TMNT: Mutant Melee

 GameCube
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Mar 16, 2005
  • Also On: PC
Metascore
44

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 16
  3. Negative: 8 out of 16
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  1. GameCritics
    65
    It's not going to be winning any awards, but it's an entertaining gameplay experience packaged alongside a virtual vault of nostalgia, and worth at least a glance for fans of the genre or the characters.
  2. IGN
    55
    It lacks the humor and charm of the original show, and even the new one for that matter. It gives you plenty of characters, but no real reason to prefer one to the other.
  3. GameZone
    55
    Repetitious button-mashing gameplay that rarely engages the brain is the undertone of this title.
  5. Next Level Gaming
    55
    You can call it sour grapes (for liking the old TMNT, not this new 2005 TMNT cartoon garbage), or you can just call it a very mediocre game.
  6. Gamezilla!
    50
    It's just passable, really, but I don't think Master Splinter would approve wholeheartedly, even with a decent price point of $20.
  7. NintendoWorldReport
    50
    Unfortunately, it runs on the same engine and is built on nearly the same game design as the last two TMNT games, which were less than spectacular to begin with... At full price, it would be hard to recommend Mutant Melee to anyone.
  8. Game Chronicles
    50
    The uninspired music, the trite voice acting, the horrible gameplay, and the lack of challenge makes this one of the worst titles in the Ninja Turtle series.
  9. eToychest
    50
    The large number of characters and arenas to fight in will keep younger gamers happy for a little while, and you really can't beat the twenty-dollar price tag.
  10. GameSpot
    43
    This is an incredibly slapdash and barren game that has absolutely nothing to offer you beyond monotonous, almost-broken fighting mechanics, tiny environments, and a bunch of lame unlockables.
  11. Nintendo Power
    42
    Controls are slightly sluggish. [June 2005, p.97]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. DarkStation
    40
    The gameplay just seemed so bland and boring that I really don't think I ever enjoyed this game.
  13. GamerFeed
    40
    Monotony does not a good game make, in any situation. In a brawling game, it's practically a death knell, a sign of laziness in development and a lack of innovation. And it's one of the key things that kills Mutant Melee before it can even get started.
  14. Play Magazine
    35
    It's hard to find the fun in Mutant Melee, whether playing alone or with friends. [May 2005, p.54]
    All this publication's reviews
  15. Gaming Age
    33
    What gets under your skin is that most of the combos are unblockable, and once you are caught in string of moves, you must wait until the move set is over before you can block or counter attack. This can be frustrating on both A.I. and human battles.
  16. GameSpy
    30
    While a fleshed out narrative for each character would be a bit far reaching, what the Adventure mode amounts to is little more than a series of mini-games that are repeated ad nauseam for under an hour per character.
  17. G4 TV
    20
    This is some of the weakest, button-mashy gameplay you'll ever experience.

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best GameCube Game of 2005
33
#33 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 4 out of 10
  1. BB8000
    Jun 30, 2020
    10
    This game is a goddamn beautiful game. It is almost as good as Cory in the house on the Nintendo DS
  2. Cherepashka
    Sep 16, 2017
    10
    This is an interesting fighting game , you can play as your favorite characters and the graphics are nice. It is far from perfect , but myThis is an interesting fighting game , you can play as your favorite characters and the graphics are nice. It is far from perfect , but my eyes didn't run. You can play for fun , but what else do you need from a game?… Full Review »
  3. BigPisas
    Sep 16, 2017
    10
    The game is very interesting and very complicated. I broke a lot of nerve playing this game. Liked the game.My pisas happy and Wolfie too. YouThe game is very interesting and very complicated. I broke a lot of nerve playing this game. Liked the game.My pisas happy and Wolfie too. You know, you Hayter! You are all stupid!… Full Review »
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