Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedownis a fun little title that brings the chaotic action and fast-paced momentum ofTMNTbeat-em-ups into the strategy game space. Focusing on the iconic mutant brothers after they’re separated during an attack by the Foot Clan, the turn-based strategy game shifts players into a different role for each mission. Utilizing a baseline combat system that encourages creativity through diverse movesets for each character,Tactical Takedownchallenges players to experiment with their approach to combat and movement.
The result is a streamlined strategy experience that’s quick to pick up and play. The straightforward approach might not be the most technically impressive from a visual standpoint, but thetight gameplay execution and entertainingTMNTcoat of paintmake for a charming experience. While it’s not the most complex strategy game, it is a fun one that can quickly become addictive.Fans ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesgames and strategy gamers will find plenty to love withTactical Takedownnow that it’s made the leap to consoles.
Heroes In A Half Shell, Turtle Power
Previously released on Windows PC,the simple, fun, and deceptive depth ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedownmakes it a fun time for strategy fans. Under the command of Shredder’s daughter Karai andevil genius Baxter Stockman, the Foot Clan and their robotic allies are making their way through New York City. This leads to the Turtles being separated.
Each mission tasks the player with taking on the role of one of the four brothers, facing off against hordes of ninjas and robots on their own. Each turtle is placed on a grid map and confronted with hordes of enemies that can quickly overwhelm players if they aren’t careful.This lends a sense of urgency that other turn-based strategy games lose over time.
The trick toTactical Takedownlies in the wayit forces players to constantly move and adapt to their surroundings. The map changes every few turns, with the older space literally falling away (and taking anyone still in that section of the level with it). It’s a clever trick that forces players to invent and adapt.
The turtles each have their own abilities and playstyles that lend themselves to different approaches. Leonardo’s powerful blows require different strategies than Donatello’s tech-based weapons, Michelangelo’s acrobatic moves, or Raphael’s stacking attacks. As a result, no one strategy will carry players through the game.
This keeps the gameplay variety flowing even as players master those four styles, with the sheer number of enemies on the board at any given timeinviting experimentation and creativity into battlefield tactics. The story mode forces players to tackle each mission with a different turtle, requiring them to learn each turtle’s playstyle and use it naturally.
It’s a relatively straightforward game that may not be too challenging, but it proves to be quickly addictive. The open-ended but easily overwhelming challenges give players plenty of room to figure out their own solutions, whether that be by embracing tricky attack tactics or by using the surrounding map to their advantage.
Move Like Mutant, Sting Like A Ninja
The most exciting element of the game is the movement mechanics, which see the map tiles give way after a turn or two. This forces players to always be on the lookout for forward momentum, while also ensuring the play area doesn’t become static. It invites a natural sense of momentum that gels well with the history of the Turtles in gaming.
This is whenTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedownreally shines. That kinetic sense of motion can blend easily into impressive combos, giving players a fulfilling experience as they move around the board and deploy flying flips or bo staff strikes to outflank or dispatch enemies. This way, the title translates the motion of those classic games into a strategy style.
While the enemies might not be forgiving,the inherent sense of creativity infused into the map movement and quick combat improves the experience. Within a few levels, players will be using toxic sludge, incoming cars, and falling objects to their advantage. Hitting enemies with certain attacks will move them across the board, setting up combos or slick kills.
Mutating The Beat-Em-Up Into A Strategy Title
Tactical Takedownis an interesting approach to strategy gamesthat feels just as indebted to the fast-paced beat-em-ups that have often definedTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesin the video game space as it does to any turn-based strategy title. While it requires precise attacks and tactical retreats to survive, the fast-paced action and ever-changing map keep the excitement going.
The presentation is largely effective,a stripped-down but streamlined approach that quietly mimics a tabletop challenge for a single-player experience. While the actual characters are rendered as game pieces on an ever-changing board, the world designs and brief character beats speak to the spirit of the overarching franchise.
As a result, the characters can feel static against the larger world. However,this also helps the game expand its setting and suddenly turn on a dime. There’s a fun lo-fi charm to watching enemy figures, also depicted as tabletop minis, suddenly fly away or be blown up by a strong enough attack. It’s charming, a simple but effective adaptation of the turtles.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedownis a shell of a good time.
The biggest problems with the execution ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedownstem from its simplistic design, which can sometimes result in minor glitches that quickly resolve themselves. It’s not the most technically impressive presentation, butit’s a charmingly low-key approachthat successfully mimics a tabletop strategy experience.
While the main campaign mode may not be the most challenging,the new Remix Mode introduces a more compelling experience for strategy game fansseeking a challenge. Coupled with increased customization over time that can adjust the characters without costing them their individual character playstyles, there’s a good amount of replayability.
The writing and action do a great job of pulling players into the world of theTMNT. The fast-paced strategy offers a light touch that feels fitting for the characters and can be deceptively challenging. While it might be light compared to more complex strategy titles,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedownis a shell of a good time.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
A digital Switch code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.
