Hands-on: TMNT Turtles in Time Re-shelled (XBLA)

by Xav de Matos { Jun 12th 2009 at 8:15PM }

click to enlarge

Excuse us as we take a deep breath in order to introduce one of XBLA's upcoming titles for the "Summer of Arcade" -- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-shelled. The ridiculously long-titled downloadable is a complete HD remake of the classic Konami arcade brawler, coming first to the Xbox 360 (a PS3 version is in the works).

Our time with Ubisoft's TMNT update was brief, but only because the game suffers from what all arcade brawlers in downloadable form do -- the levels are extremely short. Coming from an age where difficulty was ramped up to suck as many quarters as it could from a player's pocket, the new version of TMNT allowed us to quickly blaze through two levels of the game without pumping another 25 cent piece into the Xbox 360 console.

Gallery: TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled

While the game will no doubt be beaten in less time than it takes for your local pizza joint to deliver an a fresh pie, it includes online co-op support for up to four characters to lengthen the experience. Sadly, the demo we played suffered from odd bouts of slowdown during gameplay. Button presses usually resulted in delayed reactions from our selected shelled hero, making gameplay frustrating.

While we think the new graphical style added to the game fits well, we worry the upgrade will result in a launch price that may not warrant a purchase for the amount of gameplay we expect. The overall experience could be fun if the bugs are ironed out, but we'd feel better if we didn't know the game will probably only last us a few hours before being forgotten on our hard drives.

Ed. Note: References to specific enemies have been removed to maintain accuracy between the Arcade and SNES versions of the Turtles in Time. Film enemies Tokka and Rahzar did appear in the original arcade title, replaced by original TMNT foes Bebop and Rocksteady in the SNES version. Tokka and Razhar later appeared as mini-bosses in an exclusive SNES level. Also, to be clear -- Tokka and Rahzar are still completely lame.

Tags: summer-of-arcade, tmnt, turtles-in-time, turtles-in-time-re-shelled, xbla

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Bubbameister33 @ Jun 12th 2009 8:22PM

Tokka and Rahzar? Ewwww!!!

Rhamsey @ Jun 12th 2009 9:51PM

why would they do that?

Sturat @ Jun 12th 2009 10:38PM

Tokka and Rahzar were the bosses on the ship in the arcade game. Bebop and Rocksteady were added for the Super NES version. Joystiq should have people familiar with the source material write the hands-on impressions.

Fausk @ Jun 12th 2009 10:48PM

But Tokka and Rahzar show up later in the SNES version right before Super Shredder... so what gives?

Sturat @ Jun 12th 2009 10:51PM

Now you're just trolling.

MC Double Def DP @ Jun 12th 2009 8:22PM

I got $10 for it, not a penny more!

DCBlack @ Jun 12th 2009 10:25PM

Hopefully it won't be much more than that, but if it is then this is one of those times where I will just take the plunge and flush some extra cash down the toilet.

Tonicboy @ Jun 13th 2009 10:41PM

What will you do if they release it for $10.01?

MystileArmor @ Jun 12th 2009 8:24PM

If the gameplay holds up, I'll probably end up buying it anyways, since it always was an enjoyable game.

The character swapping kind of surprises me, but then again, it'll make for a fun playthrough since you don't really know what's going to come next. Also, who knows, maybe they put in some extra levels?

Mike @ Jun 12th 2009 8:27PM

Actually, they didn't swamp Bebop and Rocksteady out. They were swapped IN for the console version. Tokka and Rahzar were the original bosses of Skull and Crossbones. The Technodrome level was added in to the console release, and Tokka and Rahzar were moved to be the bosses of that level and Bebop and Rocksteady were added to be bosses of Skull & Crossbones. Since this is a remake of the arcade version, Tokka and Rahzar are correctly the bosses of Skull & Crossbones. I guess the Technodrome level (both halves) won't be in this remake.

MystileArmor @ Jun 12th 2009 8:31PM

Didn't know that, thanks for the clarification.

dphizzle @ Jun 12th 2009 9:32PM

truth. i was surprised this isn't more well known. I guess not everyone is as nerdy as me when it comes to turtles in time.

