. So, I'll pardon you from that punishment.
    This game is absolute garbage. Take my word for it. Don't buy this off of Amazon, and don't take games from second graders on the bus.    … Full Review »
  2. funkydoodycool
    May 8, 2015
    0
    Probably the worst game I have played on the DS. I wouldn't even recommend borrowing it to have a go. Repetitive, dull, boring. A shame toProbably the worst game I have played on the DS. I wouldn't even recommend borrowing it to have a go. Repetitive, dull, boring. A shame to waste what could have been a good opportunity for a fighting/beat-em-up game.

    Cow-a-DUNG-a    … Full Review »
  3. Yojimbo2015
    May 25, 2023
    4
    3D platform beat 'em up that tries to do something different, but fails to make a game that's even remotely fun to play. The platform sections3D platform beat 'em up that tries to do something different, but fails to make a game that's even remotely fun to play. The platform sections are a chore and the beat 'em up sections tedious and inept.… Full Review »
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