Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate (Nintendo Switch)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is the latest outing for the four heroes in a half shell. These reptilian ninjas have experienced a rebirth of late, with games like Shredder’s Revenge and the Cowabunga Collection faring well on the Switch, plus Mutants Unleashed heading our way in October. In the meantime, Splintered Fate is here to take the classic beat-’em-up formula we know and love and thrust it into an isometric, roguelike experience. Risky? Maybe. Does it pay off? Pretty much.
You know their names: Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello. Four mutant heroes living in the sewers of New York City under the tutelage of their sensei, Master Splinter. We’ve experienced countless outings featuring this team and their allies since 1989. One thing we haven’t experienced is a roguelike take on things. It’s not important whether or not we need such an outing. What matters is that Splintered Fate takes the turtles we know and love and successfully integrates it into something fresh and fun.
The plot, which seems to be loosely based on the 2023 comic book series of the same name, involves the kidnapping of Master Splinter. Naturally, it’s up to the turtle brethren to rescue their sensei, sending them on a cross-dimensional journey through the sewers, streets, and rooftops of New York City. Along the way, they meet Foot Soldiers, Mousers, and plenty of other foes to beat up.
The story is fun and fast paced, with a terrific script that’s full of humor. I also appreciate the terrific voice acting used throughout. It adds a lot of personality, culminating in a genuine foray into the world of TMNT. Many familiar characters are present, including April O’Neil, Metalhead, Casey Jones, Leatherhead, and, of course, Shredder. If you’re a fan, you’ll feel right at home.
Let’s address the roguelike side of things. Admittedly, this isn’t my usual genre of choice. However, Splintered Fate balances things so well that it almost serves as a neat introduction to this style of gameplay for those unfamiliar. It has the main elements, like randomized levels and limited-time power-ups on each run. What helps Splintered Fate stand apart is the way the story continues after each run.
Rather than perish when your health expires, players find themselves sent back to their base to regroup. Here, you can chat with April or Metalhead to get an update on the story. You can also permanently upgrade your skills using coins collected during the previous run. This makes the next run slightly easier, pushing you further along each time you jump back in.
Even though runs are randomized, there’s also a familiarity about them. Layouts and enemy configurations vary slightly, as do the power ups received after clearing each room. Mini bosses are randomized, too, though chapter bosses remain the same. What I love about the boss fights is that the dialogue changes; the bosses know you’ve already fought them. These little touches make the whole experience feel less like a typical roguelike, serving as the best of both worlds.
Importantly for a TMNT game, the combat feels natural. My only initial qualm was the inability to jump, something I’m very familiar with in terms of the classic TMNT outings. I quickly grew used to the way Splintered Fate works, though. There’s your standard attack, along with two special moves and a dash. Special moves need to be charged by using your standard attack, while the dash charges over time. These are all upgradeable during your run, creating customized moves that are super satisfying to use.
There are a few ways to play, namely solo, multiplayer, and online modes. I would have preferred the ability to add players during your solo outing without having to quit and return to the menu, but at least you can continue your solo story (including permanent upgrades) via multiplayer mode. Playing with a couple of friends in local multiplayer is as fun as you’d expect. Although I didn’t notice much lag, it can become chaotic when there’s a lot of on-screen enemies. I lost myself a few times!
Unfortunately, I also encountered a few glitches. Most disturbingly, the game completely crashed several times during play. On the plus side, I was able to restart from the previous room, and my in-run abilities were intact. On the downside, this wasn’t the case for players two and three; only player one’s temporary upgrades returned. This occurred towards the end of the game, leaving two thirds of our team woefully underpowered as we encountered Shredder. It’s a shame, and spoils an otherwise terrific outing. Another glitch left me invisible for a boss fight because my character was cut off by a barrier during the transition to the second phase.
Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate brings a new way of playing to fans of the green, teen heroes. The story, visuals, and gameplay are all great, though a few bugs do hamper the experience. Still, it’s a fun time, employing simple roguelike elements that won’t be too jarring for fans of the typical side-scrolling style of gameplay.