Rhamsey @ Jun 12th 2009 9:54PM

holy crap, your right. i was playing this yesterday, how did i not realize that?

Xav de Matos @ Jun 13th 2009 6:21AM

I've added a note reflecting the error of version references in this write-up. Thanks for the heads up.

D0RC @ Jun 12th 2009 8:29PM

It better be just 800 ms points, if not, I guess I'll wait till it goes down and at least I get to try out the free trial. I want to get this along with Shadow Complex.

Metal Gear!? @ Jun 12th 2009 8:30PM

Wow... Is it too much to ask for ONE GOOD preview for this game. Does it feel like the old one? Is there an option to play the original? With the new diagonal attacks, are boss battles broken? Is it really that hard to answer those questions? I swear, doesn't anyone know how to do their damn job anymore? I haven't seen any one address any of those very basic things.

MystileArmor @ Jun 12th 2009 8:32PM

Damn you're an asshole!

megalomaniac @ Jun 12th 2009 8:56PM

He's not an a-hole, he's asking pretty much every question I had about the game.

The article hit a few key points (shortened gameplay, iconic characters replaced arbitrarily, and buggy slowdown) and then missed all the details. All the coverage on this game has been soooo general, it's time to get a lil more specific.

eldee @ Jun 12th 2009 9:10PM

while a bit more aggressive than I would have put it, he's pretty much on the money. we can see the graphics are updated from the screenshots, we want to know how it plays. less time thinking up puns, more time writing about things we care about :P

the new info I got from this post was that they took out beebop and rocksteady and replaced them with the vastly inferior tokka and rahzar. two incredibly stupid characters from the incredibly stupid sequel. bleh.. not shaping up to be something I'm going to 'feel nostalgic' about. If they wanted players to 'feel nostalgic' they would've left it the hell alone.

Metal Gear!? @ Jun 12th 2009 9:35PM

I should have said "anyone" and not " any one". Sorry.

Sturat @ Jun 12th 2009 10:44PM

Those are all great questions. I'd also like to know who is actually developing this game. (Although I'd be really surprised if it was anyone good.)

Xav de Matos @ Jun 13th 2009 6:28AM

Does it feel like the old one?
No, I thought I made it clear when I mentioned the delay issue -- coupled with the graphical overhaul.

Is there an option to play the original?
We only played a demo, as referenced in the write-up, and Ubisoft has not shared special features. As there is no news to this question, it was not included. Don't hold your breath, though.

With the new diagonal attacks, are boss battles broken?
This question is better served for an answer when the final version is available... not a demo. I wouldn't feel comfortable discussing a possible game breaking element without playing the entire game. However, I did mention control issues we experienced during out time with the game.

Is it really that hard to answer those questions?
There are a lot of answers I can't give you about a final game in a preview from a demo during E3. It would be irresponsible of me to tell you what a final game might be, or guess how an overall experience will be after playing 2 levels of a game.

I swear, doesn't anyone know how to do their damn job anymore?
Although a bit rude in execution, I appreciate the comments.

Metal Gear!? @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:32PM

I'm sure that it has been to long for you to read this Xav, but I figured I'd try anyway. I am actually sorry if I sounded like an a-hole, which I did end up saying at the time.

I know you talked about some delay issues, but unless they were present at all times(which from "odd bouts", they don't seem to be), you should still be able to get a feel for the game.

I realize that it is only a demo and all of the features may not be unlocked or revealed, but nobody even says "no word on whether or not you will be able to play the original arcade version", which is something that would have addressed that.

Bosses truly are what could be messed with the most with the new diagonal attacks. It was never a question of control. TMNT bosses almost always have a pattern(kind of like Mega Man bosses) and those patterns seem like they would have been altered due to this new attack option.

You may not have the answers for everything, but as a journalist, it seems irresponsible to me that you type up a preview with almost nothing more than what has already been posted on your own site. Hers the short version of your preview: Coming out, short levels, difficulty of games at the time, co-op, slowdown, graphics, T&R are lame. You only mentioned 4 things about the game itself and some of it we already knew from previous Joystiq posts. As one of the few people to have played it and to have contact with those who are working on it, some questions should have been asked, unless you were unable. If you were unable to ask questions, you should have wrote that too.

