I think out of all the games I could have possibly imagined, I never would have expected something like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown. For a series so defined in almost every medium by action, seeing the half-shell heroes in a Turn-Based Strategy game seemed like a massive departure from what they’re best at. But if the turn-based formula could be applied to something like Metal Slug, then surely it could work for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Much like with Metal Slug Tactics, I was a little skeptical at first, but once I started playing it, I was genuinely in awe of how well it worked. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown not only works as a solid Turn-Based Strategy game, but also proves there’s so much that can be done with the genre to make it interesting and fun.
The story in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is kind of strange. The game’s description explicitly says, “Splinter and Shredder are dead,” and yet the game kind of just starts with little to no acknowledgment or setup. Now, Shredder’s daughter, Karai, is seemingly attempting to restart the Foot Clan in her father’s stead, and the Turtles have seemingly been scattered by their master’s death. That’s effectively the core of the game’s premise, and it also forms the basis for the structure of the gameplay.
The game does have small dialogue scenes before and after each level, detailing how the Turtles have been forced apart somewhat by Splinter’s death and must now do a bit of growing up. From both a narrative and gameplay standpoint, it highlights how the brothers might not always be there for each other, and sometimes they need to face their problems alone. There’s a bittersweet tone that runs through the story since it never really dwells on death or loss, and whenever the Turtles interact with each other, it’s always positive.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown not only works as a solid Turn-Based Strategy game, but also proves there’s so much that can be done with the genre to make it interesting and fun.”
It was the gameplay that really impressed me with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, in the same way that Metal Slug Tactics utilizes the fundamentals of a Turn-Based Strategy while implementing the style and sensibilities of an arcade Beat ‘Em Up that defined the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games. Players are given six Action Points every turn, with every move or attack costing one point—although some moves cost two.
While players need to focus on taking out as many Foot Soldiers as possible, the conditions for winning aren’t tied to wiping out every enemy on the board. Instead, much like Metal Slug Tactics, levels are actively moving forward, with previous sections falling off into the abyss. Players need to plan effectively to minimize damage from enemies while staying ahead of the danger zones. Since new enemies spawn in with every new turn, players really need to be aware of their positioning and take out enemies in tactical combos if they want to survive.
It really gives the game an active, Beat ‘Em Up feel—particularly if you’ve ever played a Beat ‘Em Up solo. There’s a lot of planning and situational awareness that is required in order to survive, and it makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown feel unlike any Turn-Based Strategy I’ve played before. And while it’s a bummer that—as far as I’ve played—you only get one Turtle per level, each one has such unique movesets and playstyles that it consistently stays interesting.
“There’s a lot of planning and situational awareness that is required in order to survive, and it makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown feel unlike any Turn-Based Strategy I’ve played before.”
Visually, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown has a fun tabletop aesthetic that combines game pieces with comic book-style effects to create something that feels authentic both to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Turn-Based Strategy genre. Little things like how character and enemy pieces change poses during attacks or movement really make the experience come to life and feel much more dynamic and fun.
The soundtrack complements the experience nicely with a wide array of tracks that add tension and a real sense of cool to each battle. And while it is really good, personally, I would’ve preferred something that felt a bit more Rock & Roll, or was reminiscent of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game soundtracks. During a few stages, I found myself playing along to the “Big Apple, 3 A.M.,” and was amazed at how well it worked given the game’s style and vibe.
It’s strange to me that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is only a PC game because it feels like something that would be perfect on the Nintendo Switch. It’s something that both Turn-Based Strategy and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans could enjoy, and may even be an excellent entry point into the TBS genre.
