[Nintendo Switch] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Review

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown from Strange Scaffold brings us a new turn-based tactical take on the TMNT universe. Check out our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown review!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown from Strange Scaffold brings us a new turn-based tactical take on the TMNT. With Splinter and Shredder dead, things are a bit more doom and gloom than usual. It’s a coming-of-age story in which the heroes in a half shell are on the cusp of adulthood, and must find out who they truly are as individuals and as a team. It’s up to Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello to save the day as a new leader rises within the Foot Clan’s ranks. As a heads-up, you’ll be taking control of each turtle separately, which adds to the whole tactical side of the equation.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown features 20 levels to offer as you battle your way through each area while battling against Foot Clan members and mutants from the TMNT universe. Oh, and to stay on brand, the levels will be mutating, growing, and shrinking in size as new threats are added to each battle. As you can tell from the trailer and screens in this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown review, the game features a very interesting graphic novel-inspired art style, using diorama setpieces and miniature figures for an interesting look.

I previously had a chance to work on a Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator from Strange Scaffold review, a very different type of experience, so I was certainly curious to see how the indie studio would spin a TMNT turn-based tactical RPG on Nintendo Switch. Going from playing as a Trader who must do the dirty work to provide clients with what they desire – thanks to the supply of organs that you’re able to buy and sell – to taking on the role of one of the powerful teenage mutant ninja turtles is definitely a change.

You’ll get to learn the basics thanks to events from the first chapter in the game: Shell Shocked. This particular chapter will place you in the role of Michelangelo, who will make the most of his nunchucks and skills to get rid of the Foot Clan members who have made their way to the turtles’ base in the sewers. You’ll be using actions to move around each level as well as to attack enemies as needed. Each turtle will have 6 health points and 3 lives in total. If you’re on your last life and are knocked out, then you’ll lose the fight! This is why it’s important that you grab yourself a slice of pizza when possible to restore your health.

Use the left analog stick to move a cursor around the playing area, and use the right analog stick to rotate the camera around, as well as to zoom in and out on the action. You can perform actions until you run out of Action Points. You’ll be getting 6 of them per turn, so be sure to make the most of them at every chance you get! As you progress through each level, it will mutate. This means it will be removing some segments – marked in red – while adding new sections – marked in green. You must always move forward and avoid falling off the level!

You must pay attention to each of your enemies’ hit points, attack power, and overall range, so that you can move around safely as you plan your next action accordingly. Taking Michelangelo as an example, along with moving around, you will also be able to use actions such as Nunchuck Rush, which will deal damage while allowing you to move to the target’s space upon KO. Another one is Flying Foot, which can push an enemy two spaces. Maybe you’d like to perform a Kickflip as you move to a space while damaging and juggling an enemy that you jump over.

A powerful one will be Gangway!, which will allow you to move to a space as you damage all enemies that you jump over. Each of these actions will have different costs and power for you to keep in mind, which is how the game will balance things out. As you defeat enemies and kick them off the edge of the map, you’ll get to fill up your Assist Meter. Once the Assist Meter is full, you’ll be able to deploy a drone-powered assist action using powers inspired by the other turtles. Press the ZR button to choose your Assist Action!

As you complete each level, you’ll get to collect special Tokens in the shape of a turtle shell. These can be used at the shop to unlock new abilities for you to equip to each turtle so that you can customize their loadout. An example would be Snack Break! for Michelangelo, which will allow him to gain 1 HP and 2 Radical. You could also unlock Sai Throw for Raphael, which, as the name suggests, can allow him to hit an enemy from a distance while also having the target have the Marked and Shaken statuses. You can also spend Tokens to unlock additional songs.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown brings us a new turn-based tactical take on the TMNT. With Splinter and Shredder dead, things are a bit more doom and gloom than usual. It’s a coming-of-age story in which the heroes in a half shell are on the cusp of adulthood, and must find out who they truly are as individuals and as a team. It’s up to Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello to save the day as a new leader rises within the Foot Clan’s ranks. As a heads-up, you’ll be taking control of each turtle separately, which adds to the whole tactical side of the equation. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is out on Nintendo Switch with a $19.99 price tag.

Disclaimer
This Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Strange Scaffold.