I'm available for employment. hehe

Xav de Matos @ Jun 27th 2009 6:43PM

Good luck with your application.

JD @ Jun 12th 2009 8:36PM

This version better be 4 player co-op this time. There's no excuse in this day an age not to have it if the arcade version had it back in the day. The last TMNT game on XBL wasn't that good.

nutman @ Jun 12th 2009 9:18PM

Dude the last one had 4 player co op.

dphizzle @ Jun 12th 2009 9:33PM

i'm gonna throw this one out there. maybe cuz it was originally released in '89?

JD @ Jun 13th 2009 12:14AM

Whoops. My bad. I was thinking of something else. I owned this one before on as old xbox 360 and it didn't carry over to my current one. I could have sworn this one only allowed 2 players. Guess I stand corrected. My only other gripe was the number of times you die. Hope this new one is more polished.

Metal Gear!? @ Jun 12th 2009 8:38PM

Didn't mean to come off as such. I'm just a huge fan of Turtles in Time and want to know these things

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 12th 2009 9:00PM

Do get continues in this version? I could never finish TMNT arcade on the x360 online because all my partners were idiots and I was always the last man standing so the host diconnected every single time.

I always made it to the Technodrome alone.

Metal Gear!? @ Jun 12th 2009 9:16PM

Hey, that happens when I play with friends most of the time! I've only had one friend make it to the end with me. He held off some of the clones for me.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 13th 2009 12:52AM

*Do we get

I keep eating words :/

Anyhow,if you want to play I still have the game and I'm fairly good with Raphael and Donatelo.

I always made it to the technodorme only to get my ass handed to me by the boss of the level.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 13th 2009 12:52AM

*Technodrome.

Andrew @ Jun 12th 2009 9:19PM

I think the SNES version was so badass, it's hard to put it up against the arcade, and I might go to say it edge's it out. Personally, I would have rather them reorked that one. Nintendo, your court.

Seroth @ Jun 12th 2009 9:20PM

It's kinda funny how so few people know about the arcade version of the game. I'm still hoping they add in the technodrome level to the game.

dphizzle @ Jun 12th 2009 9:35PM

Chuck E Cheese thoroughly educated me on the original arcade version =D

shamon @ Jun 12th 2009 9:48PM

I hope to god you can play the old version and then if you want switch to the new one in the option menus .

Casey @ Jun 12th 2009 10:19PM

Puttin it out there. The music from the Train Stage (Western level 1885?) is some of the best pre-'95 shit out there.

Comparable to MM2 and MM3 in terms of earwormability. Arguably some of the best music the SNES had to offer.

Thoughts?

Antonio @ Jun 13th 2009 12:04PM

I agree. It's stuck in my head now.

Jeff @ Jun 14th 2009 3:02AM

Bury My Shell At Wounded Knee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVEUcojniuE

All of the music for this game was really good.

Windmill @ Jun 12th 2009 10:27PM

As this is only a timed exclusive and is coming to the PSN, this should also have been posted in the Playstation blog too, PS3 owners like me are very interested in what this title will be since its eventually coming.

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 13th 2009 1:00AM

...

BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER MUSHROOM MUSHROOM

DCBlack @ Jun 12th 2009 10:28PM

Any word on when the PSN version will be released? And any chance that the first game gets released on PSN?

chaos123x @ Jun 12th 2009 11:09PM

The arcade version did not have beebop and rocksteady.

The snes version had them.

The Snes version was a much longer game, so I guess the extra Snes levels are a no go? That blows. I was hoping that it would have hyper stone heist levels.

Why doesnt mirage studios just buy the damn rights to the 80's cartoon? I mean cmon.

laura @ Jun 13th 2009 1:49AM

Sigh, sadness. I was hoping for bebop and rocksteady. Aw, well, maybe they'll appear in a wii version, still can't wait to play the demo of this game.

Lancel @ Jun 12th 2009 11:42PM

While I'm over moon that this game is being released for XBL with a new coat of paint, there's something to be said for the original art style. Though it's probably painfully dated to some, I remember the look of Turtles in Time being distinct and would love it if Konami included the original version as a bonus which I'd gladly pay more for.