While not all four turtles play on the same screen, players can switch them out at any time or call upon "family moves," where a brother will come in and assist. Battling enemies without taking damage fills up a star meter, which temporarily grants the player one-hit kills. Yet getting hurt will break the turtle's concentration and the player will need to start filling the star meter again. Nightwatcher comes with a rage meter, which serves the same purpose, except that he can actively release a blast of rage to defeat all those near him.

The game moves at breakneck speeds, leaving players with barely any time to catch their breath in between missions. Cut-scenes, which play out as comic book sequences, fly past in a rush. This game obviously wasn't designed to be overly challenging, since it seems to assist all but the clumsiest players, yet should be reserved for kids with fairly decent reflexes. The PC version supports a keyboard interface, which does the job nicely, but having a gamepad makes the game significantly more playable.

Missions all have the same structure, except that once in a while, the turtles will need to take on a boss. Although some of the levels appear very well designed, such as when Donatello must outrace fast-rising electrified water, the game doesn't leave much time for players to appreciate it. To the disappointment of many, TMNT does not offer any multiplayer features, so turtles cannot spar against each other or fight cooperatively with everyone on screen at once. Instead, it seems intent on rushing players through, with replay value coming from going over old missions for better scores -- hardly a compelling incentive, and one that will lead most players to let this one disappear back into the sewers.

Related Links
TMNT Game Guide
Official Website
Ubisoft